Method and apparatus for protecting and enhancing the growth of young shellfish sets

Claim 2

A setting tray for receiving young oyster sets comprising: an open top container including a bottom wall means and a circumscribing end wall means connected to said bottom wall means, one of said wall means being perforated to permit the free flow of sea water therethrough, said perforations being sized smaller than the size of the young ''''sets'''' adapted to be contained therein, and means forming a cover for said container for confining the ''''sets'''' within said container, means for securing a plurality of said containers in stacked superposed relationship, one on the other, wherein the bottom of one container defines the cover means for the next subjacent container, said securing means including a pair of complementary frame members, each of said frame members including a base member, and a pair of spaced upright members connected adjacent the opposed said base member, said base members of said frame members being adapted to be diagonally disposed so that said plurality of trays are adapted to be confined within the opposed uprights of the respective frame members, and means for securing said plurality of containers to said frame members.

Claim 3

The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said wall means is formed of a buoyant material so that said tray is free to float adjacent to the surface of the water in a manner whereby the ''''sets'''' confined in said trays are maintained in a submerged position.

Claim 4

The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said bottom wall is formed of a screen material.

Claim 5

The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said screen material is formed of an inert material.

Claim 6

The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said material is nylon.

Claim 7

The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said securing means includes a first means for securing said trays to one of said frame members, and a second means for securing said trays and connected frame member to the other of said frame members.

Claim 8

The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said first securing means includes a cross member extending between said opposed uprights of one of said frame members for clamping said plurality of containers between the base member of said frame and said cross member, and said second means including a clamping means for securing said containers and connected frame to the opposed uprights of sAid other frame member.

Claim 9

The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said clamping means includes a bracket connected to the respective opposed uprights of said other frame member adjacent the upper ends thereof, and a clamping plate adapted to be connected to said bracket, said clamping plate extending over the upper edge of the uppermost tray, and means for detachably securing said clamping plate between a clamping and unclamping position.

Claim 10

The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said clamping means includes a clamping cross bar extending between said uprights of said other frame member, said clamping cross bar being adapted to overly the cross member of said first mentioned securing means, and means for securing said clamping cross bar to said opposed uprights of said other frame members.

Claim 11

The invention as defined in claim 1 and including means defining a float for floating a plurality of said containers adjacent the surface of the water.

Claim 12

The invention as defined in claim 10 wherein said float comprises an open raft structure, floatation means for maintaining said open raft structure buoyant, transversely extending supports disposed along the bottom of said raft, said trays being adapted to be supported on said supports, and a closure for sealing the trays within said raft.

Claim 13

A float for protecting young oyster sets and for enhancing the growth of young oyster sets in natural sea water environment comprising an open raft structure to permit the free flow of sea water therethrough, means for maintaining said raft buoyant in sea water so that the top of said raft is substantially level with the surface of the sea water, a plurality of trays adapted to be received within said open raft structure, whereby said trays are submerged in the sea water flowing therethrough, each of said trays comprising an open top container having perforated wall portions to permit the sea water therethrough, means forming a closure for said containers to confine the ''''oyster sets'''' therein, and means for securing said tray to said float, said last mentioned means comprises a frame for securing a plurality of trays in stacked relationship within said open raft structure, said frame including a pair of complementary frame members, each of said frame members including a base member and opposed uprights connected adjacent the ends of said base member, means for securing one of said frame members to said raft structure, means for securing a plurality of stacked trays to the other of said frame members, and means for securing said stacked trays and connected other frame member to said one frame member.

Claim 14

A float for protecting young oyster sets and for enhancing the growth of young oyster sets in natural sea water environment comprising an open raft structure to permit the free flow of sea water therethrough, means for maintaining said raft buoyant in sea water so that the top of said raft is substantially level with the surface of the sea water, a plurality of trays adapted to be received within said open raft structure, whereby said trays are submerged in the sea water flowing therethrough, each of said trays comprising an open top container having perforated wall portions to permit the sea water therethrough, means forming a closure for said containers to confine the ''''oyster sets'''' therein, and means for securing said tray to said float, said last mentioned means comprises a frame for securing a plurality of trays in stacked relationship within said open raft structure, said frame including a pair of complementary frame members, each of said frame members including a base member and opposed uprights connected adjacent the ends of said base member, means for securing one of said frame members to said raft structure, means for securing a plurality of stacked trays to the other of said frame members, and means for securing said stacked trays and connected other frame member to said one frame member.

Claim 15

The invention as defined in claim 12 and including a closure for sealing said trays within said open raft structure.

Claim 16

The invention as defined in claim 12 wherein said pair of complementary frame members are identical.