Abstract: A tined mole trap apparatus for catching moles of all sizes and preventing escape includes a pair of jaws comprising an outer jaw and an inner jaw. Each of the pair of jaws have a U-shaped upper portion and a pair of curved outer arms extending from the upper portion. A pair of crossbars is coupled between the pair of outer arms proximal the upper portion. A plurality of tines is coupled to the pair of crossbars. A pivot rod is coupled through the upper portion of each of the pair of jaws such that the inner jaw pivotably moves within the outer jaw between a clamped position and a spread position. A spring engages the pair of crossbars to force the pair of jaws towards the clamped position. A trigger plate is coupled to the crossbar of the inner jaw. A set rod maintains the pair of jaws in the spread position.

Abstract: A rodent trap comprises a stiff U-shaped spring with long outstretched arms and wire half-noose that are normally closed tightly together. A folding spreader mechanism at the base of the U-shaped spring holds the long outstretched arms apart until a trigger allows the spreader to fold up. The folding spreader mechanism is prevented from extending over-center and locking like a knee joint as near the point of going over-center, a tiny force like a trigger keeps the folding spreader mechanism extended even against strong spring pressures.

Abstract: A mole trap has a pair of spring-loaded jaws. A platform is pivotally connected to the jaws to limit the travel of the trap into the ground and to stabilize the trap on the ground when it is set. A lever assembly forces the jaws open. A trigger mechanism includes a clasp member configured to selectively hold the lever assembly in a set position. The trap may be positioned such that a portion of the trigger mechanism is on the ground above a mole burrow. The disturbance of a mole traveling beneath the trigger causes the clasp member to disengage the lever assembly, permitting the lever assembly to collapse, thereby permitting the jaws to close and destroy the animal.

Abstract: A mole trap has a pair of spring-loaded jaws. A platform is pivotally connected to the jaws to limit the travel of the trap into the ground and to stabilize the trap on the ground when it is set. A lever assembly forces the jaws open and sets the trap. An adjustable trigger mechanism is positioned on the ground above a mole burrow. The disturbance of a mole traveling beneath the trigger causes the lever assembly to collapse, thereby permitting the jaws to close and destroy the animal.

Abstract: The trap (42, 82) is based around a spring mechanism (24, 60) comprising a substantially rectangular sheet of spring material folded to be substantially C-shaped in cross-section. In one embodiment (FIG. 6), portions (64, 65) of the spring mechanism (60) are adapted to be killing surfaces. In another embodiment (FIG. 2), the spring mechanism (24) is provided with arms (28, 29) that support jaws (36, 37). A setting mechanism (53/54, 77) holds the spring mechanism (24, 60) in an armed position and the trap (42, 82) is triggered when a trigger mechanism (49, 75) is moved by an animal which in turn disengages the setting mechanism (53/54, 77) and allows the killing surfaces (portions 64, 65) or jaws (36, 37) to come together on the animal therebetween.

Abstract: A combination mole trap and choke for use with the mole trap. The choke effectively functions to reduce the size of the opening through which the mole passes. The choke ensures that upon passage of a mole through a tunnel, the trap will activate thereby causing the jaws to come together on the mole. The choke may be removably or permanently secured to the free end of a trip-pan which integrally forms a part of the mole trap.

Abstract: An aquatic sampling device is provided, said aquatic sampling device comprising generally a plurality of two parallel vertical members, a plurality of two parallel horizontal members, a plurality of two support cross members, and a flexible net. Said plurality of two parallel vertical members being pivotally and slidably attached to said plurality of two parallel horizontal members by means of a plurality of two pins on said plurality of two parallel horizontal members extending through a plurality of two slots in said plurality of two vertical members. Said plurality of two parallel vertical members pivoting from resting horizontally against said plurality of two parallel horizontal members to 90 degrees or perpendicular to said plurality of two parallel horizontal members. Said plurality of two parallel vertical members being further attached to said plurality of two parallel vertical members by a plurality of two flexible cords.

Abstract: Fishing gear for electric fishing, comprising a beam (5) which is provided with pairs of electrodes (9, 10) over which a potential difference can be generated, as well as a power source (16) and pulse generator. The power source (16), the pulse generator and the connections of the electrodes (9, 10) are housed in a watertight chamber inside the beam (5), the pulse generator being housed in a chamber which for cooling purposes is partly flushed by water. The electrodes (9, 10) are also each provided with a core (42) of electrically conducting material, metal electrode pieces (43) being electrically connected to the core (42) with regular spacings between them and the core being insulated between the electrode pieces (43).

Abstract: A trawl cable vibration meter is described for monitoring the vibration in the trawl cables which connect a vessel and a set of trawl doors. The doors are connected to a fishing net and are towed along the ocean floor. A sensor, mounted on the vessel at a location where stress is tranferred to the vessel, provides signals corresponding to the vibration in each cable which is indicative of the interaction between the trawl door and the ocean bottom. An interface provides ongoing information on the vibration, and an alarm system for notifying an operator when a threshold has been exceeded.

Abstract: A trawling system for catching shrimp which includes a trawler, an outrigger carried by the trawler, an onboard suction pump, a trawl device that is adapted to be dragged along the bottom of a body of water behind the trawler, and a conduit connected from the onboard suction pump to a suction pocket of a net forming part of the trawl device for continuously delivering shrimp from the trawl device to the trawler. The trawl device includes two elongated trawl beams which are joined together at adjacent ends by a hinge connection to form an angle. Each trawl beam is composed of at least a pair of spaced-apart end strut plates, rods extending between the strut plates, a depressor hydrofoil beam for urging the entire trawl device toward the seabed as it is towed through the water, a net which has a suction pocket for collecting shrimp, skids for sliding on the seabed, and an open space adjacent the suction pocket of the net for allowing non-targeted species to escape.

Abstract: In a trap used to capture small fur animals by the body or the head, a trigger is necessary to keep the jaws open. In my invention, the trigger is made of one piece of metal. The above mentioned trap will be activated when an animal steps on the piece of metal (invention). This pressure will activate the jaws that are held in an open position due to the pressure of one or more springs.

Abstract: A wear shoe apparatus for protecting the bottom of a trawl door used to open a trawl being pulled behind a fishing boat. A lower wear shoe is provided with a bottom and two walls extending upward therefrom to define a channel sized to accommodate therein an upper wear shoe. Holes in the side walls are aligned with each other and with a corresponding hole in the upper wear shoe, with such holes permitting an elongated fastening member to pass therethrough for fastening the wear shoes to each other. The wear shoes are constructed of a very wear-resistant and durable material, such as manganese steel alloys. A mudshoe can be made an integral part of the lower wear shoe. Wear shoes and mudshoes can be installed, removed and replaced with greater ease and in less time.

Abstract: A humane animal trap is provided and includes a pair of cushions which can be scented for attracting an animal that are removably attached to inner faces of the trap jaws to prevent injury to jaws of the animal when closed upon the same. A spoon shaped bait-receiving member is also provided so that liquid bait or a solid bait can be used for attracting the animal to trigger the trap.

Abstract: The present invention includes a mole trap having a pair of spring-loaded jaws. A platform is pivotally connected to the jaws to limit the travel of the trap into the ground and to stabilize the trap on the ground when it is set. A lever assembly forces the jaws open and sets the trap when the lever reaches an off-center position. An adjustable trigger mechanism is positioned on the ground above a mole borrow. The vibration of a mole traveling beneath the trigger causes the lever assembly to move upward from the off-center position and the jaws to close and destroy the animal.

Abstract: An animal trap having a pair of elongated rods joined to jaws that are bias to a closed position with a coil spring. The coil spring is concentrically located about a pivot pin that pivotally joins the mid-sections of the rods together. An over-centered toggle trip mechanism is pivotally connected to the rods to hold the jaws in their open position. The trip mechanism has a trigger operable by the animal to be trapped to move the over-center toggle trip mechanism to a position wherein it collapses whereby the spring biases the jaws to their closed positions.

Abstract: An animal trap having a housing with an access opening surrounding a trap mechanism. The trap mechanism includes a pair of arms pivotally mounted on a base of the housing, each arm having a free end forming a jaw. The arms are positioned relative to one another so that they are pivotable between a jaws open position in which the arms are pivoted away from one another and the jaws spaced apart and a jaws closed position in which the arms are pivoted toward one another and the jaws urged into engagement. A drive frame which engages the arms of the trap mechanism is slidably mounted on a pair of vertical posts within the housing. A pair of springs on the post urge the drive frame upwardly from a lower position in which the arms are free to pivot into the jaws open position to an upper position in which the arms are urged by the drive frame into the jaws closed position.

Abstract: The invention seeks to provide a humane trap which dispatches trapped animals without pain or panic. A peripheral trap frame, open on one side, has sides on either side of the open side spring urged towards one another to provide the motive power for a pair of strike arms connected in scissors fashion and forming a toggle linkage tending to collapse inwardly of the frame under the spring pressure so as to deliver a killing blow to an animal whose head is passed through the frame opening. The toggle linkage is prevented from collapsing when the trap is set by a wire loop which is knocked clear of the linkage by an animal reaching a predetermined position within the trap.

Abstract: Readily assemblable two-part trap for killing mice and other rodents generally without mutilation including, as a preferably hand-holdable and manually graspable captive combination, a unitary resilient frame having an intermediate, e.g.