Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Dec. 1890-Accepted, 13th June, 1891

page_text: held apart vertically by springs L. The ends of the springs go some to the left
some to the right and grasp or hold the wires G' keeping the same in position,
the ends of the springs are curved.
The door K in the upper "head" allows.the interior to be reached for removing
the caught fish.
-
Fig. 7 is the plan of a modification and Fig. 8 a vertical section of the appli-
cation of this invention as a universal trap.
In the modification shewn in Figs. 9 to 13 the general construction above
described is retained but instead of the horizontal wires G. G' G² arranged one
above the other and opening separately solid doors (three four or more) are used
arranged vertically above one another and attached to the frame work similarly to
the wires G. alternately going one to the right one to the left crossing one another
and so forming the star shaped entrances.
The panelling" of each door consists of vertical rods readily turning on the top
bar of each frame and striking against the bottom bar so as to open with ease
inward but not outward. Thus the fishes may as aforesaid readily enter at any
level but will also be admitted sideways through the doors. The frame rods a are
not changed and on these are arranged in star-shape (instead of the wires G. the
doors gggg turning horizontally so as to open inward each door consists of a
frame wire B. hinged by an eyelet to a vertical rod A. and held in closed position
by separate springs C, similar to the single wires G. The panelling of the doors
is formed by wires D. freely suspended or hinged to the top wire by eyelets formed
on said hanging wires so that by reason of their own weight they bear against the
bottom wires with their lower end opening inward but closing against outward
pressure. By fitting the upper frame B. or the cross bars C with hollow balls of
copper or other metal which can be filled with water or emptied as required and
hermetically closed the trap may at pleasure serve either as a ground-net or as a
floating one as the ball when full serves to sink the whole whilst empty they will
serve as floats.
When the invention is to be used for trapping game it is fitted with a roof
pointed towards its centre and may be used either to stand on the ground or
suspended by a chain, say from a tree. In this case an iron grating fills the space
not fitted with wires.
To prevent the escape of an animal caught in the trap the vertical wires are not
suspended in a guide slot but are mounted on the upper transverse barr (Figs. 14
and 15) by a sleeve . which prevents their being bent aside, so that they must
always return to their original position. The sleeves as shewn in Fig. 16 have
the form of elongated beads the wires themselves terminate in a point which
should the animal withdraw pierces its flesh thus driving the animal into the trap.
The several rods must be proportioned in size to the animal to be caught by the
trap. They always yield to entrance and fall back towards the bottom rod r¹ by
their own weight when the animal is in the trap.
The lower rod has at its inner side serrations or teeth p¹ Fig. 18 into which
the wires fall on receding so as better to prevent their being shifted.
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. A bow-net or wheel characterised by a star-like arrangement of inlets
accessible from every side and at any level operating by springy horizontal
wires G. G¹, G" held in predetermined position and attached to the parts A of
the framing so as to be alternately turned to the right and left each wire turned to
the right on one upright meeting one turned to the left on the next thus forming the
star like entrances, hollow balls W. being provided on the upper part of the bow-
net which when empty and hermetically closed serve to float the whole but when
full serve as weights to carry the whole down.
II. In a bow-net or wheel or fish pot such as referred to in Claim I the

page_text: substitution for the wires G. G' G" giving entrance radially only of several
doors arranged one above the other (g. g¹) the panelling of each door consisting
of wires D vertically hinged to the top bar of the door, so as to yield access from
the side also, all substantially as described.
III. In a bow-net or wheel or fish pot such as referred to in Claim I the
arrangement rods or wires p suspended by sleeves and movable vertically and
inwards only which nets may he used not only for fish but also for animals the
rods giving free admission but, engaging with the serrations p¹ of rod »¹ prevent
return substantially as described.
Dated this 24th day of December 1890.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., .
Agents for the Applicant.