Abstract: An LED assembly adapted to mount in a bayonet type socket of the type having a slotted casing comprising the negative terminal and a central pin comprising the positive terminal in which a plurality of LED's are mounted on a circuit board and the LED assembly has an electrically conductive screw comprising the positive connection for engaging the central pin of the socket and an electrically conductive tube with a pin member extending outwardly therefrom for insertion in the slots of the casing of the socket for comprising the negative connection.

Abstract: A transportable device for colonizing and harvesting invertebrate animals in proximity to a floor of a body of water includes at least two quadrangular frames, each of which include a trapping surface. A central hinge is disposed between opposing, inner traverse sides of the at least two quadrangular frames and has a first one-way folding direction. Two secondary hinges are disposed on opposite sides of the central hinge, each of the secondary hinges having a second one-way folding direction that is opposite to the first one-way folding direction such that the at least two quadrangular frames have an opening angle with respect to each other that is adaptable to a structure the floor of the body of water.

Abstract: A submersible rotatable cage for fish farming comprises a central axle, a buoyant structure positioned about the central axle, and a netting attached to the buoyant structure. An actuator can be placed in operable communication with at least part of the buoyant structure to facilitate rotation of the buoyant structure about the central axle while the cage is in a submerged position. The cage can form part of a system, which includes a net cleaning apparatus, a tethering mechanism and sweep net, that forms the basis for underwater fish farming.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a box-like fish-trap (1) comprising a frame, which is foldable, involved by a net, characterised in that it consists of: A metallic upper body (2), which floats; A metallic lower body (3); Flexible cables (4) to fix the upper body (2) to the lower body (3); Flexible side nets which connect the lower body (3) to the upper body (2); Frames (6, 7) that hold the nets of the fish entrance openings (5) and which are arranged so as to let the fish come in but make it difficult for it to get out; and One bottom (16) formed by a frame and net fixed in an articulated manner to one of the tops of the lower body and closed at the opposite top, which will make it possible to collect the captured fish.

Abstract: Fish-breeding apparatus (10), which comprises a frame, supporting one or a plurality of breeding cages (11) and provided with hollow buoyancy elements (17), and at least one device for controlling the buoyancy of the apparatus by filling, totally or partially, the buoyancy elements with water and emptying them of the water, totally or partially, whenever desired. The buoyancy elements are emptied of water by replacing the water with air. The buoyancy elements are such that when they are empty of water to a predetermined extent, the entire apparatus floats, even when it is fully charged. The frame has depending legs (17), so that even in its lowermost position the bottoms of the breeding cage will be spaced from the sea bed.

Abstract: A Fish and Crustacean Trap Escape Vent System, consisting of an inexpensive conical-shaped escape vent with minimal water current noise or resistance, which presents a diminishing perspective to fish and crustaceans in the trap, secured to the trap with Coded, Corrosive-Release Fasteners of different diameters, thereby allowing for easy recognition by fishermen and enforcement authorities of which diameter of fastener is in use. Coding means includes offsets, crimps or color-coating imparted to different Fasteners. If the trap is lost or unrecovered for a predetermined time, the Coded Corrosive-Release Fasteners completely disintegrate and allow the Escape Vent to detach from the trap and allow any trapped fish and crustaceans to escape the trap. The unrecovered trap is now theoretically prevented from further fishing. The Escape Vent remains attached to the trap by conventional hog rings, and can be reused if and when the trap is recovered.

Abstract: The invention concerns a handgun which comprises a trigger (42), a firing mechanism arranged to be actuated by the trigger and to fire a cartridge, a barrel (4) through which the bullet of the cartridge is projected when the cartridge is fired and a butt (60) which is arranged to be gripped in the hand of a user. The axis (57) of the barrel, and hence the line of action of a recoil force which is generated when the cartridge is fired, is at least substantially aligned with the line of action of a resisting force applied to the handgun by the use's hand. Also, the trigger is located above the axis of the barrel.

Abstract: A kit is provided for producing a crawfish trap employing cylindrical sidewalls derived from three identical cans such as cans utilized for the packaging of food products. The kit includes two connector collars for securing the sidewalls to form an elongated cylindrical structure having opposed open extremities, and two funnel members adapted to fit into the open extremities.

Abstract: A collapsible bait trap for fisherman comprised of an annular top and bottom panel, each with a peripheral edge and a flexible net paneling joining the top and bottom panels. The invention utilizes a novel shape composed of a multi-cylindrical configuration. The sides of the cylindrical chambers, where they join together, form a funnel through which the fish enter the invention. This improved trap advantageously has a multi-cylindrical configuration which substantially reduces the possibilities for the fish to escape or to injure themselves, thus substantially increasing the total efficiency of capture. Once sufficient bait fish are captured, the invention may be relocated for use as a decoy to stimulate and attract game fish. The captured fish will be excited and resonate their fear by making noises and grunts, creating vibrations that attract the predators pursued by the fisherman.

Abstract: A wire trap or animal cage having walls which are attached together by crimped clips at spaced locations between the adjacent walls of the trap or cage. The clips have markings thereon to indicate ownership of the trap. The marks may be put on the clips as they are clinched together around the wires, or the marks may be put on the clips before the clips are crimped around the wires.

Abstract: A spar-buoy pen includes a net that is held open by a single elongated, substantially vertically oriented center spar. The pen of this invention includes either a fixed center spar or a floating spar buoy that is substantially vertically aligned. Several pairs of radially disposed lines extend outward from the center spar at two locations that are longitudinally spaced apart from one another along the length of the center spar. A net is fitted over the radial lines such that the opposed top and bottom sections of the net are held apart from each other by the lines. The ends of the radial lines distal from the center spar are attached to anchor assemblies that urge the lines away from the center spar to hold the net in the open state. The net is further constructed so that a small portion of the top section of the net is located above the surface of the water.

Abstract: A material for making marine structure comprises a rubber composition. The rubber composition contains a metal salt of .alpha., .beta.-unsaturated fatty acid and is vulcanized in a mold into a predetermined configuration. The strength of the rubber composition is anisotropic and in particular its elastic modulus is anisotropic. The direction in which the strength of the rubber composition is high is set in the direction in which stress is applied by waves. Thus, the marine-structural material is resistant to waves and tide. The rubber composition contains short fibers which are oriented in a certain direction to increase the anisotropy of the rubber composition.

Abstract: A lobster trap launch steadying device adapted for use with lobster traps that will reliably locate the position of attachment of the warp rope used for launching the trap into the sea so the trap will be steadied in its descent to the sea bottom so that the trap will be landed in an upright manner on the sea bottom. Upon a quick pull of the warp rope, the rope will be detached from the snap-clip device and the trap pull upwardly from one of its end portions so that it can be easily landed over the side of the boat. The snap-clip lever part is biased to a closed position by an elastic tension cord that is fixed to one of the mesh bars rearwardly up the full device. The device itself is assembled in clip fashion to the mesh top of the lobster trap.

Abstract: A system for continuously collecting and preserving fish eggs and larvae by pumping, concentrating, separating, and preserving samples for a specific period of time or volume. Water containing fish eggs and larvae is pumped by a centrifugal pump through smooth-walled plumbing into a headbox. Water flows out of the headbox over a sheet-metal ogee crest down over an inclined panel and then across a wedge-wire screen. Water with retained material drops through smooth-walled plumbing and a swing-joint union into a diverter arm. The swing-joint union is coupled through a chain and sprocket to a stepper motor programmable to position the diverter arm over each of the sample buckets. A peristaltic pump operates on a preset time and delivers a calculated concentration of formalin to a previously filled sample bucket.

Abstract: An apparatus including an elongate housing formed with a funnel entrance and an exit door utilizing springs mounted on opposed sides of the housing to bias the door in a first closed position when the door is displaced relative to a foward or second portion of a top wall to provide access to an interior cavity of the housing. The housing includes a counterweight mounted medially to the bottom surface of the bottom wall of the housing, including plural pairs of spring legs to mount and permit entrenching of the minnow housing within a level or soil laden bottom support surface of a stream, lake, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pole member organization, wherein a plurality of vertical posts are fixedly secured together joined at their upper terminal end to an "L" shaped junction. The "L" shaped junction includes a first horizontal post telescopingly receiving a second and third horizontal post. The first and second horizontal posts include guide slots that are longitudinally aligned, with the guide slots receiving an alignment eye and leg within each slot to guide each post in a telescoping relationship. A winding reel is mounted within the "L" shaped junction, with the "L" shaped junction including an aperture aligned with each eye to effect a winding and reeling of the associated crab trap to the post structure.

Abstract: A collapsible lobster or crab trap is described that has a pyramidal shape with a triangular base and three triangular sides. The sides and the base are covered with a mesh material. At least one of the sides has an entrance leading to a truncated cone shaped net that acts as a passageway to further entrap the catch. The trap has a lifting means in at least one of the sides to assist the diver to remove the catch and rebait the trap by hinging one side of the trap open. There is a net support means to keep the net in an open configuration to provide an easy entry for the catch to enter the trap. The sides are hinged to the base and one of the sides has spring clips near its apex. The hinges and the spring clips allow the trap to be easily placed and secured in its operable pyramidal shape and in its stored collapsed state.

Abstract: A baitless crayfish harvesting apparatus having a primary collection chamber, a plurality of passageways positioned is relation to the collection chamber, each of the passageways having an entrance door and an exit door, for luring a crayfish thereinto, and allowing the crayfish to travel in a single direction from outside of the collection chamber into the collection chamber during the harvesting of the crayfish.

Abstract: There is disclosed a novel trap assembly including a spring-loaded body member positioned on and mounted to a base member whereby the body member is capable of raising up into an instant upright operational configuration. The novel trap assembly provided with side wall members hingeably mounted to the base member for encasing the body member during retrieval of the novel trap assembly.

Abstract: A support stand for a minnow trap of the type comprising a large jar having a funnel opening at one end and a plurality of apertures at the other end. The ends of the jar are engaged and supported by a pair of opposed generally planar end plates. A plurality of generally parallel support rods extend between these end plates and are spaced apart circumferentially so as to secure the jar against transverse movement between the rods. A handle means is pivotally connected to one of these support rods.

Abstract: A fish attracting device is adapted to be submerged into the water below a fisherman's boat or the boat dock. The device has a central section comprising a perforated hollow container for retaining fish bait therein in a manner to permit the fish bait to be dispensed from the container through the perforations. A tray member adapted to be attached to the bottom of the container collects fish food dispensed from the container. The device includes a cylindrical mesh screen mechanism positioned essentially concentrically about the perforated container in a manner to prevent larger fish from direct access to the fish food dispensed from the container and/or collected in the tray below.

Abstract: The invention relates to improvements in shellfish traps. According to the invention, the trap consists of a bottom 1 weighted with concrete blocks 19 onto which is fastened a cage 2 provided with a truncated entrance opening 7. Means 8 are provided on the bottom and cooperate with opening 7 to facilitate the stacking of traps one upon the other.The invention is applied particularly to shellfish fishing.

Abstract: A feed-holding member entices fish into a fish-trapping device which has an "exit only" closure for an outlet opening thereof. A "live net" is connected to that fish-trapping device adjacent that outlet opening, and, when the fish have satisfied their appetites, they will attempt to escape from the fish-trapping device. In doing so, the fish will open the "exit only" closure and pass through the outlet opening into the "live net"--which will hold the fish until they can be removed from that "live net".

Abstract: In one embodiment of the fish cage, a plurality of hollow plastic tubular members form an open lattice, bouyant, frame which normally floats in water. A net assembly is carried in the interior of the frame and a removable net top is secured by spring hooks over the open upper portion of the frame. One end of the net assembly is provided with an inwardly converging, funnel-like fish inlet and the other end of the net assembly, with an outwardly converging, funnel-like fish outlet. Thus, fish have free access to bait in the net assembly by swimming through the fish inlet and can freely depart through the fish outlet, except when the outlet is folded to a closed condition. Tie wraps hold the net assembly to the frame. In the other embodiment the frame is rectangular and the net assembly hangs pendant therefrom. Each fish cage has a demand feeder. A plurality of the cages are secured in tandem on a continuous conveyor for moving the cages successively through a treatment lock and a food replenishing zone.

Abstract: The portable fish catcher comprises a fish trap of a type employing gill netting which is attached at top and bottom respectively to a pair of rings which may be oval, triangular, rectilinear, round, or other geometrical configuration. Additional steadiness of the catcher is provided by flexible lines interconnecting the two rings which lines are placed on the inside of the gill netting. The top ring has attached thereto a float so that when the catcher is placed in the water, the weight of the rings extends the catcher downwardly. Bait is suspended within the catcher by attachment to the tilt ring or to the float. The float attached to the top ring has means thereon for attaching a line so that the catcher may be retrieved. The weight of the rings causes the catcher to be extended to the full length of the interconnecting lines. When the catcher is not in use, it collapses to the height of the diameter of the two rings plus the float.

Abstract: A trap for fish, crabs and the like, characterized by a substantial portion thereof being flexible and collapsible for increasing capacity while facilitating storage, safety and handling. The trap comprises an enclosure defined by a large flexible net secured to and communicating with a smaller and substantially rigid base carrying a bait well. Affixed to the net is flotation means whereby the net expands upwardly while under water increasing capacity while properly aligning the base on the underwater floor. Means are provided in the enclosure for baiting the bait well, for entrance of fish, crabs and the like and for emptying the trap. Location and retrieval means are affixed to the trap for retrieval, preferably base first.

Abstract: A lobster trap having a basic four sided container body, wherein the side walls are each constructed of a central panel having open mesh net material of widely spaced strands, which strands are composed of a plurality of tightly spaced individual strands, with the opposite ends of the individual strands being separated and arranged in a fan shape for lamination between close woven fiberglass cloth forming a quadrilateral framework, with the framework of adjacent walls being of one piece. The side walls further have hand holds in the framework.The bottom of the lobster trap is formed of reinforced concrete having a securement bolt embedded therein that extends upwardly through the top, for clamping the side wall framework between the bottom and top. The top is held to the securement bolt by means of a cross pin that is soluble in water so as to release the top after a predetermined submerged time, for corresponding release of trapped lobsters therein when the trap is lost.