Apparatus for growing crustaceans

Claim 2

Apparatus to provide a suitable environment for the maturation of crustaceans during the post-larval period comprising at least one tank containing a liquid, means for providing habitats for individual crustaceans to mature, said habitat means comprising at least one elongated substantially rigid support member and a plurality of strands of material suspended from said member and means for holding said member in a fixed relationship with respect to said tank with at least a portion of the strands extending into said liquid.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of said strand support members associated with a tank, each member supporting a plurality of said strands.

Claim 4

Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said plurality of strand support members are arranged in a spoke-like configuration.

Claim 5

Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said means for holding said support members includes a common support means which is engaged by all of said members.

Claim 6

Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said plurality of strand support members are concentric with each other.

Claim 7

Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said means for holding said support members includes a common support means which is engaged by all of said members.

Claim 8

Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means for holding said support member includes means on a wall of said tank which are engaged by said support member.

Claim 9

Apparatus to provide a suitable environment for the maturation of crustaceans comprising a first tank for holding a liquid, first habitat means for providing habitats for individual crustaceans to mature during the early post-larval period, said first habitat means including a support member, means for holding said member in a fixed relationship with respect to said tank, and a plurality of strands of material suspended from said support member with at least a part of the strands immersed in the liquid of said first tank, a second tank for holding a liquid, means adapted for connecting said tanks in flow communication, second habitat means within said second tank for the further maturation of crustaceans at a later stage in the crustacean growth cycle than the crustaceans in said first tank, said second habitat means including means forming a plurality of compartments for the crustaceans in said second tank.

Claim 10

Apparatus to provide a suitable environment for the maturation of crustaceans comprising a first tank for holding a liquid, first habitat means for providing habitats for individual crustaceans to mature during the early post-larval period, said first habitat means including a support member, means for holding said member in a fixed relationship with respect to said tank, and a plurality of strands of material suspended from said support member with at least a part of the strands immersed in the liquid of said first tank, a second tank for holding a liquid, means adapted for connecting said tanks in flow communication, second habitat means within said second tank for the further maturation of crustaceans at a later stage in the crustacean growth cycle than the crustaceans in said first tank, said second habitat means including means forming a plurality of compartments for the crustaceans in said second tank.

Claim 11

Apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said compartments are formed in rows which are arranged one on top of the other.

Claim 12

Apparatus as in claim 8, wherein the first tank has a plurality of strand support members, each said member supporting a plurality of said strands.

Claim 13

Apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said plurality of strand support members are arranged in a spoke-like configuration.

Claim 14

Apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said plurality of strand support members are concentric with each other.

Claim 15

Apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said support member is substantially rigid, and means for holding said support member in a fixed position relative to said first tank.