Improvements in Trawl Fishing, and Appliances therefor.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 16th June, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 16th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 16th Apr., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Trawl Fishing, and Appliances therefor.
We, LAWRENCE SPRING, Manager of The Steam Trawling Company, and
GEORGE HALLATT, Foreman, both of St. Andrew's Dock, Hull, in the County of
York, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
"
This invention relates to improvements in that class of trawling nets employed
in deep sea fishing in which the mouth of the net is kept open or spread out by
means of what are known as otter boards " the object being to afford means
for rendering such otter boards and nets readily available for use in herring or
other fishing wherein the fish are found in quantity at or near the surface of the
water.
In carrying out our invention the upper edges of the otter boards are connected
by means of ropes or chains with suitable floats; the length of the connections
being capable of variations or adjustment according to the depth below the surface
of the water at which the boards with the net attached thereto are required for
use.
The floats may be constructed of wood or metal in any suitable form, such as
cylindrical, boat-shaped or barrel-shaped with pointed or curvilinear ends.
The "otter boards" with the net attached thereto are towed by means of warps
in the usual manner, but instead of being drawn along the bottom of the sea are
supported near the surface of the water.
Improvements in Trawl Fishing, and Appliances therefor.
We, LAWRENCE SPRING, Manager of The Steam Trawling Company, and
GEORGE HALLATT, Foreman, both of St. Andrew's Dock, Hull, in the County of
York, 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:
-
This invention relates to improvements in connection with that class of trawling
nets employed in deep sea fishing in which the mouth of the net is kept open or
spread out by means of what are known as 'otter' boards; the object being to.
afford means for rendering such 'otter' boards and nets readily available for use in
herring or other fishing wherein the fish are found in quantity at or near the
surface of the water.

page_text: 6
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation and Fig. 2 an end
view of an 'otter' or 'shear board or spreader' arranged according to our
invention. Fig. 3 is a plan of a portion of a trawling net having our improved
otter' boards and floats secured thereto.
In carrying out our invention the upper edges of the 'otter' boards A are
connected by means of wire ropes or chains B with suitable floats C; the length of
the connections being capable of variation or adjustment according to the depth
below the surface of the water at which the boards with the net attached thereto
are required for use.
The floats C may be constructed of wood or metal in any suitable form, such as
cylindrical, boat-shaped or barrel-shaped with pointed or curvilinear ends. In the
drawing they are shown as constructed of galvanised iron protected with wood
lagging e, two or more water-tight compartments being provided whereby, in the
event of the floats being subjected to concussion, their buoyancy is not wholly
destroyed. Metallic bands or hoops e serve to secure the lagging. "To the eyelet
is attached a shackle for use in getting the appliance in board.
The head line D of the net D₁ may be attached to the rear upper corner of the
'otter' board. When a greater opening is required at the mouth of the net,
the head line may be secured to the outer extremity of an arm, a pivoted in lugs a
the boss of the arm being formed with a toe or stop a², whereby it is preserved
in a vertical or upright attitude and the head line maintained at the desired
altitude. a³ is a stay rope for the arm. To facilitate the operation of getting
inboard the arm may be turned down upon the upper edge of the otter board.
The foot rope D2 is attached to the rear lower corner of the otter" board. dd are
floats for supporting the head line and assisting in maintaining the mouth of the
net open.
The otterboards AA with the net D¹ attached thereto are towed by means
of warps EE secured to the boards at ee in the usual manner, but instead of being
drawn along the bottom of the sea are supported near the surface of the water; the
distance below the surface being adjusted by means of the suspending ropes or
chains B.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our 'said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we claim :-
1. In trawl fishing apparatus, the herein described means for rendering trawling
nets serviceable near the surface of the water.
2. In trawl fishing apparatus, the herein described means for suspending the
'otter' boards at variable distances beneath the surface of the water, same com-
prising floats C and connecting ropes or chains B, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
3. For use with 'otter' boards, a float constructed substantially as described
with reference to the accompanying drawings, and provided with flexible connections
capable of contraction or extension at will.
4. The improved trawl fishing apparatus, constructed or operating substantially
as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
T
1
1000
Dated
1898.
For the Applicants,
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
Chartered Patent Agent, 191, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,