Abstract A fish loading method for transferring fish from a net gathered alongside a fishing boat into the hold of the fishing boat. The method includes providing a fish receiving aperture formed in the side of the boat adjacent the boat''s water-line. A gate normally closes this aperture, with the gate being opened during a loading operation. A conveyor belt leads from the aperture to a deck of the boat. A power-operated pressure bar is movable vertically in the aperture and in its lower position wedges a portion of the net during a loading operation. The remaining portion of the net is progressively raised and gathered towards the aperture so as to progressively float fish from the net into and through the fish receiving aperture. The conveyor belt then moves the fish upwardly and inboard for transfer to the boat''s hold or holds.
Inventors
👤 M Puretic
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-11-08 08:02
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K73/00; A01K73/02; A01K73/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of transferring fish from a seine net to the hold of a fishing boat, comprising: providing a fish-receiving aperture in side of the hull of said fishing boat adjacent the water-line thereof; maintaining said aperture closed during normal operations of said fishing boat; trapping fish within said seine net; opening said aperture; holding a portion of said net adjacent said openeD aperture while progressively raising and gathering the remaining portion of said net toward said aperture whereby fish trapped within said net are progressively floated out of said net and through said aperture solely under the urging of said net; power-conveying said fish upwardly from said aperture; and chuting the trapped fish to said fish hold by gravity.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of transferring fish from a seine net to the hold of a fishing boat, comprising: providing a fish-receiving aperture in side of the hull of said fishing boat adjacent the water-line thereof; maintaining said aperture closed during normal operations of said fishing boat; trapping fish within said seine net; opening said aperture; holding a portion of said net adjacent said openeD aperture while progressively raising and gathering the remaining portion of said net toward said aperture whereby fish trapped within said net are progressively floated out of said net and through said aperture solely under the urging of said net; power-conveying said fish upwardly from said aperture; and chuting the trapped fish to said fish hold by gravity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said trapped fish are moved into said aperture by progressively forming pockets in said net and emptying trapped fish from said pockets into said aperture.