Improved Method of Net and other Attachments to Otter Boards.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Feb., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 6th Dec., 1897--Accepted, 8th Jan., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
Improved Method of Net and other Attachments to Otter Boards.
I, JOHN RESIDE SMITH, Woodville House, Boulevard, Hull, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object, the fastening of the Net, also the head line, also
the ground line to Otter boards fitted with fin boards, or to usually fitted Otter
boards-In fin Otter boards, whilst I attach both the ground line and the head
line to the after end of the board, the former more or less below the middle of the
board and the latter more or less above the middle of the board, I make a seperate
connection from the net, to the outer fin board, or to the outer side of the Otter
board itself, this attachment being approximately opposite to the after-chain sling
attachment, the same applies to the usual Otter boards whether fitted with chain
slings, wire strips, or metal Brackets. In usual Otter boards whilst for security I
prefer the net attachment to be held by the same bolts as holds the after chain
sling eyes, this only gives approximately the position which may be either aft
or forward of these eyes, or along the middle of the board. In some cases I may
use boards with after sling attachment at the very end of the board, in which case,
I may have two or more attachments, from the net, ground and head lines to each
board.
In other cases I may attach the ground line and the head line to the before
mentioned net attachment; in which case I prefer to attach one or more stretch
lines to the extreme end of the Otter boards, to form a tail to the same and to limit
their stretch.
I, JOHN RESIDE SMITH, Woodville House, Boulevard, Hull, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The object of my invention is to fasten the net, the head line also the ground
line to Otter boards, so as to bring the load due to drag and stretch pull, nearer to,.
or entirely in line with pull of trawl warp; so that the unequal or increasing loads
of the net, due to various well known causes, will not so readily affect the angle

page_text: to which the Otter boards are set to give the requisite stretch of head and ground
lines. In applying my invention to. Otter boards fitted with fin boards, I attach
both the head line and the ground line to the after end of the board, preferably
about half way between after chain sling attachment, and extreme end of board,
I make a seperate wing line attachment further forward on to the fin board, In
applying my invention to the usual chain Sling Otter boards, I prefer the whole
net attachment to be held for security by the same bolts that holds the after chain
sling eyes, although I may go either further forwards, or aft according to whether
it is a short sling or a long sling, in relation to length of board, I may also carry
the head line attachment higher and even fix same on the top of the trawl board.
In some cases such as with short boards, I may carry the after chain sling attach-
ment to the extreme end of the board, in which case I may have two or more bridle
attachments to the board, through which the net, the head and the ground lines,
are connected to the board, I may also fit this bridle attachment to other styles
of boards, and with this style I may connect the whole net attachment by strops
or links on to back of board, In other cases I may attach the ground line and the
head line to the first mentioned wing line attachment, thus gathering the head
line, the wing line and the ground line to a point similar to Scotts net, but fixed
preferably opposite or beyond the after sling attachment. In this case
one or more stretch lines to the end of Otter board to form tail, or to limit the
stretch, or to counteract wobbling.
may fit
And in order that my invention may be properly understood, I give in Sheet I.
Fig. 1 a diagram shewing the principle and action of Otter boards fitted with the
usual attachments at extreme end of board e, shewing the action to be that of a
sea kite, with a heavy and increasing loaded tail, and as the load varies or increases
the angle of the board is considerably altered. In Fig. 2 I shew in the same
diagram my improved net attachment away from the extreme end of board e, or
approximately opposite to after chain attachment, which will shew how little the
angle of the board is altered by increasing the load of the net, a perfect board
being that which has the angle constant irrespective of the load, or that which
opens out the angle, or increases same, with the increased load; at the same time
the board not being liable to spin or wobble.
I will now proceed to further explain my invention, by reference to the drawings,
hereto annexed and the manner in which my improvements may be carried out.
In Sheet 2, I shew edge view of otter boards with various methods of my net
attachments; and in Sheet 3, I shew plan view of otter boards with said net
attachments as fixed to back of otter boards. Fig. 3 and 8 shews otter board A
fitted with fin board B, parallel with or angled to bottom, having head line, h, and
ground line attached to back of otter board at x and y, the wing lines w, w,
attached to fin board at 2, when a fin board is not used, the wing line attachment
may be carried to board direct. Fig. 4 and 9 shews the usual otter board A with
the heal line, h, and the ground line g, attached to back of board r and y, approxi-
mately opposite after chain sling attachment, s, a strop v, or chain or rigid link of
suitable length completing the connection. Fig. 5 and 10, shews an otter board A,
where the after chain sling, usually fitted where dotted chain r is shewn, is shifted
to the extreme end of the board at s. I fit bridles m, m, having two attachments h
and f, to the board; the after one f being approximately opposite to sling attach-
ments s. These bridles may be pliable strops, or rigid links in one or more peices,
In Fig. 6 and 12 I shew these these bridles made of metal, fixed or jointed to
board at h, and f, and they may be made to lie close to board,
as shewn by dotted lines in Fig. 11 which also shews these rigid bridles
locked by a cotter, wedge or block, or other means to keep them standing outwards
when trawling, and when they are put close to back of board, their is no barrier to
getting these stowed on board. I may also fix top strop or link as v Fig. 4 and 9,
or top bridle as m Fig. 12 to the top of the board, as shewn in Fig. 12. In Fig. 7
I shew a net similar to Scotts net having ground line 9, head line h, gathered

page_text: with wing line w to a point t, with slack tail attachment k, k¹, which may connect
to head line h, or to ground line g, and may be extended further along the mouth
of the net. I may apply the respective strop, link, bridle or tail, attachments to
the different styles of boards shewn, or to otter boards fitted with Scott's rigid
links, and I do not confine myself to the exact method of eye attachment shewn on
back of board, and I do not limit myself to any particular position on back or top
of board for net attachment, this depending on the relative length of slings to the
length of boards. The usual otter boards have four chain slings fitted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what maner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
Firstly. A net attachment, partly to back of otter board A, and partly to fin
board B, both away from extreme end of board e, as described and shewn in Fig. 3
and 8, and if fin board B is dispensed with, the wing line connection z is carried
directly to board.
Secondly. A net attachment by means of ground line g, and head line h, con-
nected by means of strops v, vor links, to back of board A, at x, y, approximately
opposite to chain sling attachments s, as described and shewn in Fig. 4 and 9.
Thirdly. A net attachment by means of pliable bridles m, m, Fig. 5
and 10, or rigid bridle in one or more parts m, m, Fig. 6, 11, 12,
applied to back of usual otter boards Fig. 4 and 9, or other otter boards having
after sling attachment at extreme end of board A, at e, as described and shewn in
Fig. 5, 10, 11, 12.
Fourthly. A net attachment by means of head ground and wing lines gathered
to a point, t, and connected to back of board, by a Strop, link or the like, to about
the middle of the board, with extreme end tail connections k, k¹, to steady the board
as described and shewn in Fig. 7. This tail connection can be fitted to Fig. 4
board also.
Dated this 1th da...