Abstract: A trawl's mesh cells include at least three mesh bars. A cell's first mesh bar includes a first product strand formed by a core product strand enclosed within a sheath. The sheath resists sliding along the core product strand during the trawl's assembly and field operations. The first product strand also mechanically connects to a second product strand forming the mesh cell's second mesh bar. The mechanical connection includes a clamp which encloses at least the slide-resistant, sheathed portion of the first product strand. A particularly preferred embodiment for the sheath includes at least one spiraling product strand interwoven with other encircling product strands. The spiraling product strand has a diameter that is larger than a diameter of each of the other encircling product strands. An improved method for catching fish with a trawl system includes a step of assembling the trawl system by combining selected trawl components.

Abstract: Mesh bars (35, 283) of a trawl (13, 263) include at least a portion having a corkscrew-shaped pitch which exhibits a hydrofoil-like effect. Such mesh bars (35, 283) are preferably formed from a material having a substantially incompressible cross-sectional shape. By appropriately selecting the lay and leading edge of mesh bars (35, 283), movement of the trawl (13, 263) through the water entrained environment creates a pressure differential and lift across that portion of mesh bars (25, 283) which exhibit the hydrofoil-like effect. The lift thus created increases performance characteristics of the trawl (13, 263) including increased trawl volume, improved trawl shape, and reduced vibration, noise, and drag. Obtaining the greatest improvement of trawls (13, 263) requires controlling a pitch range for twisted product strands (e.g. twisted ropes) (36, 37), and for straps (284) forming mesh bars (35, 283).

Abstract: Mesh bars (35, 283) of a trawl (13, 263) include at least a portion having a corkscrew-shaped pitch which exhibits a hydrofoil-like effect. Such mesh bars (35, 283) are preferably formed from a material having a substantially incompressible cross-sectional shape. By appropriately selecting the lay and leading edge of mesh bars (35, 283), movement of the trawl (13, 263) through the water entrained environment creates a pressure differential and lift across that portion of mesh bars (25, 283) which exhibit the hydrofoil-like effect. The lift thus created increases performance characteristics of the trawl (13, 263) including increased trawl volume, improved trawl shape, and reduced vibration, noise, and drag. Obtaining the greatest improvement of trawls (13, 263) requires controlling a pitch range for twisted product strands (e.g. twisted ropes) (36, 37), and for straps (284) forming mesh bars (35, 283).

Abstract: Mesh cells (30) for machine-made netting (51) use pairs of mesh bars (35) made from a continuous length of material and meet at a common coupler (34). Such mesh bars (35) have a lay with a common direction throughout the length of material. In a zig-zag pattern used in knitting machine-made netting (31), the longitudinal axis of symmetry (38) of mesh bars (35) turns at each coupler (34). Towing such mesh bars (35) causes water to flow past pairs thereof in two different directions with respect to their common lay. The directions of water flow are neither parallel nor perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of symmetry (38) of the mesh bars (35). As water flows past the mesh bars (35), the cross-sectional shapes of the mesh bars (35) produce a net component of force that is oriented in a direction perpendicular to a combined drag component of force for the mesh bars (35).

Abstract: A mesh cell construction which is systemized wherein opposite mesh bars of the rectangularly shaped mesh cell have a common lay direction when viewed in an axially receding direction (either right-handed or left-handed lay) that is opposite to that associated with the remaining opposite mesh bars of such mesh cell. In another aspect, when incorporated in a trawl (13), such cell construction of the invention provides for improved shaping and performance of the trawl (13) wherein the mesh cells of different geometrical locations positioned relative to and about the longitudinal axis of the trawl can be controlled such that resulting trawl panels wings (25) act analogous to a series of mini-wings capable of acting in concert in operation. Such concerted action provides, when the trawl is in motion, outwardly directed force vectors which significantly increase the trawl volume and hence mouth (26) volume while simultaneously decreasing drag.

Abstract: A mesh cell construction which is systemized wherein opposite mesh bars of the rectangularly shaped mesh cell have a common lay direction when viewed in an axially receding direction (either right-handed or left-handed lay) that is opposite to that associated with the remaining opposite mesh bars of such mesh cell. In another aspect, when incorporated in a trawl (13), such cell construction of the invention provides for improved shaping and performance of the trawl (13) wherein the mesh cells of different geometrical locations positioned relative to and about the longitudinal axis of the trawl can be controlled such that resulting trawl panels wings (25) act analogous to a series of mini-wings capable of acting in concert in operation. Such concerted action provides, when the trawl is in motion, outwardly directed force vectors which significantly increase the trawl volume and hence mouth (26) volume while simultaneously decreasing drag.

Abstract: Mesh bars (35, 283) of a trawl (13, 263) include at least a portion having a corkscrew-shaped pitch which exhibits a hydrofoil-like effect. Such mesh bars (35, 283) are preferably formed from a material having a substantially incompressible cross-sectional shape. By appropriately selecting the lay and leading edge of mesh bars (35, 283), movement of the trawl (13, 263) through the water entrained environment creates a pressure differential and lift across that portion of mesh bars (25, 283) which exhibit the hydrofoil-like effect. The lift thus created increases performance characteristics of the trawl (13, 263) including increased trawl volume, improved trawl shape, and reduced vibration, noise, and drag. Obtaining the greatest improvement of trawls (13, 263) requires controlling a pitch range for twisted product strands (e.g. twisted ropes) (36, 37), and for straps (284) forming mesh bars (35, 283).