GB2066031A - Raft for gathering fish - Google Patents

Abstract

A raft for gathering fish, comprises a platform made of a number of wooden members (1, 2), and/or molded members of synthetic resins and having an apparent specific gravity less than 1.0, which members are tightly fastened by ropes (3) and wires (3'); a suspension rope (8), having suspension weights (9) hung from given points thereof, being mounted on both sides of said body; and an anchor rope (11), having a length sufficient to reach the sea bottom and having weights at its end, being hung from central point of said body. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fixed type artificial raft for gathering fish This invention relates to a fixed type artificial raft for gathering fish, taking advantages of fish general tendency to gather and stay below a floating object, could lead a school of migratory fish, e.g. oceanic bonitos, bluefins, saurels, mackerels, and sardines and could make efficient fishing thereof by ring net or pole-and-line possible.

A fishing method using driftwood has been adopted from old times, however, it was very difficult to locate such drifting wood since the size of such wood was limited and further it drifted continuously with the tide.

According to the present invntion, there is provided an artificial raft for gathering fish, comprising a platform being made of a number of raft-forming members of wood and/or molded members of synthetic resins being similar thereto and having an apparent specific gravity less than 1.0, which raftforming members are tightly fastened by ropes and wires; and a suspension rope, having suspension weights hung from given points thereof, being mounted on both sides of said body; and an anchor rope, having a length sufficient to the sea bottom and fixing weights at its end, being hung from central point of said body.

Compared with drifting wood, these rafts can be located in large numbers at predetermined positions on the regularfish run.

Each raft may have a platform made of wood such as thick-stemmed bamboo or the like, and/or molded members of synthetic gravity less than 1.0 which are tightly fastened by ropes and wires; a suspension rope, having suspension weights hung from given points thereof, mounted on both sides of said body and said rope being provided therealong with branches and leaves; and an anchor rope hanging from a substantially central point of said body and having at its end a fixing weight, and said rope having a length sufficient to reach the sea bottom.

In order to locate the raft from a distance, a turret may be assembled on the raft. This is particularly advantageous when the sea is rough. It is also preferred that the raft be further provided with a floating beacon so as to facilitate location of the raft during the night.

It is preferred that the raft be located at such position on the regular course for fish as is the closest to a fishing boat port; the raft preferably has a flat sea bottom. The anchor rope has a length slightly longer than the distance up to the sea bottom, so even if ships come into collision with the raft, damage will be minimal.

The raft body may be adapted to be unfastened from the suspension rope, which rope may then be connected with a lightship provided with equipment for gathering fish and a fish finder. The raft body may be towed more than ten metres from a lightship by a cog so as to ensure smooth casting of a ring net.

Just before dawn, the ring net is then quietly set in a circle so that the lightship may be located within the circle to catch a school of fishes.

The raft has the following advantages. The use of plants such as bamboo can make fish gather and stay more easily. Observations through a fish finder and an undersea looking-glass indicated that smallsized fish gathered in about one week after the fixation of the raft, then, middle-sized fish gathered below a group of the small-sized fish aftertwo weeks, and finally large-sized fish gathered below a group of the middle-sized fish afterthree weeks.

Consequently, a large school of fish could be caught.

In addition, the raft is fixed at a certain point, so fishing time, labour and costs, especially oil cost, can be greatly saved.

Following is a descrption by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings of methods of carrying the invention into effect.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the raft body; Figure 2 is a side view showing one embodiment of the turret mounted on the raft body; Figure 3 is a side view showing one embodiment of the suspension rope; Figure 4 is a side view showing the overall construction of the raft; Figure 5 is an exterior view showing one embodiment of the suspension weight; Figure 6 is an exterior view showing one embodi mentofthe intermediate weight; and Figure 7 is an exterior view of one embodiment of the fixing weight The raft body is made of a number of thickstemmed bamboo (1 ) and a number of wood (2), having a length often metres and two metres, respectively, tightly fastened by ropes (3) and wires (3'). Another similar body is preferably stacked upon.

The raft body is provided in its substantially central part with a tire (4) through which one wood (2) is passed. Four fine bamboo (6) are assembled into a turret on the raft body, the upper part of which is provided with four branches and leaves, for example, hemp palm's leaves having a size of about 0.9 x 1.8 metre. The turret is provided at given part with a marking plate (7).

The raft body is provided on its both undersides with the suspension rope (8) in given manner, which rope has the suspension weights (9) to prevent the rope floating with the tide. The suspension rope (8) is also provided with about 40 branches and leaves for gathering fish.

In orderto keep the raft in proper position, one to three weighted drums (18) are placed as fixing weights on the sea bottom through the rope from the tire (4), which rope consists of wire rope (11) connected to polyethylene rope (12). It should be noted thatthe total length of said rope is 110 to 120% of the distance up to the sea bottom.

An intermediate weight (15) is fixed to a portion of the rope (12) being slightly above the middle point thereof. The fixing weights (18) have anchor ropes (16) and (17) made of wire. To prevent kinks of polyethylene rope (12), a shackle (13) is placed at each conjunction of wire rope (11) with polyethylene rope (12), intermediate weight (15) with polyethylene rope (12) and polyethylene rope (12) with another rope (16).

The raft is provided with a floating beacon (19) to facilitate a location thereof during the night.

The raft is set in the following manner. The raft body is first set afloat on the desired surface of the sea, and the suspension rope (8) having the suspension weights (9) and branches/leaves (10) is then placed underneath. Thereafter, the wire rope (11) is passed through the tire (4), the polyethylene rope (12), the intermediate weight (15) and the polyethylene rope (12) are in this order placed into the sea. Finally, the drum can weights (18) are cast into the sea.

At the trial test in the sea area having a depth of 1800 metres, twenty-one rafts were set and the com ponentofeach raft was as follows: (a) Polyethylene rope :2200 metres (b) Suspension weight: 50 kgs/each (c) Intermediate weight: 50 kgs (d) Fixing weight: 470 kgs/each each weight was filled with cement.

The results were satisfactory.

Claims (4)

1. An artificial raft for gathering fish, comprising a platform being made of a number of raft-forming members of wood, and/or molded members of synthetic resins being similar thereto and having an apparent specific gravity less than 1.0, which raftforming members are tightly fastened by ropes and wires; and a suspension rope, having suspension weights hung from given points thereof, being mounted on both sides of said body; and an anchor rope, having a length sufficentto the sea bottom and fixing weights at its end, being hung from central point of said body.

2. A raft as claimed in Claim 1 which is provided on the upper portion of its body with a turret.

3. A raft as claimed in Claim 1 and 2, which is provided with a floating beacon.

4. A raft as claimed in Claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.