IE910816A1

IE910816A1 - Crab fishing

Info

Publication number: IE910816A1
Application number: IE81691A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Paul Holt
Priority date: 1990-03-13
Filing date: 1991-03-12
Publication date: 1991-10-09
Also published as: GB2241859A; FR2659526A1; GB9105181D0; GB9005603D0

Abstract

A crab pot is provided having a flexible base 13 such that the pot can accommodate undulations or projections, for example rock 7, of the seabed. The base preferably comprises chains 13 and 14 links of the chains being connected by bars extending across the pot width. According to another aspect of the invention, the pot is collapsable, which greatly facilitates use and storage of the crab pot. The invention includes a method of fishing using the novel crab pot, a plurality of pots being attached to a hauling rope, stored in collapsed condition while attached to the rope and dispensed out the fishing boat attached to the rope in such manner that they become erect.

Description

FISHING The invention relates to fishing and particularly to crab fishing and to crab pots for use in crab fishing, The term crab is intended to include other similar crustaceans and sea life, such as lobsters.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a crab pot is provided 10 having a flexible base such that the pot can accommodate undulations or projections on the sea bed.

Preferably the flexible base ie made of metal.

The base may include chains.

Preferably there are two side chains, links of the chains being interconnected by bars extending across the width of the pot.

The two ends of each bar may be respectively welded to links of the two chains.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a crab pot is provided which is collapsible.

The crab pot may have a base and two ends, the ends being capable of folding down onto the base. -2The crab pot may have a connection point at each end, for attachment of a hauling rope or the like, the arrangement being such that when the rope is in tension, the crab pot is held erect.

There may be a guide member or the like at each end of the pot, the arrangement being such that when the guide members are pulled apart, for example by a hauling rope, the pot is held in the erect condition.

The guide members or the like may comprise end frames pivotally 10 connected to the ends of the pot.

The frames may be triangular or D-shaped.

The crab pot may include means to hold the pot erect, at least 15 temporarily, for example during emptying of the pot.

The means to hold the crab pot erect may comprise a bar, strut or the like, positionable between the ends of the crab pot, The pot may have a door which is openable to remove the crabs, lobsters or the like.

The collapsible crab pot according to the second aspect of the invention may be provided with a flexible base according to the first aspect of the invention.

The collapsible crab pot may be provided in combination with a storage container. -3A plurality of collapsible crab pots may be provided for storage in the storage container when not in use.

The storage container may comprise a storage box.

The storage container may be provided with means for mounting the storage container on a boat in a pivotal manner, such that the container can be pivoted from a first position for shooting the crab pots from the boat, and a second position for hauling the crab pots back into the boat.

The invention includes a method of crab fishing comprising providing a plurality of collapsible crab pots, attaching each of the collapsible pots to a hauling rope or the like, storing the pots on a boat in the collapsed condition, while still attached to the hauling rope or the like, and shooting the crab pots out of the boat in such a manner that they become erect.

The method may include the steps of hauling the crab pots back into the boat in the erect condition, emptying the crab pots, collapsing the crab pots, and storing them on the boat again in the collapsed condition.

The crab pots may be stored in a storage container.

The storage container may have a first compartment for the crab pots 25 and a second compartment for the hauling line or the like.

The method may include a step of moving the storage container between a first shooting position and a second hauling position. -4The invention includes crab, lobsters or the like when caught using a crab pot according to the invention or when using the method of fishing according to the invention.

By way of example, specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :Figure 1 is a side perspective view of an embodiment of crab pot according to the invention, in the erect condition; Figure 2 is a plan view of the pot shown in Figure 1, with a door of the pot open; Figure 3 is a side view of the principal metal components of the pot; 15 Figure 4 is a plan view of the components shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the attachment of the pot to a hauling rope; Figure 6 is a view showing how the hauling rope holds the pot in the erect condition, when under tension; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the main metal components of the 25 pot, again showing how the hauling rope holds the pot in the erect condition when under tension; and -5 Figures 8 and 9 are perspective views showing the pot in use in an embodiment of method according to the invention.

Turning firstly to Figures 1 to 7, an embodiment of crab pot is shown 5 having a base 10 and ends 11 and 12.

The base 10 comprises a pair of side chains 13 and 14. Between the two chains, as best seen in Figure 4 and 7, there extends a plurality of metal rods 15. The rods 15 are welded to links 16 of the chains, as best seen in Figure 4.

The base is thus very robust, but extremely flexible.

The ends 11 and 12 of the pot each comprise a rectangular metal hoop 15 which is pivotable between an erect position as shown in full lines, but can be collapsed to He on top of the base, as shown in chain lines in Figures 3, 5 and 6.

The ends and sides of the pot are covered in fishnet material 8 and 20 netting also extends over the top of the metal base, to protect crabs claws from becoming trapped between the bars 15.

There is an opening 17 for crabs, lobsters and the like, in each side of the pot, and these openings lead to inlet passages which get progressively narrower, so that crabs, lobsters or the like can enter the pot through the passages, but cannot thereafter get back out of the pot. -6At each end of the pot there is a guide member comprising a pivotal A frame 19 having a metal ring 20 at its apex. A hauling rope 21 extends through additional rings 22 welded to the hoops 11 and 12, Stopper knots 23 are provided in the rope, and extension ropes 18 are attached to the rings 20.

The arrangement is such that when tension is applied to the rope, the knots apply pressure to the rings 22 pivoting the hoops 11 and 12 upwardly into the erect condition. The extension ropes 18 maintain the frames 19 in the position shown in the Figures. When there is no tension in the rope, the hoops 11 and 12 can collapse to the position shown in chain lines in Figure .

In use, a number of identical pots will be attached to the same rope 21 and they will be stretched out on the sea bed between two anchors.

Alternatively, each pot may be provided with its own length of rope, the lengths being connected together, e.g. by eye splices, to make up the hauling line. This facilitates the addition or removal of pots, e.g. for repair.

A special door is provided as shown in Figure 2 in the top of the pot, which can be opened to empty crabs, lobsters or the like from within the pot, and also to place bait within the pot.

The netting 9 at the top of the pot has a central moveable portion 42.

This moveable portion is attached between two slide rods 43a and 43b which are slideable on transverse support rods 44. To close the pot, each slide rod is attached to the side of the pot by a toggle 45. The pot can be opened from either side by freeing one toggle and sliding the associated slide rod along the support rods 44. In Figure 2 the pot has been opened at one side by moving the slide rod 43a.

Conventional crab pots are not collapsible and they have a rigid base, 5 with openings for the crabs, lobsters or the like in the sides of the pot. If a conventional pot lands on a severely undulating portion of seabed, or on a projection such as a rock, the pot can become perched up off the seabed, and the side openings are not accessible to bottom feeding creatures such as crabs and lobsters.

With the flexible base of the embodiment of crab pot according to the invention, severe undulations or projections, such as the rock 7 shown in Figure 1, can readily be accommodated by the pot, the pot will bend over the undulations or projection.

The crab pot shown in Figures 1 to 7 is particularly suitable for use in a novel method of crab fishing, as described with reference to Figures 8 and 9.

A plurality of pots such as that shown in Figures 1 to 7 is used, in combination with a novel storage box which has a first section for stowed crab pots, and a second section for the stowed hauling rope. The box is pivotally connected to a boat by a pivot mechanism 31 such that the box can be pivoted through 90° from a shooting position to a hauling position. The pivot pin of the mechanism is removable so that the box can be removed from the boat when necessary.

IE 91816 -8The boat has a shooting roller at the stern, which has a groove in it for the hauling rope.

At the start of the fishing operation, the crab pots are all collapsed so 5 that they lie neatly flat against one another, with their bases in substantially vertically planes, and the lengths of the hauling rope 21 lying between adjacent crab pots are looped into the storage section of the storage box. An end anchor is hooked onto the box, and a buoy rope and marker buoy are stowed alongside the box. A leading anchor is initially placed on top of the rope in the second section.

To shoot the pots out of the boat, the leading anchor is removed from the second section and lowered from the stern of the boat, with the rope 21 in the roller groove.

The pots are then successively lifted out of the first section and slid over the roller. The flexible nature of the base of each pot makes this operation particularly easy.

Each pot turns slightly from a transverse position to a longitudinal position, as the pot moves from the stowed position into a position in which it can slide out of the boat over the stern roller.

The tension in the rope 21 causes the pots to become erect as they leave the boat.

When all the pots have been shot out of the boat, the trailing anchor is lowered from the boat in such a manner that it digs into the seabed, -925 co-operating with the leading anchor to maintain tension in the rope 21, so that all the pots remain erect, at spaced apart across the seabed.

Figures 8 and 9 show a boat having device 40 having a power driver 5 roller 41.

To haul the pots back into the boat, one of the marker buoys is picked up, and the buoy rope is used to haul up the attached anchor. The buoy rope is preferably attached to the crown of the anchor, to facilitate tripping of the anchor.

Once one end of the hauling rope has been recovered, the rope is passed over the roller 41 which is then rotated to wind the rope in. The storage box is pivoted from the transverse position to the fore and aft position, so that the compartment lies between hauler 40 and a slave hauler with the second section astern of the first section.

The recovered anchor is hooked onto the storage box, and the rope 21, as it is recovered, is coiled down into the second section.

As each pot is hauled in over the main hauling device 40, which is again facilitated by the flexible base of each pot, as seen particularly in Figure 9, there is a significant period of time during which the pot slides along a baiting and cleaning table, supported by the table.

This allows a sufficient period of time for the pots to be emptied of their catch, and if desired, re- baited. - 10If necessary, means may be provided to temporarily hold each pot in the erect condition, as it slides along the table. For example, a rod, strut or the like, having a fork at each end, may be inserted between the rings 22 of the pot, with the forks engaging in the rings.

When each emptied pot reaches the end of the table, it can be neatly collapsed and dropped into the first section, which is now in the ideal position to receive the collapsed pot. Each successive pot is stacked neatly against the preceding pot until all the pots have been recovered. The trailing anchor is then placed on top of the coiled rope in the second section, and the entire storage box with its contents, can then be swung back into the shooting position.

Other arrangements are possible. For example, the flexible base of the pot can also be used with effect on a non-collapsible crab pot While the flexible base makes it easier to carry out the novel method of fishing according to the invention, it is not essential that pots having a flexible base may be used, provided that the pots are collapsible.

The reader’s attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except IE 91816 - ii combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually ! exclusive, Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any 5 accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A crab pot having a flexible base such that the pot can accommodate undulations or projections on the sea bed,

2. A crab pot as claimed in Claim 1, in which the flexible base is made of metal.

3. A crab pot as claimed in Claim 2, in which the base includes chains.

4. A crab pot as claimed in Claim 3, in which there are two side chains, Jinks of the chains being interconnected by bars extending across the width of the pot, 15 5. A crab pot as claimed in Claim 4, in which the two ends of each bar are welded to links of the two chains.

5. Manner that they become erect. 18. A method as claimed in Claim 17, including the steps of hauling the crab pots back into the boat in the erect condition, emptying the crab pots, collapsing the crab pots, and storing them on the boat again in the collapsed

6. A crab pot constructed and arranged to be collapsible. 20

7. A crab pot as claimed in Claim 6, having a base and two ends, the ends being capable of folding down onto the base.

8. A crab pot as claimed in Claim 7, having a connection point at each end, for attachment of a hauling rope or the like, the arrangement being such 25 that when the rope is in tension, the crab pot is held erect.

9. A crab pot as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8, in which there is a guide member or the like at each end of the pot, the arrangement being such that 10. Condition. 19. A method as claimed in Claim 17 or Claim 18, in which the crab pots are stored in a storage container. 15 20. A method as claimed in Claim 19, in which the storage container has a first compartment for the crab pots and a second compartment for the hauling line or the like. 21. A method as claimed in Claim 19 or Claim 20, including a step of 20 moving the storage container between a first shooting position and a second hauling position. 22. A method of fishing substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. 23. Crabs, lobsters or the like when caught using a crab pot as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 16, or using a method as claimed in any one of Claims 17 to 22.

10. A crab pot as claimed in Claim 9, in which the guide members 5 comprise end frames pivotally connected to the ends of the pot.

11. A crab pot as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 10, having means to hold the pot erect, at least temporarily, for example during emptying of the pot.

12. A crab pot as claimed in Claim 11, in which the means to hold the crab pot erect comprises a bar, strut or the like, positionable between the ends of the crab pot. 15 13. A collapsible crab pot as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 12, having a flexible base as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5.

13. - 13 when the guide members are pulled apart, for example by a hauling rope, the pot is held in the erect position. I

14. A collapsible crab pot as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 12, in combination with a storage container. 15. A collapsible crab pot as claimed in Claim 14, in which the storage container is provided with means for mounting the storage container on a boat in a pivotal manner, such that the container can be pivoted from a first position for shooting a plurality of the crab pots from the boat, and a second 25 position for hauling the crab pots back into the boat. 16. A crab pot constructed and arranged substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings. IE 91816 - 1417. A method of crab fishing comprising providing a plurality of collapsible crab pots, attaching each of the collapsible pots to a hauling rope or the like, storing the pots on a boat in the collapsed condition, while still attached to the hauling rope or the like, and shooting the crab pots out of the boat in such a

15. - 15 24. The features described in the foregoing specification, or any obvious equivalent thereof, in any novel selection.