Improvements in Nets for Catching Crabs, Lobsters, and other Fish.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 11th Apr., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Nets for Catching Crabs, Lobsters, and other Fish.
I, ROBERT MORRIS FRANKLIN, of No. 2307 Strand, Galveston, County of
Galveston, State of Texas, United States of America, Lawyer, have invented
certain new and useful IMPROVEMENTS IN NETS FOR CATCHING CRABS,
LOBSTERS, AND OTHER FISH," and I do hereby declare that the following is a
full, clear and exact description of the same, reference being made to the accom-.
panying drawings in which:-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my net as it appears when partially spread, set
by its trigger, and in the act of being lowered to the bed of river or stream.
Figure 2 is a transverse section of the same as it appears before it has reached
the bed of the river, and before it is "unset."
Figure 3 is a similar view to Figure 2 showing the net after having reached the
bed of the river, and become unset.
Figure 4 is a side view, and Figure a cross section of the net in the line y, y of
Figure 4, as it appears while being raised with a load of crabs, lobsters or fish.
Figure 6 is a detail view of the frame of the net as folded for transportation.
Figure 7 is a top view of one corner of the frame, slightly modified in con-
struction.
Figure 8 is section in the line 2, 2, Figure 7 of this modified construction.
Figure 9 an end view of the frame, showing a modification of the means for
spreading, lowering and keeping in position the net until it is unset on or above the
bed of the river, and
Figure 10 is detail section of the modified device shown in Figure 9.
My invention relates to nets for catching crabs, lobsters and fish; and it consists
in certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts in such nets,
whereby the net is rendered capable of being folded and expanded, and the manipu-
lation of the net is rendered very convenient, as well as its effectiveness increased,
the jointing of the net being such that it can be folded very compactly, either before
or after use, and thus much inconvenience avoided in its transportation to and from
its place of use. The construction is also such that the setting trigger of the net is
automatically unset.
A, A' in the drawings designate the side bars and B, B1 B2 B3 the end bars of
the frame of the net. This frame has the netting applied to it in the manner shown,
or in any other suitable manner. The end bar B, B1 is formed with a loose joint
connection, and that B2 B3 with a loose joint connection b¹. These connections
allow the net to spread so as to lie horizontally as shown in Figure 3, and to so fold
that the two parts of the respective end bars shall stand vertical and close to one
another as shown in Figure 5. The position shown in Figure 3 is the one which
the net occupies either on or above the bed of the river while adjusted for catching
crabs, lobsters or fish, with the bait tied to it as usual; and the position shown in
Figure 5, that which it is caused to assume while being raised with the crabs,
lobsters or fish within the network. One part of each of the end bars is formed
with a stout extension c, which prevents the net frame from bowing upward after it
has been spread to a horizontal position. The side bars are jointed loosely to the
outer extremities of the end bars by means of loose joint connections 6, and each
bar is formed with a right angular stop extension c², said extensions serving to keep
the end bars at a right angle with the side bars when the net is fully spread and
lying horizontally upon or above the bed of the river. The extension ce² render
the bars of the net frame practically rigid against upward and lateral movement
independently of one another when the net is lying upon or above the bed of the
river.
If the frame is made oval its bars will be curved so as to give the ends and

page_text: sides of the net frame a bowing form.
:
The loose joint connections, of the net
frame permit said frame to fold, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, so as to enclose
and retain the crabs, lobsters or fish while raising the net and the joint connec-
tions at the corners permit the end bars after being folded, so as to stand
vertically, as in said figures, to fold horizontally, and lie longitudinally close along-
side the side bars, as shown in Figure 6. By providing for the folding of the bars,
as in Figure 6, the net can be brought into a very compact position for trans-
portation to and from the fishing grounds. For setting and holding the net, while
being lowered in nearly a fully spread condition, as in Figures 1 and 2, a broad
surface trigger plate; or device C is hinged to the part 1 of an end bar; and said
plate or device is slotted to admit through it a V, or other suitably shaped retaining
catch Con the part B¹ of said end bar. The trigger plate by being hooked upon
the catch serves for keeping the frame from assuming a horizontal position while
the net is being lowered, and also keeps the net partly spread, but as soon as the net
is suddenly jerked upwardly, the trigger plate is, by the resistance of the water,
instantly released from the catch, and drops down, and thereupon the frame
immediately assumes a horizontal position, shown in Figure 3, either on or above
the bed of the river. If the net is used on the bed of the river the trigger plate is
automatically released by the gravity of the sections causing the net to spread out
fully but should the trigger not be released by this means, a slight upward jerk
will effect its release. For lowering the frame and keeping it in a properly spread
position, and also aiding in folding it, two cords D, united centrally over the net to
an adjustable float or buoy E, are applied to the net, one cord being passed across
the net and through off-setting eyes d, d at one end of the frame, and its ends
carried up through the float or buoy; and the other cord passed across the net and
through similar eyes d' d' at the other end of the frame, and thence up through the
float or buoy the four ends of the cord being connected above the float to a
suitable S shaped hook, to which a suspension cord may be fastened, said cord being
attached to a stake. On the cords D, stops f, preferably in form of balls, are
fastened at points which will just permit the frame to spread to a horizontal position,
and when this occurs they come in contact with the eyes d', and act as means to
keep the frame in that condition, steadying it and preventing it having movements
which would tend to frighten the crabs or fish, and interfere with its perfect
operation. The cords D, by being arranged incliningly from the float to the
corners of the frame and passed across the ends of the same, serve for closing the
net in the most effective and speedy manner, when the weight of the net is suspended
upon them, which takes place on raising the buoy or float out of the water and
lifting the net by the suspending cord. The float E keep the cords taut while the
net is resting upon the bed of the river; and the arrangement of the cords, so that
they cross at the ends of the net, avoids disturbance of the fish in the closing of the
net; and, in connection with the stops, the cords aid in keeping the net balanced
either on or above the bed of the river. The hinged joint connection may be in the
form of a loop fitted over or fastened to the angular extensions of the side bars
receiving between its bifurcations the outer extremities of the bars B, B1 B2 B³, as
illustrated in Figure 4 or these connections may be in the form of a loop, having
its ends inserted between the bifurcated ends of the end bars, as illustrated in
Figures 7 and 8: Instead of employing the cords D for lowering and closing the
net, a pair of levers F, as shown in Figure 9, may be adopted for this purpose. The
lower ends of the levers F have a slight hook formed on them which enters a hole
in a lug Gattached centrally to the respective side bars A, A¹ as shown. By
means of sliding sleeves H on the levers F, the hooked ends of the levers are
retained in the holes of the lugs as will be fully understood from Figures 9 and 10.
The lugs Gare free to turn on the side bars, in order to allow the levers F to
spread at their lower ends when the net assumes a horizontal position above or on
the bed of the river. A. cord D is attached to the short arms of the levers F, and
its ends are passed up through the float and connected to the suspending hook
and cord. In all other respects the net is constructed and provided with a trigger

page_text: plate, and catch, as in the other figures of the drawing. It will be understood that
the trigger device will operate well without the broad surfaced plate on its free end,
especially when the net is lowered for use on the bed of the river, and opens fully
by the gravity of its sections causing it to lie horizontally, and thereby releasing
the catch; but for fishing both above and on the bed of the river, the broad trigger
plate is preferable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The folding net for catching fish, lobsters, crabs, and for other analogous uses,
constructed and operating substantially as described.
2. The set trigger applied and operating, substantially as described.
3. The guiding eyes, and the cords passed through said eyes and across the ends
of the net, and united centrally over the net to a suspending cord, substantially as
described.
4. The cords passed across the ends of the frame of the net and provided with
stops, in combination with the float or buoy, substantially as described.
5. A net frame provided with jointed end bars which are jointed to the side
bars, the joints in the bars being constructed and arranged, substantially as
described.
Dated this 17th day of February 1891.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.