Improvements in Trawl Nets and Gear
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 11th Feb., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in Trawl Nets and Gear:
I, JOHN EPTON of 59 Duke Street, New Clee, near Grimsby in the County of
Lincolnshire Fisherman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
ained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to so arrange and construct trawl nets, so as to
essen their liability to be damaged, torn, or destroyed by rocks, stones, or other
obstructions at the bottom of the sea.
M
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Trawl Nets and Gear:
I, JOHN EPTON of 59 Duke Street, New Clee, near Grimsby in the County of
Lincolnshire Fisherman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
ained in and by the following statement:-
The object of my invention is to so arrange and construct trawl nets, so as to
essen their liability to be damaged, torn, or destroyed by rocks, stones, or other
obstructions at the bottom of the sea.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1. shows plan of part of trawl net with my apparatus applied.
Fig. 2. is a side elevation of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3. shows end elevation showing front of trawl.
Fig. 4. shows detail of shackle attached to chains.
Fig. 5. shows shackle detached.
Figs.
and 7 show elevation and plan of cage within the net, to prevent stones
from breaking through and letting out the fish.
A is the beam of trawl net, B is the wide part of the net, C is the foot rope,
D. D are the square ropes passing from the beam to the series of chains E. E,
which are connected to, or pass around the foot rope C, at the bosom of the net,
F. F are the buoys, or air balls at the connection of the square ropes D. D. with
the chains E. E. G is the loose rope with chain attached to foot rope for heaving
the quarter up, shewing the thimble N in the after square rope, through which it
reeves the foot rope. H are the nets which are attached to the square forming a
bag in which the buoys or air balls F are encased. J are the shackles of the type
known as cable shackles, with stud K secured in position by pin L, these shackles
are used for connecting the chains at their various points or joinings, so that when
parts of such chains are worn out they can be taken off their respective shackles
and new ones put on as required.
The chains form an open grid in front of the bosom of the net sufficiently
open to let in the fish, but will prevent rocks or stones from getting into the bosom
of the net.
The buoys or air balls F, lift up the top portion of the net and keep the chains E
tight, and on the foot rope C coming in contact with rocks or other obstructions,
the bosom of the net will tilt or rise and clear such obstructions.
To further prevent any loose rocks or stones from getting into the bottom, or
purse P of the net, and so breaking through and letting out the fish, I place just
within the purse, a square or oblong cage R of network, extending from the
bottom of the net to the top, against which, such stones will lodge, and break
through in front of cage, and so will not let out the fish.
Where trawl nets are used with smaller widths of beam, the side wings S. S.
may be linked on to the centre wings T. T. and the chain pieces marked X left
off, and one vertical chain left off the side or the centre wings.
The chain I preferably use is 16 or small link, except at the connection between
the centres T. T. and the wings S. S, and the outside upper lengths of the wings,
where the links are large enough to take the shackles, to shorten, or gear it to the
bosom of the trawl.
The upper ends of chain are of various lengths, preferably as follows, commencing
from the left of Fig. 3, one foot six inches, half small, half large link, second, the
same, third, two feet six inches, small link, this with the lower ends form one wing,

page_text: fourth, two feet eight inches, fifth, one foot six inches, sixth, one foot six inches,
seventh, two feet eight inches, this with the lower connections form one centre, and
is preferably all small chain.
The lower connections are preferably all similar to each other. and are made
of small link chain and rings, preferably as follows:-A length of two feet from
the shackle a ring is here inserted, then one foot of chain, then six inches of rings,
this is to facilitate the tightening of the connection with- the footrope.
A. crosschain W keeps the upper ends in position, this is in about fourteen inch
pieces, and are small links, except at the connection of centres T. T. and wings'S. S;
this forms one half, and the other is exactly similar.
The lower ends of these vertical chains are shackled round the foot at a distance
of about fifteen inches apart, except the two last on the wings, which are eighteen
inches and two feet respectively; the upper ends are shackled to the lower ends of
the square ropes D. D. as shown in Fig. 1.
The square ropes D. D. are formed with an eye M at the upper end, where it is
secured to the beam eight feet from the end, at eight feet from the lower end a
short picce V is spliced in, forming a pair of bridles as seen in Fig. 1, the inner
end must come to a point three feet from the joining round, not less than fifteen,
nor more than twenty meshes from the centre mesh of the square, the outer end
twenty to twenty-five meshes nearer the lace-thread, taking care to be three feet
from the joining round; thimbles must be spliced in the lower ends, the two ropes
are similar, they must be laced in the square, and the upper end of the chains
connected with the large shackles as shown in Fig. 3.
A loose rope and chain is made to pass through a thimble N in. the after square.
rope, this is to facilitate getting it on board as shown in Fig. 1.
The buoys or airballs which are fixed just below the junction of the chains and
ropes, are of globular form made of prepared canvas and indiarubber from thirteen
to sixteen inches diameter according to the weight of chain work used.
These balls are enclosed in a net bag attached by a lanyard to the lower ends of
the square-ropes, they are further enclosed in a net bag knitted in the square as
shown in Fig. 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
-
1. In trawl nets and gear, the use of buoys, square ropes and chains with shackles
for the purposes shown and described.
2. In trawl nets the use of the net work cage for the purposes described.
3. The general arrangement and construction of trawl' nets and gear, as and for
the purposes shown and described.
Dated this Ciuch domof T
1000
'
JOHN E. WALSH,
Crossley Street, Halifax, Patent Agent for the Applicant.