Method and apparatus for fishing

[57] ABSTRACT

A method of fishing from boats and apparatus therefor in which one or more nets are trawled astern of the boat and trawl booms are maneuvered in a horizontal arc to bring the nets close along side the boat to enable the cod ends of the nets to be lifted inboard for unloading on the deck.

Claims, 17 Drawing Figures

PATENTED mat 16 ia?z

3,662,484

SHEET 1 OF 8

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INVENTOR

J. K. DRES

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PATENTEDMAY 16 1972

3,662,484

SHEET 2 OF 8

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PATENTED iw 161972

3.662,484

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PATENTEDMAY 1 6 1972

3,662,484

SHEET U OF 8

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Aia

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PATENT AGENTS

PATENTEDMAY 16 1972

3,662,484

SHEET 5 CF 8

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7&lt;S. 10

INVENTOR

J. K. DRES

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PATENT AGENTS

PATENTEDmay 16197?

3,662,484

SHEET G OF 8

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PATENTEDMAY16 1972 '8 662,484

SHEET 7 OF 8

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PATENTEDMAY 16 1972

3,662,484

SHEET 8 OF 8

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—^'inventor

J. K. DRES

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3,662,484

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FISHING loading position forward and parallel with the boat. Alternatively, a combination of outrigger booms and auxiliary booms may be employed for the same purpose. In either case the nets are drawn in forwardly and alongside the boat in order to locate the cod ends of the nets adjacent the unloading area on the deck of the boat while the main body of the nets are left in the water alongside the boat.

With the above arrangement it is possible to make use of a third or even a fourth fishing net, in which case additional outrigger booms are pivotally mounted adjacent the first two mentioned outrigger booms and the additional booms are rigged so that in the fishing position they are directed rearwardly so that the fishing nets are operable in the area between the two nets controlled by the outrigger booms which are positioned at right angles to the boat.

When unloading the third or fourth nets their booms are pivoted to bring the booms to a forward position parallel with the first two outrigger booms so that all nets lie in the water

This invention relates to the field of commercial fishing and more particularly to improvements in trawling and in the trawling rigs as well as to the method Of trawling.

The present practice of operating shrimp and fish trawlers is to use the “Double-Rig-System” whereby fixed outriggers are used, such outriggers being relatively short and positioned at right angles to the vessel. The necessity of using relatively short outriggers, normally extending about seventeen feet beyond the side of the vessel is to enable a man, standing on the deck of the vessel, to reach the cod end of the fishing net with a pole having a hook on its end and, by means ofthe pole to haul in on the lazy line of the cod end after the wings and doors of the trawl net has been winched in after which the cod ends of the net are lifted inboard. In most cases, the pulling-in of the main body of the trawl net requires a powerful winch, and the net with its accessory bobbing, takes up a large amount of space requiring large winch drums. This procedure is necessary whether the vessel is a “side trawler” or “stern ²⁰ P^{arallei with} the sides of the boat and the cod ends ofthe net trawler. ” Conversely, when the trawl net is being set, all of the net must be fed out from the deck and cleared over the side or stern of the vessel into the water.

The present invention consists essentially in providing means whereby the trawl net or nets are pulled in alongside the vessel and are left in the water where their weight is supported by the water, and are in such a position alongside the vessel that the cod ends of the net are located adjacent the location on the vessel on which the load of the cod ends are to be dumped.

The present method of trawling can be applied to side and stern trawlers, and can readily be adapted to replace the trawl rigs presently in use. The invention consists essentially of a trawl boom rig which can be moved from a position at right angles to the vessel to a position inboard and forward of the vessel, and includes rigging whereby the trawl boom rig can be maintained in the position at right angles to the vessel during the fishing operation and be moved inboard and forward to bring the trawl net or nets alongside the vessel without causing ₄θ the net to be twisted while the trawl boom is being moved * through approximately 90°. The movement ofthe trawl boom can be controlled by wire rope rigging or by means of an auxiliary boom.

When the cod end of the trawl net is alongside the vessel, it 45 can be readily hoisted inboard for unloading while the main body of the net is left lying alongside in the water. It is, therefore, only necessary to provide sufficient power to lift the loaded cod end of the trawl net and the deck area can be kept clear by providing movable fish pounds into which the fish can 50 be loaded and transported to a processing area of the vessel.

The present invention can be used to control one, two, or three trawl nets.

When trawling with one net conventionally, the entire net is brought inboard before the cod end can be emptied.

With the present invention using one net, the net is pulled in by the warp lines until the trawl doors can be secured to the “gallows” and are kept secured thereto by the two trawlwinches. The cables, between the trawl doors and the wings of the net are then connected to the head of a “Tee” boom which 60 is preferably pivotally mounted midway of the length of the vessel, and the Tee boom is moved from a position facing rearwardly to a position facing forwardly, through an arc of approximately 180°, with the cables being pulled in by a power winch preferably mounted on the boom itself. This operation 65 brings the trawl net alongside the vessel and the lazy line at the cod end can then be secured and pulled in either to bring the cod end over the stem of the vessel or over the side, whichever is more suitable.

When trawling with two nets an outrigger fishing boom is 70 pivotally mounted on board at approximately midway of the length of the fishing boat and adjacent the side thereof. These outrigger booms are controlled by wire ropes and winches, or may be self-powered by hydraulic motors, or other forms to take up a fishing position at right angles to the boat or an un- 75 are adjacent to the unloading area on the deck.

In order to facilitate the handling and processing of the fish catch it is contemplated that the cod ends of the fishing nets be dumped into fish pounds which are movable along the deck, from the unloading area into a shelter deck area where the fish can be sorted and prepared for stowage in the hold of the boat. By the use of these fish pounds the various cod ends of the fishing nets can be dumped rapidly and returned to the water for a further cycle of fishing.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide means whereby trawl fishing nets can be brought alongside the length of the fishing boat so that the cod ends of the nets are located adjacent the unloading area of the deck of the fishing boat, and to bring inboard only the cod ends of the nets while the main body of the nets remain in the water.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby two or more trawl fishing nets can be efficiently operated astern of the fishing boat and be brought alongside for unloading.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the trawl nets and part of the associated floats are kept floating in the water during the operation of unloading their cod ends, and are only brought inboard when the fishing operation is completed prior to returning to port.

A further object of the invention is to carry out the fishing operation with a multiple of fishing nets while, at the same time greatly reducing the winch capacity of the fishing boat with consequent reduction in manpower.

A further object of the invention is to eliminate all trawl nets from the working area of the deck of the boat, thereby permitting the catch to be cleared from the deck quickly and efficiently.

A further object of the invention is to provide simplified rigging of the multi-outriggers whereby their operation during the fishing and unloading operations can be carried out by a minimum of operators.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed specification and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a profile above the waterline of a typical trawler fishing boat using the trawl rig of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a trawler with a single trawl net extended for fishing.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the trawl net pulled in to bring the doors up against a gallows at the stern of the trawler.

FIG. 3a is a detail of the kelly eye at the end ofthe outrigger boom shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the tee boom pivoted to a forward position to bring the trawl net alongside the trawler.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the cod end only of the fishing net brought inboard for unloading.

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FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the method of operating to bring three trawl nets alongside the trawler and the unloading of their cod ends.

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of a side trawler converted for operation in the same manner as in FIGS. 2 to 5, using three trawl nets.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but showing the three trawl nets brought alongside the trawler.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 but showing the cod ends of the nets brought inboard on the forward deck.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing in detail the operating rigging and winch arrangement of a typical trawler according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a side elevation of the trawler shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a stem elevation of the trawler shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

FIG. 13 is a side elevation of a power operating outrigger boom and its mounting at the deck of a trawler .

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the boom shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a horizontal section taken on the line 15—15 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is a detail of the free revolving head of the tee boom shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the profile of a ₂5 trawler specially designed for the method and apparatus for trawling which is the subject of the present invention. However, it is to be understood that the invention can equally well be applied to existing trawlers and fishing boats equipped for either side or rear trawling techniques.

The main elements shown in FIG. 1 which are applicable to the present invention are the main trawl winch 5, the gallows 6, the fish gantry 7 with its cod end winch 8, the king post 9, the tee boom 10 with its cable winch 11, and the auxiliary boom 12. All of these elements can be duplicated on the op- 35 posite side of the trawler, and the operation of these various . elements or alternatives will be discussed in detail in reference to the remaining drawings, FIG. 2 etc.

Referring now specifically to the schematic FIGS. 2 to 5 inclusive, the trawler 20 is equipped for stem trawling with one 40 conventional type fishing net 21 having a cod end 22. The net 21 has its open ends 23 connected by the cables 24 to the trawl doors 25 which, in turn are connected to the warps 26 whose inboard ends are wound over the drum of the respecare mounted in the gallows 6. The wire loops 29 straddle the trawl doors 25 and its ends are secured to the cables 24 and the warps 26.

In FIG. 2 the fishing net 21 is shown in the fishing position astern of the trawler 20.

In FIG. 3 the fishing net 21 is shown being drawn in until the trawl doors 25 are brought against the gallows 6. One end of the wire loops 29 are detached from the warps 26 and, in turn are attached to the end portions 30 of the head 31 of the tee boom 10, the base end of which is pivotally mounted at 32 on the king post 9, as shown in FIG. 1.

The auxiliary boom 12 is now positioned at right angles to the trawler 20 by means of the cable 33—33α, and the winch 34. The cable 33—33α is anchored at 35 on the outer end of the auxiliary boom 12 and that portion 33 of the cable is fitted with a kelly eye 36.

In the operation of bringing the fishing net 21 to a position alongside the trawler 20, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cable 33 33α is warped-in on the winch 34 to pull the auxiliary 65 boom 12 forward, with respect to the trawler, and inwards to lie parallel with the trawler. At the same time, after the cable 24 is detached from the trawl door 25, the tee boom 10 is pivoted outwardly and then forwardly and, when the auxiliary _r________ „ _vavvll boom is positioned parallel with the trawler (FIGS. 4 and 5) 70 FIG 10. The boo^SS and 56 the kelly eye like device 36 is triggered to permit the cable portion 33 to be further pulled in to bring the tee boom 10 forward and inwards alongside the trawler as shown.

In FIG. 3α there is shown a detail of the kelly eye 36. The ing a cable B from the boom 10 to the cable C leading to the winch or capstan 34. The ring A is secured to the outer end of boom 13 by the skirt length of cable D by means of the slip hook E.

The head 31 of the tee boom 10 is free to rotate in order to prevent the cables 24 from crossing over each other as the tee boom passes from one quadrant to another in its pivotal path from a rearward direction to a forward direction.

With the tee boom 10 located forward as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the main body of the fishing net 21 is brought through the water to lie alongside the trawler and the cod end 22 is located close to the afterdeck of the trawler. The lazy line 22a of the fishing net is then hooked on to the end of the cable 37. This cable 37 is secured to the cod end winch 38 which is mounted on the fish gantry 7 and the cable is led over the pulley 40 suspended from the top of the gantry. When the cod end winch 38 is activated the cod end 22 of the fishing net is lifted out of the water and brought over the deck where the load of fish is dumped, preferably into a fish pound, not shown. This fish pound can then be moved to another preferably sheltered position on the deck where the fish can be sorted and prepared for stowage or processing.

In FIG. 6 there is shown a multi-rig variation of the system shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 above described. In this arrangement, instead of fishing with a single net there is shown the use of three nets 41, 42 and 43 together with three outrigger booms 44,45 and 46.

In the trawling position the booms 44 and 45 are positioned at right angles to the trawler while the boom 46 is directed stemwise, so as to have all of the nets 41, 42 and 43 spaced apart from each other astern. When the nets are to be drawn in, the operation is similar as that described above with respect to FIGS. 2 to 5 except that instead of the trawl doors 47, 48 and 49 being drawn up against gallows at the stern of the boat, the doors are drawn up to the outer ends of their respective booms 44, 45 and 46. All three booms 44, 45 and 46 are moved to a forward position as shown in FIG. 6 to bring the fishing nets 41, 42 and 43 alongside the boat, after which the individual cod ends 50, 51 and 52 are lifted inboard and their fish contents dumped, again preferably into fish pounds.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show a variation of the fishing method and apparatus above described as applied to a “side trawler” where the fish load is normally unloaded on the forward deck

... . ---------1— »***^*MMivaui»uviiuaujuuiu&lt;iuQuuuuieiorwaraaecK tive winches 27 after passing over the trawl blocks 28 which ⁴⁵ forward of the deck housing 53. The arrangement of the are mounted in thA oallnu/c K Tho miro io ji^ *ι._Λ ___*____i______ _ΛΛ . . . ® outrigger booms 44α, 45α and 46α is the same as shown in FIG. 6 and the nets 41α, 42α and 43α are drawn in alongside the trawler as shown in FIG. 8. The only difference is that the 50 fish gantry 39α is located forward of the housing 53 and the cod ends 50α, 51α and 52α are lifted inboard by the gantry 39α to be dumped on the forward deck.

FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 are a plan view, a side elevation and a stern elevation respectively of the type of fishing trawler 55 shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 but showing specifically the winch arrangement for control of the fishing operation, but modified to show the use of auxiliary booms to control the positioning of the main outrigger booms.

In these FIGS. 10,11 and 12 there are shown two outrigger 60 booms 55, one bn the port side and one on the starboard side of the trawler. Associated with each of the booms 55 is an auxiliary boom 56 connected together by a stay wire 57 to maintain the booms 55 and 56 at 90° from each other as shown in FIG. 10.

The fishing warp lines 26α have one end secured to the outermost end of the outrigger booms 55.

The outrigger booms 55 and auxiliary booms 56 are positioned for fishing as shown in full lines, and in the inboard position for unloading of a catch as shown in chain dot lines in -------------------i are maintained in these two positions by means of the winch 58 and the cables 59 leading from the winch drums 58α over the pulleys 60 to the outermost ends of the outrigger booms 55, and the cables 61 leading from the winch drums 62 over the pulleys 63 to the outer... . 1» 1 . , a a----— .*.₆ A. VM1 u&lt;v niuvnuiuinauA UVCI UJ kelly eye is well known in the art and consists of a ring A, join- 75 most ends of the auxiliary booms 56.

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The winches 64 are utilized to hold the doors 25 (FIG. 3) against the gallows 6, while the cables 24 from the nets are being connected directly to the outrigger booms 55, or as shown in FIG. 3 to the tee boom 10.

The cod ends of the nets are lifted inboard by means of the 5 cables 65 from the winches 66 which are mounted directly on the fish gantry 7.

In FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 there is shown a design of outrigger boom which is particularly adaptable for the fishing method outlined above where the boom must have a length substan- 1θ tially greater than the fixed outrigger booms presently in use and having a length of approximately 25 feet. The additional length of boom required in the outriggers of the present application are essential when fishing with three nets as shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, and is also required to bring the fishing nets alongside the trawler so as to position the cod ends of the nets as close as possible to the unloading position on the deck.

The outrigger boom 67 may be of delta or tubular construction and is here shown as of delta construction. The inner end 68 of the boom is provided with a long sleeve for mounting on the shaft 69 set in the bearings 70 and 71. The bearing 70 is supported in the bracket 72 while the bearing 71 is supported in the bracket 73. Both brackets 72 and 73 being projected from the king post 74. 25

The shaft 69, together with the outrigger boom 67, is rotatable in the bearings 70 and 71 by means of the hydraulic motor 75 through the sprocket chain drive 76 and sprocket wheel 77 secured to the lower end of the shaft 69.

A winch 78 takes the place of the winch 58 shown in FIG. 30 10 and the cable 79 from the winch 78 takes the place of the warp 26 (FIGS. 2 and 3).

If desired, a rotatable tee head 80 can be mounted on the outer end 81 of the boom 67 to perform the same function as the tee head 31 shown in FIG. 4. The tee head 80 is mounted 35 on the boom 67 so as to be able to rotate through 180°.

In FIG. 16 there is shown a detail of the free revolving tee head 80 mounted on the outer end of the boom 67α. The tee head 80 consists of a frame 81 having an upwardly projecting pin 82 journalled in the stub arm 83 projecting from the boom 40

67α and secured by the nut 84. A gear wheel 85 is mounted on the pin 82 and a pawl 86 engages with the gear 85.

Suspended from each of the two outer arms 87 of the frame 81 is a sweep line block 88 over which the warp lines 26 to the fishing net 21 are led.

From the above description it will be seen that in the process of trawl fishing, the main body of the fishing nets are not taken inboard but are left floating in the water alongside the trawler. With the fishing nets brought to a position alongside the trawler and with the cod ends of the nets positioned adjacent the dumping area of the deck, the cod ends are convenient for hooking on to the lifting gear and can be brought inboard and emptied with a minimum of effort and manpower.

As only the cod ends are lifted out of the water, the size and capacity of the lifting winches can be greatly reduced from that presently required. As will be noted, the reduced capacity cod end winches can be simple hydraulic motors fixedly mounted on the fish gantry or on the outrigger booms.

The fact that only the cod ends are brought inboard means that, to start another fishing cycle, the main portion of the fishing nets are already in the water and it is only necessary to drop the cod ends overboard and pay-out the cables and warps in order to resume fishing.

While the above describes particularly trawl fishing, it is to be understood that the apparatus described and the method of using it can be applied equally well to other forms of fishing using nets which can be brought alongside the fishing boat with consequent saving in equipment and manpower and overall economy to the operation.