IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF HERRINGS AND OTHER FISH TO EFFECT THE PRESERVATION OR CURING THEREOF, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Leach, of 106B, Fenchurch Street, in the City
of London, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT
OF HERRINGS AND OTHER FISH TO EFFECT THE PRESERVATION OR CURING
THEREOF, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Georgo Leach at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th November 1881.
GEORGE LEACH, of No. 106B, Fenchurch Street, in the City of London, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF HERRINGS AND OTHER FISH TO EFFECT
THE PRESERVATION OR CURING THEREOF, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
The object of the Invention is to facilitate the treating of herrings and other
fish by drying, smoking, and curing the same, and 1 effect the treatment
mechanically.
At present herrings when not intended to be kippered are suspended upon sticks.
or "spits," which spits are usually about half an inch in diameter and four feet
long. These spits are passed or threaded through one gill and the mouth of each
individual herring, so that about twenty five herrings are threaded or placed upon
each spit.
These spits are handed up from the basement or smokehouse floor by men or
boys who climb up the several stories, rails, or tiers of the smoke house, and pass
each spit with the berrings threaded upon the same from the bottom tier to the
man stationed at or within hand reach of the uppermost tier.
As the tiers are placed parallel to each other about four feet apart or somewhat
less distance than the length of a spit, it follows that the man who is within hand
reach of the uppermost tier can rest each end of the spit carrying its complement
of herrings upon the parallel rails or tiers, and thus by passing a sufficient number
of spits from hand to hand, or from story to story, or tier to tier, according to the
size or extent of the smoke house, the said smoke house may be filled or hung
with herrings ready to be dried, smoked, or cured.
Sometimes the fires are lighted and the smoke is rising during the time the men
Dane .71

page_text: are thus filling the smoke house, and especially so when there is great pressure of
business.
At such times the condition and temperature of the smoke house are suffocating,
and the occupation most injurious to health.
When the fires are in full force it is impossible for any person to remain in the
smoke house for any long period; but even then, in order to test the progress of the
smoking, curing, or condition of the fish being operated upon, it is customary for
the men to have to make n hasty entrance into and exit from the smoke house in
order to examine the condition of the fish placed upon the different tiers, and in
some cases to withdraw the spits and replace them upon other tiers situate either
nearer the fire, or heat, or smoke, according to the state of the fish, or more remote
from the fire, or heat, or smoke.
This operation is performed after tying a muffler or cloth over the mouth or
nostrils of the workman so as to filter the smoke or render less noxious the fumes
arising from the fires, but in all cases it is a trying and injurious operation.
By my Invention I avoid all this inconvenience, whilst I ensure a perfectly
regular process of curing or equable smoking effect upon the fish being treated.
As by my method and arrangements the fires need never be extinguished, and
as each spit of herrings or each fish to be treated passes in the operation through
similar positions in the curing chamber relatively to the position and condition of
the fire or smoke, it also follows that the smoking or curing is performed much
more effectually and regularly, and also much more expeditiously with great
reduction of labor.
In carrying out my Invention I prefer to adopt spits of about four feet four
inches long, so that the ends would rest upon ledges about four feet apart, and be
borne by about 2 inches at the end of ench spit upon each ledge.
With this object I construct my smoke chamber of brick or any suitable material
about four feet six inches squnie and 50 or 60 feet high, or as may be most
convenient, similar to a high flue shaft or chimney.
Two of the opposing sides of this shaft I build upon a beam or girder, by
preference iron, so that around and underneath these two side walls I can pass
endless chains, I accordingly pass one, two, or more endless chains vertically, or
nearly so, inside the said shaft or smoke chamber and underneath the said bearer
or girder, and thence upwards out-ide of the said smoke chamber.
The upper end of these endless chains pass over suitable chain wheels of
corresponding pitch to the chains fixed or keyed upon a wrought iron driving axis
of suitable strength.
I have thus duplicate axes and two pairs of endless chains, each working around
the opposite walls or partitions of my smoke chamber.
At the bottom of each of these opposite walls I fix two other axes similar to the
upper axes, as before described, and exactly parallel. Upon these lower axes I also
fix chain wheels similar to those fixed at the upper ends of the smoke chamber,
around these chain wheels I pass the lower ends of the endless chains which aro
thus stretched or held in tension at will by suitable adjustment between parallel
axes.
One chain or each pair of chains passes down one side of the smoko chamber,
thence around the respective chain wheels at the bottom and under each of the
two opposing side walls, and thence upwards and over the chain wheels fixed on
the duplicate pair of axes at the top of the smoke chamber.
By rotating these axes with the respective chain wheels and their chains passing
over them I thus obtain two sets of chains working or moving parallel with each
other down the smoke chamber, around the bottom chain wheels, and up again on
the outside.
1 then attach at equal distances apart upon each set of chains, ledges, bars, or
angle irons, which when corresponding chains are being driven at equal speeds, will
constitute parallel ledges moving downwards on each of the two of the opposing
inward sides of the smoke chamber.

page_text: When the first duplicate pair of ledges have passed over the uppermost chain
wheels, they form a base upon which to carry frames or shelves similar to the
position of shelves in an ordinary house oven, or at discretion the spits in the case
of curing herrings for bloaters may be placed within the smoke chainber, each end
of each spit resting upon each ledge; in this way I can place 10 or 12 spits holding
from 200 to 400 herrings, depending upon the size of the fish in one plane within
the area of the smoke chamber.
By erecting a smoke chamber 60 feet high and fixing the ledges 1 foot apart
upon the travelling chains, I can thus have 60 frames or 18,000 herrings suspended
within the sınoke chamber at one time.
By lighting a fire or burning sawdust or oak billets at the base of the smoke
chamber the heat or smoke ascends and passes amongst the herrings suspended
within.
When the herrings are spitted and the smoke chamber charged therewith, as
before described, I impart motion to the horizontal chain wheel axes, and thus
either lower the herrings towards the bottom of the smoke chamber and the fire,
or raise the samo up to the top, where they are withdrawn from the chain ledges
by automatic motion.
As a modification of my Invention I pass one or more suitable endless chains
over chain wheels placed horizontally, and so that the chain or chains may work
in parallel or zig zag directions within the smoke house or chamber constructed to
contain the same. Upon the entering or feeding end of these chains, I place, or
rest, or fix the herring spits or frames containing a number of spits, and pass them
into the smoke chamber to be subject to the action of the heat or smoke; or the
chains with the spits may be arranged to ascend and descend in succession several
times in the same shaft or chamber; or the chain or chains may be arranged to
work in other directions.
n
In the case of curing herrings for kippers, or haddocks for " Ginnan or "findon "
haddocks, the fish are split or opened and hung or suspended upon tenter hooks
fixed upon bars or "balks."
The "balks" containing their complements of fish are then transferred to the
ledges upon the endless chain or chains in a similar way to the spits before
described.
"
I do not confine myself to the use of what are called spits and ledges for the
support of the articles to be cured, as other suitable frames or supports may bo
adopted to travel horizontally or otherwise for that purpose.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Georgo Leach in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
May 1882.
GEORGE LEACH, of 106B, Fenchurch Street, in the City of London, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF HERRINGS AND OTHER FISH TO EFFECT
THE PRESERVATION OR CURING THEREOF, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
The object of the Invention is to facilitate the treating of herrings and other
fish by drying, smoking, and curing the same, and I effect this treatment
mechanically.
At present herrings when not intended to be kippered are suspended upon sticks
or "spits," which spits are usually about half an inch in diameter and four feet
long. These spits are passed or threaded through one gill and the mouth of each
individual herring, so that about twenty-five herrings are threaded or placed upon
one spit.
These spits are handed up from the basement or smoke house floor by men or
boys who climb up the several stories, rails, or tiers of the smoke house, and pass
each spit with the herrings threaded upon the same from the bottom tier to the
man stationed at or within hand reach of the uppermost tier. As the tiers are
placed parallel to each other, about four feet apart or somewhat less distance than
the length of a spit, it follows that the man who is within hand reach of the upper-
most tier can rest each end of the spit carrying its complement of herrings upon
the parallel rails or tiers, and thus by passing a sufficient number of spits from
hand to hand, or from story to story, or tier to tier according to the size or extent
of the smoke house; the said sinoke house may be fitted or hung with herrings or
fish ready to be dried, smoked, or cured.
Sometimes the fires are lighted and the smoke is rising during the time the
men are thus filling the smoke house, and especially so when there is great
pressure of business. At such times the condition and temperature of the smoke
house are suffocating and the occupation most injurious to health.
When the fires are in full force it is almost impossible for any person to remain
in the smoke house for any long period, but even then, in order to test the progress
of the smoke curing or condition of the fish being operated upon, it is customary
for the men to have to make a hasty entrance into and exit from the smoke house
in order to examine the condition of the fish placed upon the different tiers, and in
some cases to withdraw the spits and replace them upon other tiers, situate either
nearer the fire, or heat, or smoke, according to the state of the fish, or more
remotely from the fire, heat, or smoke.
This operation is performed after tieing a muffler or cloth over the mouth.or
nostrils of the workman so as to filter the smoke or render less noxious the fumes
arising from the fires, but in all cases it is a trying and injurious operation.
By my Invention I avoid all this inconvenience, whilst I ensure a perfectly
regular process of drying, curing, or equable smoking effect upon the fish being
treated, as by my method and arrangements the fires need never be extin-
guished; and as each spit of herrings or each fish to be treated passes in the
operation through similar positions in the curing chamber relatively to the position
and condition of the fire or smoke, it also follows that the smoking and curing is
performed much more regularly and effectually, and also much more expeditiously,
with great reduction of labour.
In further describing the said Invention reference will be had to the
accompanying Drawings.
Figs. 1 and 2 represent in end and transverse sectional view respectively the
improved means I employ in the treatment when using spits. The spits a are
about four feet four inches long, so that their ends may rest upon ledges a¹ formed
upon continuous equi-link chains b about four feet apart, and be borne by about
two inches at the ends of each spit upon each ledge. With this object I construct

page_text: my smoke chamber of brick or any suitable material with dividing walls c, c²,
about four feet six inches wide, of any convenient length (shown square in the
Drawings), and fifty or sixty feet high, or as may be most convenient, somewhat
similar to a high flue, shaft, or chimney. The opposing wall c' I build upon beams
or girders d, so that around and underneath then there can pass the endless equi-
link chains 6 and pitch chain wheels e keyed to and carried upon cross shafts above
and below, one or inore of which serve as a driving shaft and the rest as carriers, so
that I have thus duplicate axes and pairs of endless chains, each working around
the opposite walls or partitions c¹ of the smoke chamber, working vertically or
nearly so inside, and such chains are held in tension at will by suitable adjustment
between parallel axes.
One chain or each pair of chains passes down or up one side of the smoke
chamber, thence around the respective chain wheels at the bottom and under each
of the opposing side walls, and thence upwards and over the chain wheels fixed on
the duplicate pair of axes at the top of the smoke chamber.
By rotating these axes with the respective chain wheels and their chains passing
over them, I thus obtain sets of chains working or moving parallel with each other
down the sinoke chamber, around the bottom chain wheels, and up again on the
outside, or vice versa.
I provide at equal distances apart upon each set of chains, lodges, bars, or angle
irons a, which when corresponding chains are being driven at equal speeds will
constitute parallel ledges, moving in relation one to the other upwards or down-
wards on each of the two of the opposing inward sides of the partitions of the
smoke chamber. In the case of feeding in the fish at the top of the house, the
first duplicate pair of ledges that pass over the uppermost chain wheels form a
base or ledge upon which to carry rectangular frames or shelves already filled with
spits, arranged in rows similar to the position of shelves in an ordinary house
oven; or if these frames with their sets of spits be fed in at the bottom of the
house (as at x, Fig. 1) on to the ledges a', they will be carried to the top of the
house at , whence they can be readily pushed off the first set of ledges of the
chains on to the corresponding ledges of the next sections. In the case of curing
herrings for "kippers," or haddocks for "finnon" or "findon" haddocks, these
frames will be made with cross-bars fitted with hooks, as shown in said Figs. 1
and 2, on to which the previously prepared fish will be hung or suspended.
At discretion the spits in the case of curing herrings for bloaters may be placed
within the smoke chamber, each end of each spit resting upon each corresponding
opposite ledge, and then the whole of the spits will have to be continually
transferred to the next section or set of chains, after being carried up or down as
the case may be through the smoke or heat, or be removed therefrom. Theso
sections will be driven in contrary directions, that is, one pair with their parallel
ledges up and the next down, and so on, or vice versa.
In this way I can place, according to the length of chamber, 10 or more spits
holding from 200 or more herrings, depending upon the size of the fish, in one
plane within the area of the smoke chamber.
By erecting a smoke chamber 60 feet high and fixing the ledges 1 foot apart
upon the travelling chains, I can thus have 60 frames or 12,000 herrings or more
according to the case suspended within the smoke chamber at one tine.
By lighting a fire or burning saw-dust or oak billets at the base of the smoke
chamber, the heat or smoke ascends and passes to and circulates amongst the
herrings or fish suspended within the house.
When the herrings are spitted and the smoke chamber charged therewith, as
before described. I impart motion to the chain wheel axes, and thus either
lower the herrings towards the bottom of the smoke chamber and the fire, or
raise the same up to the top where they are withdrawn or transferred from the
chain ledges as desired.
As shown by Figs. 3 and 3 in cross sections, I modify this construction by
passing an endless chain or parallel chains over pitch chain wheels a working so

page_text: as to carry spits with herrings spitted thereon, similarly to the usual manner to
the top of the house or chamber, and then to travel thence through the smoke in a
parallel, horizontal, or zig-zag direction; Fig. 4 shows similar arrangement following
however a parallel, or vertical, or zig-zag direction.
Figs. 5 and 5 represent in cross sections a similar arrangement, but with creeper
nets f, or lattice or lathed endless creeper sheets instead of the chains and spits.
The said lattice endless creeper sheets are made of narrow strips or laths of metal
or wood, such as are common in the manufacture of fibrous material in the cotton
and woollen manufacture, and known as "feed sheets." As shown, the wheels or
rolls e carrying the nets or lathed or lattice feed sheets are arranged with each
upper one short of the next lower one, so that the herrings or fish being treated
may be fed at at the bottom of the house on to ledges of an endless chain
elevator b', and thence carried thereby to the top of the house at x, and discharged
on to the first creeper net or creeper sheet f travelling in direction of the arrow,
whence they will fall onto the second creeper net, and so on in reverse direction.
Figs. 6 and 6 represent in sectional elevation and plan respectively portion of
house fitted with creeper nets mounted upon large and small wheels e, e¹, so that
the fish in being discharged off the upper net will be received positively upon the
lower one; Fig. 6b is a sectional plan similar to Fig. 6, but with the rollers e, e¹,
carrying creeper sheets.
Fig. 7 shows arrangement of house with feed chain or chains furnished with
transverse balks or bars carrying pins or tenter hooks, shown in Fig. 7ª, upon
which haddocks or kippers are being hung. The house A is here shown divided
into sections with rafter floors or iron frames, and the duplicate parallel chain or
chains carrying the balks or bars and fish are carried through the sections, and
thence under wall of house A into the part B, which serves as a cooling chamber,
and through which a current of cool air may be driven, and as very little space is
required for the passage of the chains and fish, and that only at the bottom of the
dividing wall of the house A, very little of the heat or smoke requisite for the
curing process will escape. The balks may first be hung with fish and then be
hung on to the chains, or the fish be hung directly on to the hooks of the balks
when on the chains, as shown in Fig. 7, and whilst the chains are slowly travelling
onward, and upwards and downwards, or in zig-zag direction.
"
Fig. 8 shows in cross section, and Fig. 9 in end view the arrangement of
apparatus similarly to Fig. 4, but in this case in substitution of spits, "supports
or "grills" are employed, into which the herrings or fish to be dried or smoked
and cured will be laid.
Fig. 10 shows plan of a section of a curing chamber, with the travelling chains
fitted with grills and following a more horizontal direction, somewhat similarly to
Fig. 3.
The equilinked travelling chains are provided with holes or special links at
certain distances, as shown at h, Fig. 11, and work parallely, that is, each such link
oppositely to and in relation parallel one with each other, and the travel of the
chains is at same speed simultaneously, these holes being for reception of the ends
of the spits, balks, or grills, which last are shown about half size, Figs. 12 and 13, in
elevation and plan respectively, and in Fig. 12° in section at a, b, of Figs. 12 and 13.
The end, which I call trunnion ends, are conveniently screwed at the inner ends
for attachment, and outwardly terminate with a button or acorn shaped head g of
slightly smaller diameter than the holes h, so that the trunnions are easily passed into
the holes or special links of the chains, and these with their attachments rest
and are retained whilst the chains are traversing at the same time that the spits,
balks, or grills turn or swivel in the chains, and with their charge depend or hang
in a vertical position, whatever direction the chain may be following; one trunnion g
of the two is made longer than the other in the neck for the purpose of being first
introduced into the hole h of one of the side chains, and being pushed to that side
allows of the other trunnion being introduced into its corresponding hole on the other
side chain, Fig. 11. The ends of the grills are made of a hollow cast piece i for

page_text: lightness, but so as to receive the trunnions g, g'.
that their centres are above the line of centre of
ends and the suspended grills.
These trunnions are situated so
gravity of the hollow cast metal
When the herrings or other fish are laid into these grills, and the trunnions are
introduced into the holes h of the special links in the chaius, these grills with their
herrings or contents, in whichever direction they may travel over the chain pullies
within the machine, or apparatus, or smoke chamber, will always hang or travel in a
vertical position. When the herrings in their respective grills have been traversed
through the drying, smoking, or curing chamber, following the convolutions or
passage of the chains, and after emerging from the drying, smoking, curing, or cooling
chamber, the grill ends approach a curved guide, or cam, or tripping device (not
shown), where they are turned over or capsized, and the herrings thrown out on
to a travelling creeper or lattice table (not shown), or deposited in baskets or
boxes ready for packing. After the fish are thus discharged from the grills, said
grills will fall by their own weight into the hanging or depending position ready
to receive the succeeding charge of fish, which will be carried in this hanging
position through the smoke house, and this position will be maintained throughout,
notwithstanding the changing direction of the chains passing over the wheels,
because the grills are free to turn on their trunnions in the holes h of the chains,
as described and shown.
These spits are shown in detail, Fig. 14, and the balks in Fig. 15, and end view
Fig. 15. These balks or bars are furnished with hooks or pins Z upon which the
haddocks or kippers are hooked or suspended, and are provided at the ends with the
trunnions g, gl, before described, and as applied to the grills and spits; it will be
seen by reason of the trunnions working or swivelling easily or loosely within the
holes of the special links of the chains, that the "kippers," haddocks, and other
fish, or spitted herrings, will hang vertically, suspended with and from the bulks
and spits in whichever position the chains may move or travel, and so always
maintain a vertical position unless some obstacle be accidentally placed in the way
of the travel or course of the chains.
In Figs. 16 and 17 are shown in elevation and end view respectively trunnions
with arms k mounted in holes h of the chain b. The arms k¹ are provided with
hooks which hang therefrom, and on to the free ends whereof the spits a charged
with fish will be hung.
The driving and chain wheels and direction of the travel of the chain will be
substantially the same as before described, and the pendant position of the fish
will be secured as in the other cases. The arms for the purpose of treatment of
kippers and haddocks, will be furnished with hooks similarly to the balks, Figs. 15
and 15ª, before described.
Fig. 18 represents diagramatically two holding guides or jaws fixed in the course
of the travel of the chains, so that the grill ends will be held between the jaws
somewhat rigidly, so that the grills may be subjected to the cleansing operation of
revolving brushes indicated at n, but it may be a fixed brush.
It will be obvious from the foregoing description that the travelling chains of
the smoke house may be variously made and applied without departing from this
Invention, and for this purpose chains carrying flat grills, or trays, or boxes, or
cages, in which boxes may be provided or placed ledges for spits, or nets, sheets,
balks, or grills, or be used directly as the receptacle for carrying the fish similarly
to the cages on the chain hoist, according to Hart's Patent, No 81, A.D. 1878.
When herrings, and especially small fish, such as sprats or sardines, are required
to be washed or steeped in either water, liquor, oil, or other medium or ingredient,
for the purpose of cleansing, curing, cooking, or preservation for food other than
that of drying and smoking 1 employ moving, oscillating, or revolving close cages;
these cages are formed of either tin, metal, wire-net, or other substance. By
preference these cages are of a cylindrical elongated shape, and made so that they
can be either opened or closed so as to admit of the reception of the fish to be
treated.

page_text: The cages are furnished with cylindrical ends and central trunnions similarly to
the grills before described for washing, smoking, or drying herrings. After the
cages are filled with fish they are attached in like manner, as are the grills before
described, to chains, which are to be drawn or passed by machinery either under
or through baths or troughs containing oil or other ingredient liquid or substance,
either hot or cold, and if necessary subsequently dried in manner and by use of
moving chains, as before described.
In illustration of this application, Fig. 19 shows a longitudinal vertical section
of the general arrangement of the apparatus. So far as the general arrangement
is concerned this may be modified to suit special necessities of the size of fish, tho
duration of time of immersion in the water, oil, fat, or other matter with which it
has to be treated.
In Fig. 19, bare the chains and grills; e, carrier or driver pitch wheels;
C, C, C, are cisterns or reservoirs for cold washing water, hot or boiling water,
and boiling oil; D is a shower or spray rose; E, an overflow pipe; F, fire holes ;
G, draining inclines and spaces; H, a lattice sheet for carrying away the finished
treated fish. The fish will be supplied at x or at other point conveniently.
Fig. 20 shows the cage or cylinder with one part of the cage opened. The ends
of the cylinder are made of a circular hollow cast piece with central trunnions,
fitted with a toothed wheel & thereon which can be geared to engage with a
stationary rack d' at any convenient point in the course of travel of the chain, to
revolve when the chains draw the teeth into gear with a rack; and Fig. 21. is
detached view of the chains employed.
The smoke chambers in many cases will be fitted up in existing structures,
which will be converted to the purpose and fitted according to the dimensions in
each case.
Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Invention in
such wise that the same may be readily carried into practical effect, I claim,-
Firstly. The improvements in the treatment of herrings and other fish to effect
the preservation or curing thereof by the regular or equable process of drying,
smoking, and curing by traversing the fish through various positions in the smoke-
house or chamber, and in the manner and by means of the apparatus therefor,
constructed and operating as herein set forth and described in reference to and
shown by the respective Figures of the Drawings.
Secondly. The construction of the smoke house or chambers fitted with its walls,
frames, shafts, and chain carriers, as herein specified, and with or without the
cooling chamber B, Fig. 7, as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Thirdly. The construction of machines fitted with revolving cages, in combination
with trunnions working in chains, and passing and turning the fish to effect the
washing, boiling, drying, curing, and the preservation of the same in the manner
substantially as herein set forth and shown by the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Leach, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty-two.
In presence of
WALTER A. BARLOW,
Patent Agent & Engineer,
6, St. Paul's Churchyard,
London, E.C.
GEO. LEACH. (L.S.)