Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for handling the purse rings of a net when brought alongside a fishing vessel by the net's purse line. A power operated davit arrangement maneuvers the purse rings by the purse line adjacent the vessel sidewall. Purse ring support apparatus is mounted below the davit and moveable to engage and hold the purse rings while netted fish are removed from the net. The purse rings are thereafter easily disengaged from the purse ring support apparatus.

Abstract: A shaking machine for shaking fish out of drift nets includes a shaking fence at the forward end thereof for receiving a drift net to be shaken, the shaking fence being reciprocally driven so as to shake a drift net received thereon. An upper drum is rotatably mounted in the machine and is located above the shaking fence and a lower drum is rotatably mounted in the machine and is located below the shaking fence. In one embodiment, the upper and lower drums are rotatably driven in different rotational directions to propel a drift net received over the upper drum and under the lower drum through the machine, to the rear end of the machine. In another embodiment, the upper drum is driven and the lower drum is freely rotatable so that nets wound around the upper drum are pulled thereby, and are then passed under the lower drum for laying out on, for example, the deck of a boat.

Abstract: A barge or skiff equipped with a pair of (water tight) 7-shaped hollow arms pivotally attached to the bow sides and operated to free tuna-herding porpoises from a tuna seine enclosure and snatch and scoop up fish, a retrieval net being extended between slidable extensions of the arms. Porpoises can be steered out of the enclosure primarily after lowering any section of the cork-line with weights, cable lifted by chase boats to prevent fish escape. The arms are retracted by coil springs tho pivoted down and extended by hydraulic jacks inside the springs. Giant arms with pivotal forearms can be mounted on stern cutouts or recesses of tuna purse-seiners and operated to handle the cork-line, let out porpoises, bag a catch by buoyancy, scoop up some or most fish and some mammals from a full size enclosure or purse and dump them onto deck, the seine to be pulled in intermittently over the stern between the (held up and/or extended) arms the unshrunken purse having less bends to entangle porpoises.

Abstract: The improved crab pot line hauler's drive motor, sheave and associated line guide means having a common support are mounted as a composite unit on pivotal support bearings that permit the unit to revolve freely about a fixed bearing axis in addressing itself to the incoming line being hauled and that restrain the unit against other bodily motion. Placement of the center of mass of the hauler unit at or closely adjacent to such pivot bearing axis assures its relatively steady orientation in operative relation to the incoming line with minimal line deflection force acting on it to do this. Polar moment of inertia about such bearing axis being also made relatively small by such mounting system, quickness of response of the unit to changing line approach direction is also achieved, a major advantage in stormy weather.

Abstract: An improved gill net hauling and fish picking system employing a net modified by incorporation of a longitudinal suspender line secured to the mesh along its length midway between cork line and lead line. With the suspender line caused to run over an elevated net guiding support, preferably in the form of a split sheave device, in approaching the storage drum, the halfwidth panels of the net draped from the suspender line are spread out and the mesh opened up to facilitate removal of fish therefrom.

Abstract: A fisherman's casting net holder consisting of a plate, an arcuate horn attached to the front of the plate, and a device for adjustably carrying the plate on the chest portion of the caster's body. To prepare for a cast, the holder is strapped onto the caster so that the plate is held against the caster's body and so that the horn points away from the caster's body. Then the caster coils the net's hand line in one hand, places a portion of the net's weight line over the horn, holds a portion of the net in his or her other hand, and then casts in the customary manner, except that the caster need not use his or her mouth to hold a portion of the net's weight line during casting, such portion being held by the horn until such time as release is appropriate whereupon release is effected automatically, without any effort on the part of the caster.

Abstract: Apparatus for shaking fish free from gillnets, longlines and similar fish capturing means as such fish capturing means are hauled aboard a fishing vessel so as to disentangle fish individually snared on such fish capturing means and to permit such freed fish to fall into the hold of the fishing vessel or into other suitable fish collecting and/or processing means.

Abstract: A long life crab pot hauling system is provided with longer life than before available in a harsh salt water marine environment and with operation from an energy saving low power gasoline motor capable of dislodging a crab pot from the bottom of a body of water and hauling it up into a vessel without stalling. This is accomplished by a line hauler sheave having a heavy flywheel effect provided by a pair of separated flywheels of cast iron or the like between which is affixed respectively to each flywheel a pair of replaceable sheave members of a salt water and wear resistant material such as stainless steel forming an inclined groove for frictionally receiving the hauling line therebetween with said flywheel-sheave assembly being driven by the low power gasoline motor that can be readily carried on a small boat or skiff that services a line of crab pots. Only the sheave members are replaced after wear or corrosion caused by the lines.

Abstract: Apparatus for mounting on the deck of a vessel which is useful for dredging oysters or other marine animals from water bottoms which is comprised generally of the combination of (a) a dredge, (b) a tilt-frame with which the dredge is intimately associated in its function of lifting and dumping the contents of the dredge, after its retrieval from the water bottom, and (c) a conveyor, or conveyors, located below the tilt frame, the tilt frame being pivotally mounted above said conveyor, or conveyors, such that when the filled dredge is withdrawn from the water bottoms and rested upon the tilt-frame, the tilt frame will pivot and dump the contents of the dredge onto the conveyor, or conveyors, for transport to a location on the deck of the vessel for separation, assortment, grading or collection.

Abstract: An articulated fishing drum assembly especially adapted to be operated in a first lower operating position or a second upper operating position. The drum assembly comprises a pair of piston and cylinder actuating means to move a drum member from the lower to the upper operating position. Mounting members are rotatably attached to the drum member at its axis of rotation and to the sidewalls of a fishing vessel and define a pivot arc through which the drum member moves. A guide mechanism is provided for locating a fishing net on the drum member in an evenly spaced distribution when the drum member is in either of the upper or lower operating positions. The guide mechanism is movable between first and second positions such that a line drawn through the axis of rotation of the drum member and the guide mechanism will be substantially horizontal when the drum member is in the upper or lower operating positions.

Abstract: A stopper component for use in a fishing trawl which is made of metal and which includes first and second closed loops each defining an aperture, said closed loops merging to form a central portion from which outwardly projecting shoulders emerge. The outwardly projecting shoulders preventing the stopper component from being passed through a Kelly's Eye.

Abstract: A purse seine hairpin retainer and purse ring handling method which simplifies and lessens the danger involved in collecting and securing the purse rings that are attached to the base of a fish net used in a seining operation for catching fish. The purse rings are threaded by a purse line which is hauled in toward the boat thereby gathering the purse rings together in a closely grouped arrangement and closing the bottom of the net. The purse rings are then threaded onto the lower leg of a hairpin member which is generally hauled up and temporarily suspended over the deck of the boat while upper end of the net is hauled in and the fish removed therefrom.

Abstract: A series of bag shaped nets is hung in the fish locker of a ship or barge to receive fish caught in the ocean. Each net has four suspension loops on its upper end and hanger hooks are arranged in the locker to hold the top ends of the nets open in rectangular configuration in side by side relation with no gaps between adjacent nets so that all fish dropped into the locker will fall into the nets. At a shore station the filled nets are lifted out of the locker one at a time by a crane. One form of net has an open bottom end which is closed by a pucker rope. The contents of the net are discharged by releasing the pucker rope. In a modification, the net has a closed lower end connected to one end of a suspension rope. When a filled net is to be removed from the locker on a ship the other end of the suspension rope is connected to a crane hook and a bight in the rope is passed through the four suspension loops and supported on a releasable crane hook.

Abstract: A control device to prevent or limit gangion enwrapment on long lines including means mounting a line-deflecting guide roller to vary the angular relationship between the roller axis and the plane defined between the line stretches extending to and from the deflecting roller during line hauling. Angular displacement of such guide roller to either side of a neutral position under operator control induces twisting in the approaching long line one way or the other so as to prevent or eliminate gangion enwrapment.

Abstract: A stern fishing system utilizing a power block and purse seine net which is launched and retrieved from the stern of a fishing boat. When the net has been pursed, it may contain fish such as tuna, as well as a number of porpoises. For ecology reasons, the porpoise should be released unharmed. Such release is accomplished by driving the fishing boat forward so as to cause the edge of the net most aft of the fishing boat to be temporarily submerged permitting the trapped porpoise to leap from the confines of the net and back into the open sea.

Abstract: A net-raising tool for use in raising fish nets, either empty or laden with fish. A series of dull, net-engaging hooks are located at one end of each of a series of several parallel tines. The tines all lie in substantially a common plane, and the hooks are all in line. The tines are joined together by at least one cross-member. A handle member is provided, preferably spaced from the cross-members, preferably taking the form of a bar parallel to the rearmost cross-member on the opposite side from the tines. The handle bar may be joined to the cross-member by members perpendicular to both of them, so as to provide a hand-receiving and hand-protecting opening in between the handle bar and the rearmost cross-member.

Abstract: The device is in the nature of a winch, particularly for use on sailing yachts as a sheet or anchor winch, and in which the rope or the like to be gripped is guided over a driven member comprising two conical discs operatively coupled to each other and having their conical surfaces facing each other and opening around the entire periphery of the driven member. A drive shaft is operable to rotate the discs, and at least one conical disc and preferably both conical discs, are mounted for rotation about respective axes fixedly inclined relative to the axis of the drive shaft. Thereby the discs conjointly define, along a part of their circumferences, a wedge-shape opening for the rope to be gripped or clamped. The discs are rotatably supported on respective mounting plates which are secured to each other and to a suitable support surface, such as the deck of a yacht.

Abstract: A continuous output brine freezing system is disclosed particularly applicable to the freezing of large fish such as tuna on board fishing vessels. The vessels include a series of fish freezing tanks within which the large fish, after being encapsulated in plastic bags and vacuum sealed, are loaded and frozen in sequence. One of said tanks is a brine storage tank and has means of precooling the brine to a temperature of -35.degree. C. Means are provided for feeding the precooled brine from the first tank to the next tank in line and to the remaining tanks in sequence as the tanks are loaded with fish. Means are also provided to remove the brine from the tanks in sequence and to return the brine to the first tank as the fish are frozen. Means are provided to maintain the quality of the brine and to recycle the brine through the system as fish are brought on board and loaded into the tanks, and to unload the frozen fish from the tanks by flotation with brine.

Abstract: Winches for hauling on board fishing vessels purse nets or similar fishing devices. The nets are pulled by frictional engagement with at least two rollers rotatable in mutually opposite directions and arranged in spaced apart relationship to project freely outwards from a common pivotable end member for adjusting the rollers in various oblique positions relative to a vertical plane. The rollers each have inner and outer rest portions with friction-promoting means, such as rubber coating, the inner rest portion having a smaller diameter than the outer rest portion thereby enabling a float-supporting side of the net to bear against the roller between the inner and outer rest portions in a manner regulated by the oblique positioning of the rollers. Furthermore, each roller has an annular portion formed without friction-promoting means to constitute a net-slide portion.

Abstract: A dredge for operation from the stern of marine vessels and of the type having runners which enable it to be moved along a ramp at the stern of a marine vessel is provided with structure for preventing its twisting and misalignment of the dredge as it passes through the wake of the propeller or a large wave, and also with a pivotally mounted door which will snap into a latched (closed) position by impact when empty and permitted to fall freely from above and into contact with the water adjacent the stern of the vessel, and which will be automatically released as the dredge with door closed and contents intact is raised onto and slidably moved along the ramp toward the bow of the vessel and the discharge station.

Abstract: Tilting ramp assembly for fitting to fishing vessel for assisting in raising fishing nets, and launching and recovery of small boats. Assembly has fixed portion secured adjacent the stern of the vessel and moving portion hinged thereto with roller journalled at outer end. Hydraulic cylinder extends between fixed and moving portions for swinging the portions between raised and lowered positions. Spooling gear mounted on ramp assembly feeds rope smoothly onto winch and has spool guides which are removeable when the net is drawn up the ramp, and also serve as skiff guides when hauling skiff up ramp. When raising the net, ramp moves simultaneously from lowered position to raised positon as net swings upwards, reducing crushing of fish.

Abstract: A power block is mounted above the deck of a trawler for hauling in seine to be piled on the deck. Rollers mounted on the power block are engageable by a seine looped over the sheave of the power block to increase the arc of wrap of a seine draped over the block sheave for increasing the traction of the sheave on the seine.

Abstract: A shackle component for use in a fishing trawl in the form of a pair of shackles or clevises arranged in back-to-back relationship with the free ends of the arms of each extending away from each other, each of the arms of each shackle being apertured to receive a connecting pin and at least one of the arms of each shackle having a further aperture therein to receive a locking pin to hold the connecting pin in place.

Abstract: A stopper component for use in trawling equipment which is made of metal and has one end formed to resemble a chain link, an opposite end in the form of a shackle and a central portion intermediate the two ends provided with outwardly projecting shoulders to prevent the stopper component from being passed through a Kelly's Eye.

Abstract: A Kelly's Eye component for a fishing trawl is disclosed, the component being formed of metal and having one end in the form of a ring defining an aperture which is sufficiently large to allow passage of a trawl rope, the other end of the component being in the form of a shackle, the two arms of which are apertured to receive a connecting pin and at least one of the arms having a further aperture therein extending at right angles to the first aperture and arranged tangential thereto to receive a locking pin so that an end link of a chain may be connected to the shackle.