Improvements in Fish-ways.
Year: 1891

page_text: CUMI LEID DIEVITICATION
Improvements in Fish-ways.
CET
STER
I, ROBERT HOCKIN, of Pictou, in the Province of Nova Scotia, in the Dominion
of Canada, Fishery Overseer, 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 :-
My invention has for its object to allow fish to pass from a lower to a higher
level of water without leaping step by step from one lodgment to another.
My invention consists of a fish-way having a series of compartments connected
by an aperture near the bottom, and preferably in line with one another and with
an aperture in the dam, said apertures preferably on the same level, so that the
water flowing into the first compartment will be higher than the water in the
second compartment, and the water in the second compartment be higher than the
water in the third compartment, and so on step by step, whereby the height of
water will be diminished in the series of compartments, until the water will flow
from the last compartment into the river with so little force that fish will easily
swim against the current and then pass through the several compartments until the
water above the dam is reached, the fish then having access to the natural channel.
Referring to the accompanying drawings-
Figure 1, is a longitudinal vertical section of my improved fish-way placed below
the river dam.
Figure 2, is a plan or top view of the same, and
Figure 3, is a longitudinal vertical section of my improved fish-way sunk in the
pond above the dam.
A, represents the dam or other obstruction to be overcome in the river, and my
improved fish-way can be placed or built in the river below the dam or in the
pond B, above the dam, as shown in Fig. 3.
My fish-way is constructed of sides C, D, ends E, F, and subdivided_transversely
by partitions G, forming compartments H, and provided with a floor I, preferably
horizontal, and if desired, stones or gravel may be laid on said floor to give a
natural appearance, and entice the fish to pass. The partitions G, have each an
aperture K, near or at the bottom, and preferably in line one with another, and
with a like aperture L, in the dam A, or at the end thereof, as circumstances may
determine, so that all the water fed to the compartments will pass through the
aperture in the dam into the first compartment, and thence into the several com-
partments successively, the water from natural causes rising to different levels in
the compartments, diminishing from inlet to outlet.
The current flowing through the several compartments will also gradually
diminish in force, if not almost equalized, the outlet flowing into the river under
diminished pressure, against which a fish can easily swim.
M, is a removable truncated cone grating sliding in ways N, to cover the inlet
to the fish-way to prevent debris clogging the passages.
In Fig. 3, is shown my improved fish-way placed, built, or sunk above the dam.
The side and end walls extend above the water in the pond, and the outlet water
passage is connected with an aperture in the dam, or at its side or end, as circum-
stances may determine, whereby fish can swim up to the dam and then through the
aperture into the compartment having the least head of water and then through
the connecting aperture into the next compartment having a higher head of water,
and so on through the several compartments until the pond is reached.
aperture or exit in the last compartment may have a grating M, if desired.
The
Owing to the construction of my improved fish-way, the water will not rise to
the same level in the compartments, because the outflow pressure is diminished step

page_text: by step, in the successive compartments, and the force of the current passing
through the apertures connecting the several compartments with one another and
with the river, will be lessened, so that fish will easily swim through the apertures
in passing through the successive compartments constituting the fish-way.
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 fish-way constructed of a series of successive compartments formed by
longitudinal side walls, end and transverse partitions rising above the water to
prevent inflow, and having a floor as horizontal as the nature of the ground will
admit, said compartments connected near the floor by an aperture in each partition,
and with the river by an aperture in the end compartments, said apertures being
preferably in alignment for direct passage of the fish, whereby the height of water
in each compartment will be diminished step by step from inflow to outlet, and
the passage of the fish through the several compartments and apertures be effected
without leaping or jumping, as set forth.
2. A fish-way consisting of a series of top-less compartments having approximately
a level floor and side walls, ends, and transverse partitions from the bottom of the
river to above water line, said compartments connected with one another and with
.the river by submerged apertures at the ends and in the partitions, whereby the
water in the several compartments will be lower step by step from inflow to outlet,
and the submerged apertures be approximately on the same level and preferably in
alignment, for passage of fish, as set forth.
Daten tuTS Fourth day of ЛЕТОП 1091.
Signed in presence of-
HOWARD H. HAMILTON.
DANIEL SUTHERLAND.
ROBERT HOCKIN.