IMPROVE- MENTS IN VESSELS FOR PRESERVING LEECHES AND FISH ALIVE
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Lifford Smartt, of Enfield, in the
County of Middlesex, Chemist, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN VESSELS FOR PRESERVING LEECHES AND FISH ALIVE."
Sealed the 1st February 1854, and dated the 8th October 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Lifford
Smartt at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 8th October 1859.
I, GEORGE LIFFORD SMARTT, of Enfield, in the County of Middle-
sex, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VESSELS FOR PRESERVING LEECHES AND FISH ALIVE"
to be as follows:-
I make use of an earthen or other suitable vessel, and perforate the
cover or top with numerous small holes. In the bottom of the vessel
I introduce an air tube, which rises an inch and a half, more or less,
from the bottom. The top of the air pipe may be made of any desired
shape or size to suit the vessel, but I prefer it of a mushroom shape and
perforated. On the bottom of the vessel I strew some pieces of charcoal
and a few stones. On the top or lid of the vessel I fix a convex or other

page_text: conveniently shaped distributor or spreader, fluted or not, and allow a
small current of water to flow thereon. The top or cover of the vessel
being perforated, the water passes through the perforations into the
vessel. When the body of water inside of the vessel rises to the level
of the air pipe it flows off through it. The upward current of air
through the air pipe, together with the continual supply of fresh water
dropping through the perforated lid upon the leeches or fish, keeps the
temperature in a cool and proper state for preserving them alive and in
a healthy and vigorous condition..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Lifford Smartt in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 8th April_1854..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1,
GEORGE LIFFORD SMARTT, of Enfield, in the County of Middlesex,
Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said George Lifford Smartt, Her special
licence that I, the said George Lifford Smartt, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George Lifford
Smartt, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Chaunel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VESSELS FOR PRESERVING LEECHES AND FISH
ALIVE," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George
Lifford Smartt, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar

page_text: months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Lifford Smartt, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the
Drawing hereunto annexed (that is to say):
My Invention consists of an improved construction of vessel or
apparatus for preserving leeches and fish alive. In carrying my
Invention into effect I make use of an earthen or other suitable
vessel of convenient dimensions, and perforate the cover with nume-
rous small holes. In the bottom of the vessel I introduce an air tube,
which rises about an inch and a half, more or less, from the bottom.
The top of the air pipe is furnished with a cover or rose, which may be
made of any desired shape or size to suit the vessel, but I prefer it of a
mushroom shape, and perforated with small holes. On the bottom of
the vessel I strew some pieces of charcoal, by preference that made
from hard wood, and a few stones. On the top or lid of the vessel I
fix a convex or other conveniently shaped distributor or spreader, fluted
or not, and I allow a small stream of water to flow thereon from any
suitable source. The top or cover of the vessel being perforated, the
water passes from the distributor through the perforations into the
vessel. When the body of water inside the vessel rises to the level of
the top of the air-pipe, it flows off through the perforations in its cover
and down the pipe. The upward current of air through the air pipe,
together with the continual supply of fresh water dropping through the
perforated lid upon the leeches or fish in the vessel, keeps the tempera-
ture of the water in a cool and proper state for preserving them alive
and in a healthy and vigorous condition.
The Drawing annexed represents an elevation and vertical section of
a vessel for preserving leeches and fish alive, having my improvements
applied thereto. A, A, is the vessel; and B, its cover, perforated with
numerous holes, and having a slightly raised ledge a, a, round it, to
prevent the water running over the sides. C, is the bottom of the
vessel; D, the air pipe fixed therein; and E, its perforated cover or

page_text: rose. F, represents the pieces of charcoal and small stones on the
bottom of the vessel. G, is the distributor or spreader, fixed on or
formed in one with the cover B; and H, the supply pipe, fitted with a
tap I, through which the vessel is supplied, with water, the quantity
being regulated by opening the tap I, to the required extent. It will be
-seen that the vessel always contains water up to the level of the top of
the air pipe, at which point the superfluous quantity runs to waste
through the air pipe.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim
as my improvements in vessels for preserving leeches and fish alive is,―
The air pipe in the bottom of the vessel for introducing fresh air and
allowing the waste water to escape, and the distributor or spreader on
the lid or cover of the vessel for distributing the water supplied to the
vessel over the perforated lid.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Lifford Smartt, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this First day of April, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-four.
GEORGE LIFFORD SMARTT. (L.S.)