US173262A - Improvement in fish-hatching apparatus - Google Patents

Description

E. A. BRACKETT.

FISH-HATCH'ING APPARATUS.

No.1'73 ,Z6Z. I Patented Feb.8,1876,.

NAPETERSI PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHEH, WASHINGTON, DC.

v lvrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD A. BRACKETT, OF WINCHESTER, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD OF HIS RIGHT TO FREDERICK CURTIS,

OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN FISH-HATCl-IING APPARATUS.

' Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 173,262, dated February 8,1876 application filed April 17, 1875.

' terior of such case for the purpose of hatching the spawn laid upon said reticulated bottom.

My present improvements consist, first, in partially covering the bottom or lower opening of the frame or case by a sloping or obliquely disposed shield or deflector, and disposing at the opposite side of the bottom of the case a stop-water or shelf, substantially as hereinafter explained, the stop-water serving to intercept and retard the current of water in which the apparatus is submerged, and throw it upward in such a manner as to produce a reverse current backward within the case, and upon or over the sloping deflector before named, from which point the current, thus diverted or reversed, joins, by cohesion with the natural current below, such deflector, and completes the entire circuit of the case or frame, the result being that all the Water within the latter is in a state of lively commotion and circulation, which effectually prevents deposit of sediment or undue accumulation of spawn in any one place, which would result in sleepy water or an eddy.

My improvements furtherconsist in the employment in an apparatus of this character of ordinary tin or other metal plate, from which to supply the reticulated portion of the bottom of the case, whereby I greatly economize the cost of the apparatus, and prevent the injury due to the abrasion of the eggs, which a rougher surface would entail.

The drawings accompanying this specification represent in Figure 1 a perspective view of my apparatus as inverted, the better to show its extreme construction, Fig. 2 being a vertical section of said apparatus.

In these drawings, A represents an open frame or case, rectangular in general form,

and having its lower opening partially closed by a sloping plate or deflector, B, placed obliquely to the horizontal plane of the case, this deflector, in the presentinstauce, occupying the entire width, and about one-half the length of the case, though this extent may be sion. Upon each of the four outer corners of the case A, and nearits top, I place a guide or eye, F, and by means of these eyes the case is to be maintained in its proper position in the water by means of cords run through the eyes and attached to posts or other objects.

The above description embraces substantially the mechanical construction of my hatching-box but I do not confine myself strictly to the precise construction shown, as this may be varied somewhat without departing from the nature and intent of my invention, the novelty in which consists, mainly, in the sloping deflector, in combination with a suitable reticulated floor, and the shelf orstop water, or its equivalent.

The operation of my apparatus is as follows: The case A is to be submerged within a current of water, or in sleepy water, according to circumstances, it being supported by cords run through the eyes F F, 850., before named,

and being of sufficient specific gravity to sink in the water to about the depth shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

If the apparatus be placed in running water a portion of the current is intercepted by the shelf, and, impinging against the lower end of neath the deflector B, and joins with such cureggs are constantly in a state of gentle agitation and motion, and, as a consequence, are maintainedin a bright, clean, and healthy condition second, no sedimentcollects or deposits itself, and the water is at all times fresh and pure; third, owing to the employment of perforated or foraminous metal plate whereof I to construct the bottom of my case or box, I

obtain a smooth floor, which has no tendency: to abrade or injure the eggs, which frequently results from the use of wire-cloth sieves, which are now generally used, and, in addition to this merit in the perforated plate, it is of much less cost than wire-cloth.

I would here remark that while Iprefer the arrangement of the perforated plate shown in the drawing, yet the vbox or case A, with deflector B and stop-water G, can be used with a hatcher or spawn plate otherwise arranged and employed in connection with said parts,

I am aware that it is not new to employ a box or case provided with a reticulated bottomiu which to deposit spawn for hatching, as many experiments have been instituted in various countries with such adevice.

I claim l. The box or case A, in combination with a deflector, B, and shelf or stop-water 0, substantially as and for the purposes shown and set forth.

2. The combination, with the case A and the sloping deflector B, of a perforated or foraminous floor or plate, substantially as and for purposes stated.

3. In combination with the case A the deflector B, shelf C,and perforated floor or plate E, all substantially as and for 'the purposes stated.

E. A. BBAOKETT. Witnesses:

F. CURTIS, W. E. BOARDMAN.

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