Improvements in Trawling Apparatus.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 18th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 15th May, 1897
Improvements in Trawling Apparatus.
I JOSEPH HENRY MACLURE, of 77 Mayfield Street, Hull in the County
of Yorkshire, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, to be as
follows:-
The object of my invention is to construct an improved apparatus to be used for
fish trawling purposes which can be more easily worked than any of those at
present in use.
For the purpose of my invention I employ suitable trawl nets to either side of
the mouth of which, and either inside or outside such mouth I connect light wings,
or special attachments to connect such wings or other auxiliaries. These wings
are employed in place of cumbrous and heavy beams or otter boards now commonly
used and the said wings and attachments are made of any suitable materials which
combine the greatest general efficiency, with the least efficacious weight, great
strength, specific gravity and minimum friction, resistance and displacement in the
water. The aforesaid wings may be made of woven wire netting or any other
suitable material capable of resisting the pressure of the water and such wire
netting may be covered or otherwise, as desired, with canvas or other suitable
material, and securely fastened to iron or other frameworks if required. The
attachments may be made of iron or other suitable metal or materials. The wings
are so arranged that they can be used with bridle reins and one hawser, or without
bridle reins, and with two hawsers. I employ attachments to which removable
weights can be fixed for trawling in very deep water, in strong currents, or at
increased speed.
I may employ attachments to which self extending pendulum weights can be
fixed for preventing the wings from falling over on their sides when used on sailing
vessels liable to be becalmed. Suitable contrivances are employed so that the
wings are kept a few inches from the ground when bottom trawling, in order to
prevent their ploughing in the mud or sand, and I may also employ light
subsidiary wings to attach to and to support the primary wings when it is desired to
trawl in middle or surface water. Auxiliary nets may be used for closing the
aperture between the top of the mouth of the net and the top of the wings if
desired. I may also employ safeguard arrangements for minimizing the chance of
loss of or damage to the net or apparatus when caught on rocks or other
obstacles when trawling. If desired I may use the electric light, and artificial or
other bait for the purpose of attracting fish into the net.
By the employment of these wings and appliances in place of the heavy and
cumbrous beams or otter boards, greater efficiency, greater ease in working, a
smaller consumption of coal on steamers, the use of lighter and less expensive
tackle, and deck appliances, and many other advantages are obtained.
AL3 cac 1800
JOHN E. WALSH,
Savile Street, Hull, and Crossley Street, Halifax,
Patent Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Trawling Apparatus.
JOSEPH HENRY MACLURE (late of 77 Mayfield Street Hull) and now of the
Imperial Hotel, Hull, in the County of York, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
That the object of this invention is to construct an improved apparatus which can
be more easily and successfully worked than any other now in use for fish trawling
purposes, on all sized vessels and for all kinds of fish.
In the construction of this apparatus there are so many combinations of materials,
auxiliaries and the like that it is impossible to describe all within the limits of this
specification therefore without confining myself solely in practise to the combination
herein particularly set forth, I fully describe one method of carrying out the
invention and in order that this particular method and the invention generally may
be clearly understood I attach drawings Nos. 1 to 8.
Fig. No. 1. shows the view of a suitable trawl net of special construction for use
with one or more pair of wings, or net extenders and one or more pair of sledges or
auxiliaries which can be attached to one or more of the ground ropes and
headlines of the net respectively and at either end of such ground ropes and
headlines.
Fig. No. 2. shows the view of a suitable trawl net of special construction, it has
three cod ends (instead of one cod end as is usual) (& can equally well be made with
only two cod ends) joined in one mouth for taking one or more pair of wings or
net extenders and one or more pair of sledges or auxiliaries which can be attached
to one or more of the ground ropes & headlines of the net respectively and at
both ends.
Fig. No. 3. shows plan view of a suitable net, being an ordinary trawl net, and
the way of working with a pair of bridle reins and one hawser, or with two
hawsers, instead of with bridle reins and one hawser.
Figure No. 4. shows view of the ground piece of a suitable net made in a special
manner for the mouth of a suitable net.
Figure No. 5. shows side view of one kind of wing or net extender.
Figure No. 6. shows side view of a side piece for a suitable net made in a special
manner so as to allow of one or more wings and one or more sledges or auxiliaries
being attached.
Figure No. 7. shows the view of a wing attached at its centre to the pillar of a
sledge upon the runner of which it rests so that it does not drag on the ground.
Figure No. 8. shows view of a wing attached by one of its ends to the pillar of
a sledge upon the runner of which it rests so that it does not drag on the ground.
In constructing this apparatus 1 combine the use of suitable trawl nets with light
wings, (otherwise called "net extenders") and special attachments & other
auxiliaries.
"Suitable trawl nets" comprise all kinds of existing trawl nets, as well as nets
made specially for this apparatus.
Safeguards (1) Figures Nos. 1 & 2 can be inserted in the ground ropes (K. K
& K2) or in one, or more of them, or as in Figure No. 3 in one of the bridle
reins (L) or, when no bridle reins are used, in one of the hawsers (M). These
safeguards bear less tensile strain and therefore break more easily than any other
part of the apparatus, and thus lessen the chance of the total loss of, or damage to,
any other part of the apparatus.
Suitable trawl nets are made of twine, or the like material, and of any size,
shape, or strength according to the work they have to perform.
In Figure No. 4. special groundpieces (a) made for special nets are open for a

page_text: certain distance (6) between the groundrope (K) and the ground rope (K¹) and
closed with netting in the part marked (c) between the ground ropes (K' & K³).
In this manner fish disturbed by ground rope (K) are not prevented from
entering the net, but (K) having passed over them they are more likely to do
SO, which they could not do if the space (b) were filled in with netting.
The ground ropes (K. K' & K2) (which can be made of rope chain or the like)
or two, or more of them, can be attached together by cords, chains, or the like (F)
by rings (E) or other appliances and bent on, or fastened to, each other by these
auxiliaries, or in any other suitable manner.
In Figure No. 6. the special sidepiece (G) varies in length and height according
to the width of the mouth of the net, and is constructed as in Figures Nos. 1 & 2.
so as to allow of one or more groundropes (K. K K2) and one or more head-
lines (H. H & H2) being used. To one, or any, or all, of these groundropes and
to one, or any, of these headlines a pair of sledges and wings can be attached,
so that the lateral force to open the mouth of the net can be enormously
increased, and nets of infinitely greater breadth of mouth can be advantageously
used.
In Figure No. 8. the headline (H) of the net (A) is attached to the ring (h)
at the top of the pillar (Q) of the sledge (Z) & the ground rope (K) of the net (A)
is attached to the ring (U) on the heel (V) of the runner (t) of the sledge (Z).
The attachments between the net and the sledge, or other auxiliary, may be made
in the same, or in a similar manner notwithstanding that the attachments between
the sledge, or auxiliary, and the wing, are made at a different part of the wing as
in Figure No. 7.
"Wings or net extenders." In Figure No. 5 the wing (B) is constructed of
fine steel wire netting covered with waterproof canvas strengthened by iron
bars (E).
"Wings" can be constructed of aluminium, of any other sheet metal, or of any
other suitable material, or materials, according to their size, the speed at which
it is desired to trawl, & consequently the pressure of water they will have to resist
and are strengthened in any desired manner according to the amount of such
.pressure.
These wings, or net extenders, can be made of any weight, size, or shape, and in
the form of parallel, double, or compound wings. In Figure No. 5. the wire
netting (D) is nailed on to a woodeu tarred framework which is bound round with
hoop iron and bolted or rivetted on to one, or between two iron frameworks (E).
The hinges (f) are fixed at the extreme end of the wing in this figure, but in
Figure No. 7, they are fixed in another suitable position near the centre. These
hinges rest and work easily upon the iron bars (W) and upon the top of the
surface of the heel (V) of the runner (t) of the sledge (Z) & in this manner
have free play and are prevented from scraping along the ground. The pillar of
the sledge may be arranged to work on the inside of the wing as in Figure No. 7,
or it can be arranged to work outside the wings, & chains, or ropes, or the like,
may be used instead of the iron bars (W) & the iron rod (P), in which case other
arrangements are made for supporting the hinges (f) on the pillar (Q). The
heel (V) can be made of any height.
For the purposes of this specification I use this word "auxiliaries" as signifying
special attachments or contrivances such as sledges, carriages with their rings chains
and the like, to attach such wings to the nets & such wings to the bridle reins,
or hawsers & to keep such wings off the ground & also to signify pendulum
and removeable weights which can be fixed on to such wings or their accessories,
the sledges, or the like, when extra weight is required for trawling in very deep
water or when trawling on sailing vessels liable to be becalmed. Such removable
weights such as shoes, runners, or the like, are also suitable contrivances for keeping
the wings off the ground when bottom trawling in order to prevent their ploughing
in the mud or sand. I use this word "auxiliaries" also to mean light subsidiary
wings auxiliary nets, safeguard arrangements the electric light, artificial or other

page_text: bait bridle reins and hawsers and all other appliances so as to secure greater ease
in working this apparatus and so as to secure a smaller consumption of coal on
steamers and smacks using steam engines for hoisting purposes, & so as to secure
the use of lighter and less expensive tackle & deck appliances and many other
advantages all foreshadowed in the preliminary specification and the supports for
the hinges (f) can be arranged to keep the wing at any desired distance above
the ground.
In Figures Nos. 7. & 8. the curb line (J) is made of rope, chain, or the like and
is attached to the ring (g) on the wing (B), and to the ring (1) on the sledge (Z) &
can be made of any length so as to allow of the wing extending to that angle
at which it will acquire the greatest lateral force for extending the mouth of
the net. Two or more curb lines (J J¹ & J2) can be used and attached where
desireable see Figure 8.
For use on sailing vessels liable to be becalmed the curblines (J. J', & J2) or
one, two, or all of them can be made of iron or other bars, or the like, so that
the wing and sledge form one rigid body supported on the runner of the sledge
and on the bottom of the wing when they are slightly canted over, and thus they
cannot under ordinary circumstances be forced over on their side when there
is no way on the vessel or no outward pull on the net extenders.
"Auxiliaries" are constructed of iron, or any other suitable metal, or of wood,
cork, or any other suitable material.
In Figures Nos. 7 & 8. the sledge (Z) is an "auxiliary" constructed of iron and
made of sufficient strength and in such a manner as to carry the wing or net
extender (B) above, and so that it does not "under ordinary circumstances" touch
the ground and so as to enable it to work freely on its hinges, and receive all
possible pressure of the water in order to secure the greatest amount of lateral force
for extending the mouth of the net.
The sledge bears the whole strain of towing the net and its contents, by the
headline (H) attached to the ring (h) at the top of the pillar (Q) and by the
groundrope (K) attached to the ring (U) on the heel (V) of the runner (t) see
Figure 8.
The sledge is towed by the hawser (M) in a straight line in the wake of the
vessel without interfering in any way with the oblique or partly broadside on
course of the wing or net extender, which has no strain upon it apart from that of
the pressure of the water caused by its travelling through the water at that angle
at which it acquires the greatest lateral force for the purpose of causing the
strongest possible outward pull to extend the mouth of the net.
The sledge rests upon its broad runner (t) constructed so as to slide over the
surface of the ground in a straight line in the wake of the vessel with as little
friction and resistance as possible.
In place of a sledge, another form of an auxiliary namely a carriage running on
spiked or other wheels, or the like form of supports, to runners, or wheels, can
be used.
When using the electric or other light, which with the battery or reservoir may
be fixed to the sledge, or other auxiliary, or in any other convenient position; the
battery, or reservoir may be fixed on board the vessel and connected to the electric
or other light by a wire or other conductor, or in any other convenient manner.
When a light is used the wings or extenders may be partially or altogether
constructed of "aluminium" or of any other suitable material, which will act as a
reflector, and artificial or other bait can be attached in one or more suitable
positions to the apparatus, for the purpose of attracting fish to the net, when the
bait glitters in the rays of the light.
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-
Firstly. The novelty of the combination of suitable trawl nets with wings, or net

page_text: extenders, and with sledges, or carriages, or other auxiliaries which together form
a novel apparatus.
Secondly. The novelty of the combination of suitable trawl nets for use with one
or more pair of wings or net extenders and special attachments or other auxiliaries
or contrivances to keep the wings off the ground such as one or more pair of
sledges, or carriages, or the like at either side of the mouth of such net and either
inside or outside such mouth or only partially inside & partially outside such mouth
so as to form a novel apparatus.
Thirdly. The construction of wings or net extenders of any kind for use with
suitable trawl nets and special attachments, or other auxiliaries and suitable
contrivances to keep the wings off the ground when bottom trawling, such as
sledges, carriages or the like to form a novel trawling apparatus depending upon
the lateral force gained by the net extenders to extend the mouth of the net & in
contradistinction to the manner of extending a net by the beam which is also a net
extender & which travels on trawl heads which may also be called sledges or
carriages or the like.
Fourthly. The construction of sledges carriages or similar auxiliaries for use
with any kind of wings, or similar net extenders, including any form of otter
boards, so as to form a novel trawling apparatus.
Fifthly. The construction of any kind of wing or net extender when used with
sledges, carriages, or the like, in combination with the electric or other light so as
to form a novel trawling apparatus.
Sixthly. The novelty of constructing a trawling apparatus consisting of sledges
or other similar auxiliaries, towed in a straight line in the wake of the vessel
bearing the whole strain of the net and its contents and at the same time carrying
the wing or other mechanism of whatever kind that may be employed to extend
the mouth of the net at any reasonable height above the surface of the ground in
order to allow such extender free play to acquire the utmost possible amount of
lateral force to extend the mouth of the net and at the same time in order to
minimize to the utmost, the resistance, friction & weight of the apparatus.
Dated this Sixteenth day of February 1897.
JOSEPH HENRY MACLURE,
Sole Inventor and Patentee.