A HUMANE FISH GAFF AND NET APPLICABLE AS A MAN TRAP
Year: 1884

page_text: WILLIAM BURGESS Berry Lodge Hanley Castle Malvern Wells in the County of
Worcester Patentee of. Alarm Guns and Humane Vermin Traps do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for A HUMANE FISH GAFF AND NET APPLICABLE AS
A MAN TRAP to be as follows:-
The nature of the gaff is to land salmon and other fish in a humane way When
the angler has caught the fish the gaff grasps or hooks the fish round the body with
tongue or hook like apparatus and brings the fish out on land without injury to it
The net can be used with or without the gaff. In the second case the fish is
enveloped and the net closes up like a purse. My contrivance for landing fish is not
like the old ordinary way Salmon are landed in most cases for the angler with an
ordinary single hook which makes a large hole in the fish This practice is very
barbarous and if an unclean fish is caught it is no use placing it back in the water,
again as it would linger and die The gaff to catch burglars applied to windows
with an iron rod on one side and a weight attached with a straight bar across the
window which keeps the jaws or hook of the gaff open On the burglars entering
the windows the bar is lifted up this movement releases the weight at the same
time closes the jaws of the gaff catches the Burglar round the neck and holds him
The same gaff will be most useful for the police to catch thieves in running away
in that case the gaff handles are made of light wood or cane to make the apparatus.
inore portable,

page_text: WILLIAM BURGESS Berry Lodge Hanley Castle Malvern Wells in the County of
Worcester patentec of Alarm Guns Rabbit and vermin traps do hereby declare the
nature of my Invention for A FISH GAFF AND NET COMBINED APPLICABLE AS A
MAN TRAP and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
The nature of the Gaff is to land salmon and other fish in a humane way. When
the angler has caught the fish, the Gaff grasps or hooks the fish round the body
with tongs or hook-liko apparatus, and brings the fish out on land or boat without
injury. The Net can be used with or without the Gaff-in the second case, the
fish is enveloped and the net closes up like a purse. My contrivance for landing
fish is not like the old ordinary way. Salmon are landed in most cases for the
angler with an ordinary single hook, which makes a large hole in the fish; this
practice is very barbarous, and, if an unclean fish is caught, it is no use placing it
back in the water again, as it will linger and die.
The Gaff to catch burglars is applied to windows, with an iron rod on one side,
and a weight attached with a straight bar across the window, which keeps the jaws
or hook of the gaff open. On the burglars entering the windows the bar is lifted
up, this movement releases the weight, and, at the same time, closes the jaws of the
Gaff, catches the burglar round the neck, and holds him. The same Gaff will be
most useful for the police to catch thieves in running away; in that case the gaff
handles are made of light wood or cane, to make the apparatus more portable.
The manner in which the same is to be performed will be more readily understood
on reference to the following drawings: G-The Gaff open ready for taking fish.
J-The top jaw. I-The bottom jaw. B-The closing or side-bar. T-The saw
or lock. W-The weight or handle. O-The stick or cane. R-The ring that
slips down the stick or cane over the notches of the saw T, which locks up the
jaws. F-The ferrule, which has wire and cord passing through it. A-The bar,
placed in the notch of the jaws to keep them open, as when set to catch burglars
entering windows. N-The net.
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 a Humane Fish Gaff and Net combined, for taking fish without injury
to them, applicable as a Thief and Burglar catcher, substantially as hereinb: fore
described.
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