Improvements in Lead Line Controllers for Fishing Nets.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Jan., 1897
Complete Specification, Left, 5th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 20th Nov., 1897
Improvements in Lead Line Controllers for Fishing Nets.
I THOMAS LINDSAY of Capitola, in the County of Santa Cruz, and State of California,
United States of America, Wharfinger, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to devices for holding down and controlling the lead-line or.
bottom-line of a fishing net during the operation, of drawing or hauling-in by means.
of which the lower line of the net is kept down against or in close relation to the.
sea-bottom, and the lower edges are brought together in a gradually contracting
circle with the lower edge against or in such close relation to the sea-bottom that:
the inclosed fish cannot escape from beneath the edge.
The essential features of the present improvement comprise a shoe or drag to.
rest on the sea-bottom on which at one end are mounted two sets or pairs of split
or open sheaves, each journaled or set for rotation loosely and independently on
conical casings or guards. The last-named' parts are fixed across the end of the drag
in stationary position side by side and have conical inner faces with the roller or:
sheave set to run loosely in. the end or apex of each cone.
The axles or journals of these cones are adjustable longitudinally in the casings
for the purpose of regulating the width of opening between the rollers according to .
the amount of clearance. required for the mesh of the net.
.On the end of the drag opposite to these sheaves is fixed a tail-piece or fluke
consisting of a flat iron bar bent downwardly at an angle to take into the :
sea-botton for the purpose of holding that end of the drag from swinging
laterally.
The lead-line working with these sheaves is. provided with a portion or short
section of less thickness than the main portion of the line as in my former
invention, such section being of less thickness than the opening between the
rollers for the purpose of letting the line slip through the sheave and clear itself,
when the controller arrives at the center of the net where the reduced thickness of.
the line is located. This construction makes the line self-clearing.
Dated this 6th day of January 1897.
Í THOMAS LINDSAY of Capitola, in the County of Santa Cruz, and State of California,
United States of America, Wharfinger, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
[Price 8d.]

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement.
My invention relates to devices for holding down and controlling the lead-line or
bottom-line of a fishing net during the operation of drawing or hauling-in, by means
of which the lower line of the net is kept down against or in close relation to the sea-
bottom and the lower edges are brought together in a gradually contracting circle'
with the lower edge of the net touching the sea-bottom or in such close relation
to it that the inclosed fish cannot escape from beneath the net.
The essential features of the said improvements comprise a shoe or drag to rest on
the sea-bottom, on which at one end are mounted two sets or pairs of split or open
sheaves, each journaled or set for rotation loosely and independently in stationary
casings or guides of conical shape. The last-named parts are fixed across the end of
the drag in a stationary position side by side on the drag and are formed with conical
inner faces in which conical rollers or sheaves are set to run loosely. The said rollers
are adjustable longitudinally on axles or journals in the casings for the purpose of
regulating the width of opening between the rollers according to the amount of
clearance required for the meshes of the net.
On the end of the drag opposite to these sheaves is fixed a tail-piece or fluke
consisting of a flat iron bar bent downwardly at an angle to take into the
sea-bottom for the purpose of holding that end of the drag from swinging
laterally.
The lead-line working with these sheaves is provided with a portion or short
section of less thickness than the main portion of the line, such section being of less
thickness than the opening between the rollers, for the purpose of letting the line
slip through the sheaves and clear itself when the controller arrives at the center of
the net where the reduced thickness of the line is located. By this construction the
line is made self-clearing.
The following description explains at length the nature of my said improvements and
the manner in which I proceed to construct and apply and carry out the same, reference
being had to the drawing that accompanies and forms part of this specification.
Figure 1 of the said drawing represents in plan or top-view a lead-line controller
constructed according to my said improvements; Figure 2 a longitudinal section on
the line xx; Figure 3 an end-elevation taken from the left-hand side of Figure 1;
Figure 4 a top-view, on an enlarged scale of the sheaves and their conical guides, one
set being shown in section; Figures 5 and 6 sectional views in detail of the parts of
a sheave and its conical guide separated from each other; Figure 7 a rear-view of
the guide Figure 5 with its back-plate removed.
All the parts should be made of metal that will stand the action of sea water.
A flat shoe or drag A is made of proper weight to sink and remain on the sea-
bottom when in action. The conical guides B B are rigidly secured upon the top of
the drag near one end in two sets or pairs to control the two sides or sections of the
lead-line. The cones of each pair have their smaller ends presented towards each
other at proper distance apart to afford clearance for the meshes of the net between
the adjacent faces of the sheaves and in such smaller ends of the conical guides are
mounted the sheaves or rollers CC having conical faces corresponding in pitch or
taper with the taper of the stationary guides B B. The smaller end of each guide is
recessed at B2 to take in and extend over the larger end of the roller, and the said
conical guide is bored centrally for a spindle C' on which the roller C in each
guide is mounted to turn smoothly. Provision is made also for securing the said
spindle in the stationary guide, so that a limited longitudinal adjustment of the
spindle can be made when required for the purpose of increasing or reducing the
width of the opening between the said rollers of the pair according to the thickness
of the meshes and the size of the lead-line of the net that is to be used with the
controller. Thus the width of the opening is regulated to allow the meshes of the
net to pass freely between the rollers but to confine the lead-line and hold it down
under the rollers.

page_text: The spindle of the roller is threaded on the outer end for jam nuts D and is inserted
through a hole in a bridge-plate D¹ within the conical guide against which part the
nuts are screwed from opposite sides.
By this means the rollers are adjusted to work at a greater or less distance apart ag
circumstances require. The conical guides are recessed in the larger end of each and
this recess is closed in by a back-plate B¹ secured by screws and removable to afford
access to the spindle. This construction is followed in all the sets or pairs of the
guides; but as the bases or larger ends of the two middle guides are placed directly
together, the larger end of one guide serves to cover the corresponding end of the
other one, and separate covers or back plates for the inner guides of the two pairs of
cones like those on the outer cones of the guides are dispensed with.
Between the conical guides of each set or pair is fixed a stiff rod or bar E in a
horizontal position above the line of the opening between the rollers of the conical
guides and on the rear side, or that side of the controller from which the lead-line
runs upwards to the surface. The function of this rod is to keep the lead-line
in place between the conical guides and prevent it from catching under the
cones.
The fluke or tail-piece F on the end of the drag acts to keep the drag in a straight
line. while moving on the sea-bottom and prevents the controller from swinging
sidewise. This piece projecting from the end of the drag is rigidly secured in place
with an inclination downwards and with sufficient projection below the bottom of the
drag to take hold of the sea-bottom. An eye gx is also fixed at the same end
of the drag for securing a line G by which the controller is drawn to the
surface.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that
what I claim is :-
1. A lead-line controller having stationary conical-shaped guides arranged in pairs
upon and transversely across the top of a weighted drag, conical rollers in the ends
of said guides mounted for rotation upon spindles that are adjustable longitudinally
in the guides, a fixed guide-bar above the said rollers and between the conical guides,
and a fluke on the tail of the drag, constructed for operation as set forth.
2. In a lead-line controller for fishing nets, the combination of a drag, conical
guides fixed upon the drag with the smaller ends of the cones composing each pair
set towards each other, a conical roller recessed in the smaller end of each guide a
horizontally adjustable spindle mounted in each guide and carrying the roller on the
outer end, and a guide-bar between the cones of each pair of rollers and above the
line of the opening between the rollers, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 5th day of October 1897.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.