A NEW METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ATTRACTING AND CATCHING OF FISH
Year: 1821

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JEAN
FREDERICK Marquis de CHABANNES, of Russell Place, Fitzroy Square, in the
County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth, did, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of that part of the United Kingdoni
of Great Britain and Ireland called England, bearing date at Westminster, the
Fourteenth day of August, in the second year of His reign, give and grant.
unto me, the said Jean Frederick Marquis de Chabannes, my exors, admors,
and assigns, His especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that
I, the said Jean Frederick Marquis de Chabannes, my exors, adiñiors, and
assigns, during the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in all His Majesty's Colonies and Plantations
abroad, my Invention of "A NEW METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ATTRACTING AND
CATCHING OF FISH;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso,
that if I, the said Jean Frederick, Marquis de Chabannes, shall not particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, and cause the same to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said Letters Patent, that then the said Letters Patent, and all liberties
and advantages whatsoever thereby granted, shall utterly cease, determine, and
become void, as in and by the same, relation being thereunto had, will more
fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Jean Frederick, Marquis de Chabannes, do hereby declare that the nature of
my said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed,
are particularly described and ascertained in and by the Drawing hereunto
annexed, and the following description thereof (that is to say) :-
My peculiar method of attracting and catching fish are the following:-
1st, the sinking a lamp or light under the surface of the water to any depth
that may be useful, with one or more communications from it open to the
atmosphere above, by which the smoke may rise and fresh air may descend to
feed the flame; 2nd, the using mirrors under the water connected with traps
or nets, to allure the fishes into the situations from which they cannot again
escape; 3rd, the placing living fishes, surrounded by glass or other protection,
in or about my nets or traps as a further allure or bait. I confine myself to
no particular form of lamp or light, but that which I generally prefer is
represented by Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Fig. 1st shews the general form of the vessel in which the lamp is placed;
G, a glass vessel, connected so as to be air and water-tight, with the top or
cover H, P, P, HI, through which cover pass the tubes M, to admit the fresh
air, and L, to act as a chimney. Fig. 2 shews the lamp placed in its situation;
G, the outward glass, of which the upper edge is united by cement to the
rim H, or is ground smooth, so as to form a water-tight joining with a-part
of the cover.similarly ground, when pressed against it by immersion in the
water; I, the lamp or light; K, reservoir of oil; L, the chimney pipe; M,
the air supply pipe. Fig. 3 shews the interior of the lamp vessel when
viewed from above, after the cover P, P, is removed; R, the chimney; K, K, K,
the oil cistern; S, the support of the lamp; 0, 0, 0, 0, the openings by
which the fresh air descends. Fig. 4 shews the top or cover of the lamp
vessel P, P, with the nails or screws which unite it with the parts below; L,
the cliimney; M, the supply tube. The scale given with these Figures shews
the dimensions. In using the mirrors I confine myself to no particular
disposition of them. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are different views of a common mirror
trap. In Fig. 5 it is seen from above, in Fig. 6 from before, in Fig. 7 from
the side, in Fig 5 you look down upon it. A, A, A, A, the corners of a
containing frame; of wood, iron, or other material, which frame may be covered
with weeds, cloth, or anything which can conceal it from the fishes, and may
not alarm them, and the bottom is covered with sand; B, B, B, B, are mirrors
placed so as to reflect or multiply objects coming towards them; C, C,
entrances for the fish with flaps or doors or valves which yield to the fish as
he presses inwards, but shut against his return; D, the passage into the net

page_text: or pouch behind the mirrors where the fishes collect, and from which the
fisherman takes them; E, flaps or veils of netting, which give way to the fish
entering the pouch, but prevent his return; F, the pouch net behind the
mirrors. Fig. 6 is a front view, where the same letters indicate the same
parts, and the light G is seen in its situation above the trap. Fig. 7 is a side
view, and the pouch F is seen behind the mirrors.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jean Frederick Marquis de Chabannes,
have hereunto set my band and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of
January, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
twenty-two.