Fish farm and hatchery

Claim 2

A fish farm and hatchery, comprising three separate enclosures adapted to be disposed relatively near one another, a first of the enclosures having a first tank in which breed fish may be contained, a second tank in which fertilized fish eggs may be collected, means for circulating water from the first to the second tank including a first inlet opening in the first tank near the water level in order to separate fertilized eggs from the breed fish in the first tank and deliver them with the water to the second tank, and means for circulating water from the second tank to the first tank including a second inlet opening in the second tank near the lower level thereof so as to prevent the return of fertilized eggs with the water from the second tank to the first tank, a second of the enclosures having tanks therein in which fish feed may be grown, and a third of the enclosures containing tanks in which fertilized eggs retrieved from the second tank of the first enclosure may be hatched and then fed feed from the tanks of the second enclosure.

Claim 3

A fish farm and hatchery of the character defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of the inlets includes a pipe having an eductor for injecting air into the water as it is circulated from one tank to the other.

Claim 4

A fish farm and hatchery of the character defined in claim 1, including means for preventing delivery of dead eggs which settle to the bottom of the second tank from the second tank to the first tank.

Claim 5

A fish farm and hatchery of the character defined in claim 3, wherein the second tank has a filtering medium thereacross immediate the outlet of the first inlet into the second tank and the second inlet opening.

Claim 6

A fish farm and hatchery of the character defined in claim 3, wherein the water circulating means includes a "U" tube having one end in the second tank and its other end leading into the first tank, a baffle extends across the second tank intermediate the outlet of the first inlet into the second tank and the one end of the "U" tube, and the baffle has a lower edge above the bottom of the second tank to define the second inlet opening.

Claim 7

A fish farm and hatchery of the character defined in claim 5, wherein means are provided for causing water to flow in a predetermined direction about the perimeter of the tank, the first inlet opening is a hole through the side of the first tank leading into the second tank, a skimmer extends inwardly from the side of the tank downstream of the opening in a direction to direct water flow into the opening, and the skimmer has a lower edge a short distance below water level so as to direct fertilized eggs into the hole with a small portion of water.

Claim 8

For use in a fish farm and hatchery, apparatus comprising a first tank in which breed fish may be contained, a second tank in which fertilized fish eggs may be collected, means for circulating water from the first to the second tank including a first inlet opening in the first tank near the water level in order to separate fertilized eggs from the breed fish in the first tank and deliver them with the water to the second tank, and means for circulating water from the second tank to the first tank including a second inlet opening in the second tank near the lower level thereof so as to prevent the return of fertilized eggs with the water from the second tank to the first tank.

Claim 9

For use in a fish farm and hatchery, apparatus comprising a first tank in which breed fish may be contained, a second tank in which fertilized fish eggs may be collected, means for circulating water from the first to the second tank including a first inlet opening in the first tank near the water level in order to separate fertilized eggs from the breed fish in the first tank and deliver them with the water to the second tank, and means for circulating water from the second tank to the first tank including a second inlet opening in the second tank near the lower level thereof so as to prevent the return of fertilized eggs with the water from the second tank to the first tank.

Claim 10

Apparatus of the character defined in claim 7, wherein at least one of the inlets includes a pipe having an educator for injecting air into the water as it is circulated from one tank to the other.

Claim 11

Apparatus of the character defined in claim 7, including means for preventing delivery of dead eggs which settle to the bottom of the second tank from the second tank to the first tank.

Claim 12

Apparatus of the character defined in claim 9, wherein the second tank has a filtering medium in the bottom thereof, and the second tank has a filtering medium thereacross immediate the outlet of the first inlet into the second tank and the second inlet opening.

Claim 13

Apparatus of the character defined in claim 7, wherein the water circulating means includes a "U" tube having one end in the second tank and its other end leading into the first tank, a baffle extends across the second tank intermediate the outlet of the first inlet into the second tank and the one end of the "U" tube, and the baffle has a lower edge above the bottom of the second tank to define the second inlet opening.

Claim 14

Apparatus of the character defined in claim 11, wherein means are provided for causing water to flow in a predetermined direction about the perimeter of the tank, the first inlet opening is a hole through the side of the first tank leading into the second tank, a skimmer extends inwardly from the side of the tank downstream of the opening in a direction to direct water flow into the opening, and the skimmer has a lower edge a short distance below water level so as to direct fertilized eggs into the hole with a small portion of water.

Claim 15

A fish farm and hatchery, comprising three separate enclosures adapted to be disposed relatively near one another, a first of the enclosures having a first tank in which breed fish may be contained, a second tank in which fertilized fish eggs may be collected, means for circulating water from the first to the second tank and from the second tank back into the first tank, including means for separating fertilized eggs from the breed fish in the first tank and delivering them with the water to the second tank, and preventing return of the separated eggs from the second tank to the first tank, whereby they may be retrieved from the second tank, and means for simulating climatic conditions including night and day seasonal changes within the first enclosure, a second of the enclosures having tanks therein in which fish feed may be grown, means for maintaining substantially constant temperature within the second enclosure, and a third of the enclosures containing tanks in which fertilized eggs retrieved from the second tank of the first enclosure may be hatched and then fed feed from the tanks of the second enclosure, means for draining the tanks of the third enclosure to permit fish to be harvested therefrom, and means for maintaining constant temperature in the third enclosure.

Claim 16

A fish farm and hatchery, comprising three separate enclosures adapted to be disposed relatively near one another, a first of the enclosures having a first tank in which breed fish may be contained, a second tank in which fertilized fish eggs may be collected, means for circulating water from the first to the second tank and from the second tank back into the first tank, including means for separating fertilized eggs from the breed fish in the first tank and delivering them with the water to the second tank, and preventing return of the separated eggs from the second tank to the first tank, whereby they may be retrieved from the second tank, and means for simulating climatic conditions including night and day seasonal changes within the first enclosure, a second of the enclosures having tanks therein in which fish feed may be grown, means for maintaining substantially constant temperature within the second enclosure, and a third of the enclosures containing tanks in which fertilized eggs retrieved from the second tank of the first enclosure may be hatched and then fed feed from the tanks of the second enclosure, means for draining the tanks of the third enclosure to permit fish to be harvested therefrom, and means for maintaining constant temperature in the third enclosure.

Claim 17

A fish farm and hatchery of the character defined in claim 13, wherein the first enclosure is independently transportable with respect to the other enclosures, and the means for simulating climatic conditions in the first enclosure includes an emergency power source as well as connections for power sources at other locations to which the first enclosure may be transported.

Claim 18

A fish farm and hatchery of the character defined in claim 13, wherein the means for simulating climatic conditions in the first enclosure includes means for simulating shorter than actual time periodicals.

Claim 19

A fish farm and hatchery of the character defined in claim 13, wherein all the enclosures are transportable.

Claim 20

A fish farm and hatchery of the character defined in claim 13, wherein the means for draining the tanks of the third enclosure includes means for draining each of them separately.