GB2217965A

GB2217965A - Live fish storage means

Info

Publication number: GB2217965A
Application number: GB8910144A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin P Maddocks
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-05-06
Filing date: 1989-05-03
Publication date: 1989-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 2009-05-03
Also published as: GB8910144D0; GB8810781D0; GB2217965B

Abstract

A bag or sack for the temporary storage or keeping of live fish, wherein at least one of the lower corner regions of the bag (1) that is remote from a predetermined point or region of point of tether (6) for the bag or sack is replaced by an open mesh region (9) of such size that the mouth region of a fish housed in the bag or sack is able enter said meshed corner region to enable the fish to ingest water for breathing purposes through said mesh region, whilst the major part of the body thereof is out of contact with the mesh region. <IMAGE>

Description

LIVE FISH STORAGE MEANS This invention relates to methods of and apparatus for the temporary storage or keeping of fish by an angler after the catching and removal of the fish from the catching line.

It is a common and essentially standard practice of the sporting angler to return any fish caught to the waters from which it was caught.

Since anglers may well spend a considerable amount of time i.e., a whole day, angling there is a requirement to be able temporarily to store or keep the caught fish in the waters in which it frequents for considerable periods of time.

Consequently, great care needs to be taken in the keeping of such fish that the health and subsequent well being of the stored fish are not impaired as a result of having been subjected to the dual trauma of being caught and subsequently temporarily stored.

Traditionally, such caught fish have been temporarily stored or kept in a net which is'shaped as to form a tubular container which is suitably supported or mounted at its upper regions so that the major part of the net is below the surface of the water.

In practice, the dimensions of the net, which is more commonly referred to as a keep-net, are large enough the provide ample swimming space for any fish contained therein. In addition, since it is important that the fish have an adequate supply of sufficiently oxygenated water, the mesh size of the net is as large as possible compatible with the size of fish it is anticipated will be introduced into the keep net.

It has been found through usage that the open mesh keep net of the conventionally used elongate cylindrical form is fully satisfactory for the storage or keeping of many forms of fish likely to be caught by line fishing anglers.

However, it has been found in relation to some forms of fish which can grow to relatively large sizes in terms of weight, length, and overall bulk that such fish do not always settle down i.e., become placid, when introduced into the conventional keep net.

There are believed to be a variety of reasons for this, amongst which there are the inherent desire of a fish to return to the safety of its natural habitat i.e., the depths of a lake or the like, the continuous brushing of the body etc., thereof against the strands of the meshes of the keep-net, and the fact that because of the weight and associated bulk and strength of the fish the ongoing efforts of the fish in attempting to escape causes the fish to injure itself through rubbing or other contact with the mesh forming material i.e., nylons or the like of the keep-net.

In relation to the giant carp, catfish i.e., fish weighing upwards of five pounds or so, such fish are particularly prone to considerable reluctance to remain placid whilst in a keep-net. Furthermore, experience has shown that if such fish are subjected to excessive trauma they are likely to die either in the keep-net or immediately after release into their natural habitat.

In order to overcome this problem it has been proposed temporarily to store or keep such fish after having been caught by rod and line in a bag or sack which is of generally rectangular form and which comprises two major panals or side sheets joined around the four edge regions thereof. In practice, an elongate opening extending from end to end of a longer edge os the sheets is provided for the introduction and removal of the fish.

This opening is provided with readily openable closure or sealing means such as, for example, a so-called ZIP closure, draw cord or cords or a plurality of press-studs closure means.

In use the bag or sack is introduced into the water and is tethered by tethering means i.e., cord, connecting with a corner region of the sack or bag adjacent to the longer edge with the opening. With this arrangement the fish tend to move to the lower part of the bag or sack and thus into the bottom corner regions of the bag or sack remote from the tethering corner. That is to say in the case of the above mentioned large fish the latter tend to face towards the bottom corners particularly that corner most remote from the upper tethered corner.

This inherent natural positioning is believed to be a consequence of a combination of the formation of the sack, the mode of tethering which enables the fish to move the sack in such direction that the fish attains a degree of free movement (in a direction back towards the deeper regions of the water) until the tethering line or the like becomes taut after which the fish tends to continue to push against the lowermost corner of the sack remote from the teathered corner.

In other words the mouth region of the fish is directed into this lower corner.

With a view to preventing damage to the body of the fish housed in the bag or sack the bag or sack is formed from a material having a relatively fine weave, and is conveniently formed from plastics material thread or filament.

This has been found to reduce significantly physical damage to the fish as compared with the same fish in a traditional keep-net.

Experience, has indicated that in order to cause the fish to become calm and to remain in the calm state it is also necessary to ensure that the interior of the bag or sack is as dark as possible. For this reason the bag or sack is formed of substantially light impervious black or other dark coloured material. It will be appreciated that the darkness factor is enhanced by the fact that when in use the bag or sack is totally submerged.

In using the above discussed bag or sack it was found that fish died at an unnacceptable rate. It was appreciated that a possible reason was that the fish whilst in the bag or sack rapidly used all of the available oxygen contained in the water within the sack, and that as a result of the close weave of the sack material replacement or fresh water was not passing through the weave at a rate sufficient to ensure an adequate supply of oxygen to the fish. In consequence, the fish were drowning whilst in the bag or sack as a result of the lack of replacement water transport or flow through the bag or sack walls.

With a view to overcoming this serious problem it has been proposed to both remove the lower pointed corner regions of a conventional rectanglar shaped bag or sack to eliminate a tapered region into which 'the mouth of the fish could become wedged or otherwise trapped thereby preventing breathing In addition, it has been proposed to pierce the side sheets of the bag or sack with a plurality of spaced apart holes hopefully sufficient in number and size to ensure adequate water transport and transfer though the bag or sack walls.

Whilst such arrangements have been found greatly to assist in alleviating the fish drowning problem they have not been found to be wholly satisfactory in that drowning or at least excessive trauma inducing conditions for fish remained at unnacceptable levels.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a construction for a keep bag or sack which reduces the risk of fish drowning.

Broadly, according to the invention there is provided a bag or sack for the temporary storage or keeping of live fish of the kind discussed, characterised in that at least one of the lower corner regions of the bag that is remote from a predetermined point or region of point of tether for the bag or sack is replaced by an open mesh region of such size that the mouth region of a fish housed in the bag or sack is able enter said corner region to enable the fish to ingest water for breathing purposes through said mesh region, whilst the major part of the body thereof is out of contact with the mesh region.

Preferably, both of said remote lower corner regions are provided with the mesh region.

Conveniently, all of the corner regions remote from the tethering corner are provided with the mesh region.

Preferably, each such mesh region is of such -dimensions with respect to the remainder of the construction of the bag or sack that in case of large fish as above mentioned the eyes of the fish remain within the darkened portions of the bag or sack.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how to carry the same into effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 very schematically, illustrates a known form of bag or sack intended for the temporary storing or keeping of live fish; Figure 2 very schematically illustrates an embodiment of a bag or sack incoporating the features of the invention; and Figure 3 is a highly schematic representation of a large fish, i.e., carp, within the bag or sack of the invention only a small portion of the fish and bag or sack being shown.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly Figure 1. This Figure illustrates a bag- or sack 1 of rectangular shape and formed from a fabric material so that the bag or sack when not in use can lie flat with both side panels 2 of the bag or sack in close side-by-side contact. An opening 3 extends along one of the longer edges of the bag or sack 1. This opening is easily closable by any convenient closure means 4 i.e., an interdigitating teeth fastener such as that known under the Registered Trade Mark ZIP; a draw cord or cords, press-studs or any other convenient means.

A tethering line or the like 5 is connected to to a corner region 6 of the bag or sack adjacent to the opening 3. The line 5 is intended to be attached to a mooring point (not shown) when the bag or sack 1 is in use and is, therefore, totally immersed in water.

With a view to facilitating ingress and egress of water into and out from the interior of the bag or sack when containing a fish or fish a plurality of openings 7 of any convenient shape, i.e, circular, square, triangular, is formed in the two side walls of the bag or sack. For the reasons above mentioned the lower end regions of the bag or sack are so cut or shaped as to provide inclined edge regions or walls 8 to the bag or sack.

Referring now to Figure 2 which illustrates an embodiment of the invention in accordance with the proposals of the invention it will be noted that at least the two lower corner regions of the bag or sack that are remote from the tethering corner 6 are removed and replaced by a mesh region 9.

The dimensions and shaping of the mesh corner region 9 are chosen so that a non-pointed cup-like formation is produced when the corner region is opened out which is able so to accommodate the mouth region of a fish of the size normally expected to be housed in the sack that the fish can open and close its mouth for breathing purposes. With this arrangement the mouth of the fish is effectively presentable to the water outside of the bag or sack 1 whereby the fish is not constrained to breathing only water contained at any instant within the interior of the bag or sack itself. This situation is very schematically shown in Figure 3.

If desired, a further mesh region can be provided at the corner region located at the other end of the opening to the bag or sack thereby providing the breathing facility at all of the possible locations for a fish.

In a modified arrangement (not shown) a strip of mesh like material is provided along the bottom edge of the bag or sack whereby the transfer of water into and out from the bag or sack is facilitated along the full length of the bag or sack.

If desired, in order to ensure that the above mentioned lower corner regions remain, when the bag or sack is in use, at the lowermost location with respect to the tetherd bag or sack the lower edge can be suitably weighted by weight or weights schematically indicated at 10.

Furthermore, if it is thought convenient to ensure that the bag or sack does not lengthwise crumble or collapse when in use the lower edge region of the bag or sack can be adapted to mount and locate a stiffening means. One such arrangement can be a sleeve for receiving a length or lengths of rod (not shown) i.e., carbon fibre rod.

This particular feature is though to assist in preventing the possibility of a fish swallowing the corner region of a bag or sack. In practice, if a fish such as cat fish, eels, pike swallow bag or sack material it is almost impossible to remove the swallowed part of the bag or sack.l It has been found that fish housed in a bag or sack incorporating the proposals of the invention are less likely to drown as compared with bag or sack arrangments not incorporating the meshed corner region.

Claims

1. A bag or sack for the temporary storage or keeping of live fish, wherein at least one of the lower corner regions of the bag that is remote from a predetermined point or region of point of tether for the bag or sack is replaced by an open mesh region of such size that the mouth region of a fish housed in the bag or.

sack is able enter said corner region to enable the fish to ingest water for breathing purposes through said mesh region, whilst the major part of the body thereof is out of contact with the mesh region.

2. A bag or sack as claimed in claim 1, and wherein both of said remote lower corner regions are provided with the mesh region.

3. A bag or sack as claimed in claim 1 or 2, and wherein all of the corner regions remote from the tethering corner are provided with the mesh region.

4. A bag or sack as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3, and wherein each such mesh region is of such dimensions with respect to the remainder of the construction of the bag or sack that in case of large fish as above mentioned the eyes of the fish remain within the darkened portions of the bag or sack.

5. A bag or sack as claimed in claim 1,2,3 or 4, and wherein a strip of mesh like material is provided along the bottom edge of the bag or sack whereby the transfer of water into and out from the bag or sack is facilitated along the full length of the bag or sack.

6. A bag or sack as claimed in claim 1,2,3,4 or 5, and wherein the lowermost edge of bag or sack is weighted by weight or weights, the arrangement being such as to order to ensure that the lower corner regions remain, when the bag or sack is in use, at the lowermost regions of the immersed bag or sack and do not float upwardly.

7. A bag or sack as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the bag or sack is provided with means for lengthwise stiffening the lower regions of the bag or sack thereby to to ensure that the bag or sack does not lengthwise crumble or collapse when in use.

8. A bag or sack as claimed in claim 7, and wherein the lower regions of the bag or sack are provided with a sleeve for receiving a length or lengths of rod.

9. A bag or sack as claimed in claim 8, wherein the rod is formed from a carbon fibre material.

10. A bag or sack for the temporary keeping or storage of fish, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawing.