Improvements in or connected with Fishing Nets for Trawling Purposes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 11th Sept., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Fishing Nets for Trawling
Purposes.
I JOHN EPTON of 59 Duke Street New Clee Grimsby in the County of Lincolnshire,
do hereby declare the nature of this Invertion, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of my invention is to provide and improved method of and means for
raising or supporting the headlines of fishing nets for trawling purposes so lifting
them up in the water and keeping the mouths of such nets open during trawling
operations and at the same time preventing such headlines falling to the bottom of
the sea and getting chafed or rubbed thus rendering a larger catch of fish
possible.
Fig. 1 shows perspective view of otter trawl net with my improved buoys
attached for raising the headline in the water to keep the mouth of the net
open.
Fig. 2 is a front view showing the mouth of net open the head being raised by
means of my improved buoys.
Fig. 3 shows front view of mouth of net depressed or sunk when not supported
by means of floats or buoys.
Fig. 4 shows one of my improved buoys or floats in canvas bag and net and
having lanyard or the like for fastening purposes.
For the purpose of my invention I attach buoys or floats A to the headlines H of
otter trawl nets such buoys or floats A being made preferably of best indiarubber
and being similar in appearance to a large football bladder these bladders are
preferably provided with a pipe B and valve for inflating purposes and are placed
in covers or cases D made of canvas or other suitable material which can be either of
a globular or other suitable shape the size and shape of the cover D determining the
size and shape of the buoy or float.
These covers are preferably made with a slit in to receive the bladder and to lace up
when it is placed inside.
I inflate my buoy or float to a very high pressure and then put it into a network
bag or the like E made of manilla twine or other suitable material, the nets of which
are small enough to prevent the bursting of the buoy when out of water.
A lanyard rope or the like G is provided for the purpose of attaching such
buoys to the headline or other part of the net in connection with which it is being
used.
This construction of buoy or float being made of indiarubber or the like fitted in a
canvas or other suitable cover is capable of standing the pressure of the water at a
very great depth even a greater depth than forty five fathoms which could not be
attained by the old style of buoy made of leather hide or canvas which owing to

page_text: their poreousness or bursting through the great pressure of water quickly got out of
order and were soon rendered useless.
In my drawings I show three buoys attached to the headline of the net but one
two or any suitable number may be employed as desired.
My improved construction of buoy owing to its flexibility conforms itself to any
shape which the pressure of water compells it to assume and is durable and light and
can be inflated or deflated as desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
1. Supporting the head lines of fishing nets for trawling purposes by means of
buoys or floats in the manner and for the purposes substantially as shown and
described.
2. Constructing buoys or floats for use in connection with fishing nets for trawling
purposes of indiarubber in the shape of an inflatable bladder with a tube and valve
fitting such bladder within a canvas or the like cover placing it in a netted bag
such hag being provided with a lanyard or the like for fastening purposes in the
manner and for the purposes substantially as shown and described.
Dated this fourth day of And
ISL LAX
JOHN E. WALSH,
Savile Street, Hull, and Crossley Street, Halifax,
Patent Agent for the Applicant.
JOHN E. WALSH,
Savile Street, Hull, and Crossley Street, Halifax,
Patent Agent for the Applicant.