IMPROVEMENTS IN FISHWAYS, APPLICABLE ALSO FOR THE PASSAGE OF BOATS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FISHWAYS, APPLICABLE ALSO FOR THE PASSAGE OF BOATS." A communication
from abroad by Marshall McDonald, of Lexington, Rockbridge County, State
of Virginia, United States of America.
Sealed the 13th February 1880, and dated the 4th September 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th September 1879.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, "IMPROVEMENTS IN FISHWAYS, APPLICABLE ALSO FOR THE PASSAGE
OF BOATS." [A communication from abroad by Marshall McDonald, of Lexington,
Rockbridge County, State of Virginia, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to a novel construction of fishway designed to permit the
fish to pass up streams which are obstructed by dams, and to thus promote the
propogation and culture of this source of food.
In the fish ways heretofore in use the ascent of the dam by the fish has been
provided for by reducing the velocity of the current flowing from the crest of the
dam to the lower level, which is effected by a slight fall or incline and a tortuous
channel. The volume of water in such cases, however, is not sufficient to attract
the fish, and besides, these structures are cumbersome, liable to be swept away by
ice and flods, and involve an unnecessary and excessive expenditure for material,
labor, and maintenance.
This Invention consists in accomplishing the desired result mainly by utilizing
the head of water for the production upon an incline of an upwardly moving
current, the head of water being led to the underside of the incline, whence it
issues through openings to the surface, which openings are arranged in series and
direct the current upwardly, so that an incipient upward current is produced near
the bed of the incline which flows back at such a low velocity as to permit the
fish to swim upward in the same,, the natural instinct of the fish causing it to swim
against the current.
The Invention also consists in other details of construction and arrangement for
adapting this principle to practice and perfecting the same, as hereinafter more
fully described.

page_text: The fish way is to be fixed at its upper end to the breast of the dam, and is
supported at its lower end upon the bed of the stream below so as to occupy an
inclined position. The fish way is constructed of any suitable material in the form
of a sluiceway with a bottom and two sides, and has throughout its length a
central longitudinal partition which rests upon cross bars or cleats placed at equal
distances apart upon the bottom of the way. Upon one side of this partition are
arranged upwardly inclined plates which form openings that discharge the water
upwardly to assist the fish in their ascent, and just beneath these plates are
arranged reversely inclined partitions forming subjacent chambers each of which
communicates with several of the upwardly discharging openings. Upon the
opposite side of the longitudinal partition are arranged a series of partitions having
the same general inclination as the fishway, and a reversed inclination to the
partitions of the opposite side. These partitions form buckets or traps which open
at the top into the space between the walls of the fishway, and at the bottom
communicate with the chambers between the partitions of the opposite side
through the space left between the cross bars or cleats beneath the longitudinal-
partition.
Now, in the operation of the fishway it will be seen that the water from the
breast of the dam passes first into one of the subjacent chambers, and rises through
the upwardly discharging openings. It then flows to one side and enters the
buckets or traps, and passing down the latter enters the subjacent chamber of the
next lower section of upwardly discharging openings; and is thus used over and
over again until it reaches the lower level of the stream. To give a proper head
to the water thus circulating the incline of the buckets and the reversed incline of
the subjacent chambers give a sufficient descent to the water to permit it to issue
each time at the upwardly discharging openings with the required velocity, the
overflow into any one bucket appearing in alternate sections of the upwardly
discharging openings below.
In its simplest form the apparatus may have but, one series of buckets or traps,
and one series of upwardly discharging openings, but this arrangement may be
multiplied to any desired extent, i.e., I may make it in three parallel sections, one
- central row of upwardly discharging openings and receiving buckets in alternate
recurrence to any desired width of way.
In further modifying the Invention I may, if there be an abundance of water,
not find it necessary to trap the water and use it over and over again, as described,
but may have a single large chamber beneath the inclined way through which the
water passes direct to any or all of the inclined upwardly discharging openings.
I may not also arrange the way in straight line from the dam but may give it a
bend, and locate at the bend landing pools for the fish to rest in. I may also so
decrease the size of the openings through which the water gains access to the
subjacent chambers at the lower end of the way as to counteract the effect of the
difference in head, and render the flow uniform through the discharge openings.
In making use of the general principle of the Invention I may also make the way
wide enough to form a channel for the passage of boats, and utilize the upward
current to carry boats from the lower to the upper level of the stream.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd March 1880.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FISHWAYS, APPLICABLE ALSO FOR THE PASSAGE
OF BOATS." A. communication from abroad by Marshall McDonald, of Lexington,
Rockbridge County, State of Virginia, United States of America.
This Invention relates to a novel construction of fishway designed to permit the
fish to pass up streams which are obstructed by dams, and to thus promote the
propagation and culture of this source of food.
In the fishways heretofore in use the ascent of the dam by the fish has been
provided for by reducing the velocity of the current flowing from the crest of the
dam to the lower level, which is effected by a slight fall or incline and a tortuous
channel. The volume of water in such cases, however, is not sufficient to attract
the fish, and besides, these structures are cumbersome, liable to be swept away by
ice and floods, and involve an unnecessary and excessive expenditure for material,
labor, and maintenance.
This Invention consists in accomplishing the desired result mainly by utilizing
the head of water for the production upon an incline of an upwardly moving
current, the head of water being led to the under side of the incline,
whence it issues through openings to the surface, which openings are arranged
in series and direct the current upwardly, so that an incipient upward current
is produced near the bed of the incline which flows back at such a low velocity.
as to permit the fish to swim upward in the same, the natural instinct of the
fish causing it to swim against the current.
The Invention also consists in other details of construction and arrangement for
adapting this principle to practice and perfecting the same, as hereinafter more fully
described.
In the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, Figure 2 a plan, and
Figure 3 an enlarged longitudinal section taken on line x, a, Figure 2, of the
fishway. A represents the breast of the dam; B, B, the lower level of the stream;
and C, the fishway, fixed at its upper end to the breast of the dam, and supported
at its lower end upon the bed of the stream below so as to occupy an inclined
position.
The fishway is constructed of any suitable material in the form of a sluiceway
with a bottom and two sides, and has throughout its length a central longitudinal
partition D which rests upon cross-bars or cleats a placed an equal distance apart
upon the bottom of the way. Upon one side of this partition are arranged the
upwardly-inclined plates E which form openings that discharge the water upwardly
to assist the fish in their ascent; and just beneath these plates E are arranged
reversely-inclined partitions F forming subjacent chambers, each of which commu-
nicates with several of the upwardly-discharging openings. Upon the opposite
side of the longitudinal partition D are arranged a series of partitions G having the
saine general inclination as the fish way and a reversed inclination to the partitions F.
These partitions G form buckets or traps which open at the top into the space
between the walls of the fishway, and at the bottom communicate with the chambers
between the partitions F through the space left between the cross-bars or cleats a
beneath the longitudinal partition D.
Now, in the operation of the fishway it will be seen that the water from the
breast of the dam passes first into one of the subjacent chambers and rises through
the upwardly-discharging openings. It then flows to one side and enters the buckets
or traps, and passing down the latter enters the subjacent chamber of the next
lower section of upwardly-discharging openings, and is thus used over and over
again until it reaclies the lower level of the stream. To give a proper head to the

page_text: water thus circulating the incline of the buckets and the reversed incline of the
subjacent chambers give a sufficient descent to the water to permit it to issue cach
time at the upwardly-discharging openings with the required velocity, the overflow
into any one bucket appearing in alternate sections of the upwardly-discharging
openings below.
As shown in the Drawings the apparatus is represented in its simplest form,
i.e., with one series of buckets or traps and one series of upwardly-discharging
openings, but I may, however, multiply this arrangement to any desired extent,
i.c., I may make it in three parallel sections, one central row of upwardly-
discharging openings, with a series of buckets on each side; or
may arrange the
discharging-openings and receiving-buckets in alternate recurrence to any desired
width of way.
In further modifying the Invention I may, if there be an abundance of
water, not find it necessary to trap the water and use it over and over again as
described, but may have a single large chamber beneath the inclined way through
which the water passes direct to any or all of the inclined upwardly-discharging
openings, I may not also arrange the way in straight line from the dam, but may
give it a bend and locate at the bend landing pools for the fish to rest in.
I may also so decrease the size of the openings through which the water gains
access to the subjacent chambers at the lower end of the way as to counteract the
effect of the difference in head and render the flow uniform through the openings
at E. In making use of the general principle of the Invention I may also make
the way wide enough to form a channel for the passage of. boats, and utilize this
upward current to carry boats from the lower to the upper level of the stream.
In constructing the fish way wood or iron may be used, tho selection being
dependent upon the facilities of construction which circumstances or the locality
may present. The form of the openings of the incline is not material, and the size,
number, and direction will vary with the amount of water available and with the
slope of the incline.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,
1st. The method of utilizing the velocity of a head of water at the dam for the
ascent of fish or boats, which consists in directing said head of water through a
series of openings upon an incline discharging upwardly, substantially as and for
the purpose described.
2nd. A way for the ascent of fish, consisting of a series of upwardly-inclined
plates forming discharging-openings, a set of subjacent chambers communicating
therewith, and a parallel series of buckets opening into the general level of the way
at the top, and into the subjacent chambers of the discharge-openings at the
bottom, all combined substantially as and for the purpose described.
3rd. The combination, with the walls and bottom of the way, of the cross-bars or
cleats.a, the longitudinal partition D resting thereupon, the reversely-inclined par-
titions G and F forming buckets and chambers communicating with each other
beneath the partition D and the inclined plates E, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eightv.