Abstract: A fishing device includes a net disposed in a body of water containing fishes. A plurality of posts, wherein each post further includes a stem, a bottom cross disposed at a lower portion of the stem; a cross bar disposed at a top end of the stem; and a cord. The stem is an upright elongated protrusion extending from under a bottom to above a surface of the body of water. The cord is slidably secured to the cross bar. A first end of the cord is secured to a weight. A second end of the cord is secured to the net. The fishing device includes a release mechanism. The release mechanism grabs a portion of the cord to hold the weight in a first position adjacent to the cross bar. A bait system is disposed at or adjacent to a center of the net.

Abstract: A trap suitable for capturing a marine animal in open water without harming the captured animal is disclosed. The trap includes a pen having top and bottom ends. A portion of the bottom of the pen includes a flotation element which is sufficiently buoyant to support a substantial percentage of the pen above the water line. The pen further includes a top rim which has an interior opening large enough to receive the captured animal. The platform is slidably coupled to the pen. The platform serves as a flotation device that is suitably buoyant to support the weight of the animal sought. A trap door within the platform is designed to release when an animal climbs thereon. When the trap door is actuated the pen is released from the platform and rises vertically relative to the platform to capture the animal.

Abstract: An animal guard for tree trunks comprising an annular flexible plate having a central circular opening and a skirt portion completely around the central opening; at least one slot extending through the skirt forming the plate into a separable member having abutting edges; a pair of spaced fastener holes in the skirt radially aligned and positioned adjacent one abutting edge of the slot; an inner and an outer spaced parallel arcuate slot in the skirt radially spaced from one another and positioned so that the fastener holes and the slots cooperate with each other when the plate is positioned in a truncated conical position about a tree trunk; the inner slot and associated fastener hole being a substantial distance closer to the inner periphery of the plate than the outer slot and associated fastener hole is to the outer periphery so as to not provide a gripping surface for an animal attempting to pass the guard.

Abstract: A gate is provided in a seine fishing net to allow sea mammals entrapped with fist in the net to escape. The gate is selectively inflated or deflated so that it may be raised to the surface or lowered, and is disposed in position in place of floatation devices at the upper extremity of a section of the net. A ribbon net is connected to one side of the gate and is drawn between schools of sea mammals and entrapped fish to allow the sea mammals to escape through the gate while discouraging the fish from escaping the seine net once the seine net has been set.

Abstract: A commercial fishing net takes advantage of animal psychology to easily permit the escape of entrapped porpoises while preventing the escape of desired tuna and other edible fish, the net having at least a portion comprising a drop net which sinks beneath the water surface to a depth defined by tethered floats when a control bladder attached to the top of the drop net is deflated, there also being an optional stiffener hose extending along the top of the drop net and being filled with a releasable pressurized fluid to maintain the upper edge of the drop net aligned and prevent the bunching of this net portion.

Abstract: A tuna fishing purse seine and a method for its operation provide for protection and release of porpoise captured along with a school of tuna. The seine includes an inner, upper net in addition to the main net, positioned alongside the main net and connected to it in one area. The two nets, each having its own corkline, are set together but may be independently pursed. During setting and pursing, tuna generally sound a considerable distance below the surface, while porpoise tend to remain near the surface for air, so that the porpoise are separated from the tuna by the pursing of the inner, upper net. The pursing of the upper net sweeps it over to one area of the main net, where porpoise can be released by the opening of a release panel or gate in the main net in that area. The captured tuna may then be sacked up in the usual manner, but using the outside of the pursed inner net as a portion of the enclosure retaining the tuna.