IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAWL NETS CAPABLE OF ALLOWING IMMATURE (SMALL) FISH AND REFUSE TO ESCAPE THEREFROM, APPLICABLE ALSO TO STOW NETS AND SHRIMP TRAWLS AND IN THE METHOD OF " FISHING BUCH NETS "
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Read of Byrom House St Patricks Road Deal in
the County of Kent for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAWL NETS
CAPABLE OF ALLOWING IMMATURE (SMALL) FISH AND REFUSE TO ESCAPE
THEREFROM, APPLICABLE ALSO TO STOW NETS AND SHRIMP TRAWLS AND IN
THE METHOD OF
"
FISHING BUCH NETS
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Read at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st November 1882.
GEORGE READ, of Byrom House, St Patricks Road, Deal in the County of Kent
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAWL NETS CAPABLE OF ALLOWING IMMATURE (SMALL) FISH
AND REFUSE TO ESCAPE THEREFROM APPLICABLE ALSO TO STOW NETS AND
SHRIMP TRAWLS, AND IN THE METHOD OF "FISHING" SUCH NETS."
The object of the first part of this Invention is improvements in trawl nets stow
nets and shrimp trawls whereby they are rendered capable of allowing immature
fish and refuse to escape leaving only the large marketable fish to be hauled
inboard.
The Invention consists of a "bonnet" net laced on to the lower part of the trawls
and stow nets as now used at about two feet from the ends. The advantage of
this is that the end of the trawl net being inside the "bonnet" it forms a pocket
all round the "bonnet" and prevents the backward escape of the large fish. The
"bonnet" is distended or kept open by hoops at the upper and lower part. This
distension allows the water to escape more freely than with the present trawls
whereby a vessel is enabled to cover considerably more ground. The hoops are
formed of wood, cane or galvanized iron parcelled round to prevent the meshes
being rubbed or chafed and when in position they are covered with preferably green
hide or liquid leather.
A rubbing mat also of green hide is laced onto the main body of the net and
over the outside of the hoops to protect them and the bonnet when being towed
or dragged over the ground. The meshes of the bonnet net are formed in the
reverse form to those of the trawl net, those of the trawl net being of elongated
diamond form whilst those of the bonnet net are perfectly square, the advantage

page_text: of which is that the small fish have always a chance to escape no matter how great
is the strain.
65
The Second part of my Invention consists in an improved method of hauling in
the nets when fishing" or hauling them inboard whereby a great saving in labour
is effected and considerable danger in boarding the trawls and stow nets is avoided.
It consists of attaching to the trawl beam two middle and two tail blocks or
thimbles one at each end through which two side ropes are rove. These side ropes
are carried down to the hoops of the "bonnet" net to which they are made fast
and thence round the end of the "bonnet" net and as the upper ends of the ropes
are joined at the centre of the trawl beam the ropes act as supports to the nets
when loaded with fish and prevent the end of the "bonnet" net from bursting.
When the net is to be hauled inboard the net is hauled onto the side of the
vessel and the supporting rope is grasped near the middle of the trawl beam and
hauled up drawing with it the lower end or "bonnet" net with its load of fish.
The tail or side blocks are then detached and the bonnet is hoisted up and swung
in over the hatchway. The "cod end" of the "bonnet" is then unfastened and the
fish fall out into the well or baskets.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Read in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st May 1883.
GEORGE READ of Byrom House St. Patricks Road, Deal in the county of Kent
IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAWL NETS CAPABLE OF ALLOWING IMMATURE (SMALL) FISH
AND REFUSE TO ESCAPE THEREFROM APPLICABLE ALSO TO STOW NETS AND SHRIMP
TRAWLS AND IN THE METHOD OF "FISHING SUCH NETS
"
The object of the first part of this invention is improvements in trawl nots, stow
nets, and shrimp trawls or nets that may be used on piers or piles in a tideway
whereby they are rendered capable of allowing immature.fish and refuse to escape
leaving only the large marketable fish to be hauled inboard.>
The invention which will be understood by reference to Figure 1 of the annexed
drawings consists of a "bonnet" net A laced on to the lower part of the trawls
and stow nets as now used at about two feet from the ends. The cadvantage of
this is that the end of the trawl net. being inside the bonnet forms a pocket all
round the bonnet and prevents the backward escape of the large fish. The bonnet
is distended or kept open by hoops at the upper and lower parts. This distension
allows the water to escape more freely than with the present trawls whereby a
vessel is enabled to cover considerably more ground. The distenders or hoops BB
are formed of wood, cane or galvanized iron parcelled round to prevent the meshes
being rubbed or chaffed and when in position they are covered with preferably green
hide or liquid leather.
A rubbing mat also of green hide is laced on to the main body of the net and
over the outside of the hoops to protect them and the bonnet when being towed or
dragged over the ground. If preferred the net may be distended by means of iron
or wood rods to form a square or a cross with a rope grummet or rings of galvanized
wire rope or other flexible material as shown in Figures 2 and 3.
The meshes of the "bonnet "net are formed in the reverse form to those of the
trawl net, those of the trawl net being of elongated diamond form whilst those of
the bonnet net are perfectly square the advantage of which, is, the small fish have
always a chance to escape no matter how great the strain, and a vessel fitted with
the bonnet net of reverse mesh will get over double the ground by the small
-resistance compared to the present trawl the cod end of which is tied up in a bunch
which offers great resistance to the egress of water when towing, the distenders may
be the shape of a horse shoe and fitted with rollers a a as to lighten the towing.
The two outer rollers are larger than the centre ones which keep the bonnet net
from chaffing when being drawn over the ground and forms net protectors and
prevents destruction of brood which if caught up by the ground rope will escape
out of the bonnet net. The cod end of the bonnet net is so fitted with a double
draw string as to let the fish out very quickly.
The double net inside the trawl and bonnet net will save the expense of pockets
and flappers now in use and will more effectually prevent the escape of soles and
saleable fish.
The second part of my invention consists in an improved method of hauling in
the nets when "fishing" or hauling them inboard whereby a great saving in
labour is effected and considerable danger in "boarding" the trawls and stow nets
avoided.
It consists of attaching to the trawl beam E two middle and two tail blocks or
thimbles CC one at each end through which two side ropes F F are rove. These
side ropes are carried down to the hoops of the "bonnet" net to which they are
made fast and thence round the end of the "bonnet" net and as the upper ends
of the ropes are joined at the centre of the trawl beam the ropes act as supports

page_text: "
-
to the net when loaded with fish and prevent the end of the "bonnet" net from
bursting.
When the net is to be hauled inboard it is hauled up the side of the vessel and
the supporting rope F is grasped near the middle of the trawl beam E and hauled
up drawing with it the lower end or "bonnet" net A with its load of fish. The
tail or side blocks are then detached and the bonnet is hoisted up and swung in
over the hatchway by the cord J. The cod end of the bonnet is then unfastened
and the fish fall out into the well or into baskets.
Instead of the wood or metal rollers a a round or egg shaped beads b b of wood
or any suitable material may be used with brass washers cc between them to take
the friction. The upper horse shoe distender G is made of wood and strengthened
with iron to prevent a collapse when hoisted up with a great catch of fish the lower
one H need be only of wood
F
Having now described the nature of my said invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed I declare that I claim.
First The special improvements in trawl and other nets as described and shown for
the purpose set forth.
Secondly The peculiar bonnet net constructed or arranged as described and shown
at the lower end of a trawl or stow net together with the method of
hauling it up and of opening the bottom end for the release of the fish
therefrom
-
In witness whereof I the said George Read have hereunto set my hand and
seal this twenty seventh day of April in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and-eighty three
GEORGE READ (18).