ATKINS OX FISHWAYS. 613 



13. — FISH-WAYS WITH OBLIQUE PARTITIONS. 



Foster's improvement (Plate XXI, fig. 3, plan ; fig. 4, same, modified as 

 built on Peumaquau Kiver, Maine ; Plate XXIV, fig. 1, location of fish- 

 way at Union Mills, Saint Croix Eiver ; fig. 2, plan of same ; fig. 3, side- 

 elevatiou of same; fig. 4, cross-section showing shape of passage-ways : 

 Plate XXX, fish-way closed) consisted in oblique partitions crossing- 

 ports, 5, i^, i-, &c.; at its upper eud, the trough or box beiug placed within the stream 

 in a sloping position and projecting through and extending somewhat above the dam, 

 as shown in the drawing; the slope of the said trough or box beiug varied with circum- 

 stances, the character of the stream, and the velocity to be imparted to the current 

 passing through it. The inlet-ports h, ¥, b-, before named, are placed at different points, 

 lip and down, of the stream, and consequently admit water to the trough at different 

 altitudes ; the port b beiug the highest and receiving the water at the high stage, and 

 the port b- beiug the lowest of the series and receiviug water when it will not enter 

 the upper one. 



Having thus seen how I control and regulate the admission of water to the chute B, 

 I will now explain how I guide its course through the same, and in so doing carry out 

 the x>rimary object of my invention — that of retarding artificially the rapidity of the 

 current. To this end I dispose within the chute or box A, and generally throughout 

 its length, a series of abutments, d, d, d, &e., disposed at regular or irregular distance 

 asunder and extending partially across the width of the chute, the abutment of one 

 aide being disposed opposite the recess formed by the two opposite adjacent abutments. 

 The abutments d are not limited in number nor arbitrarily iu position, but are arranged 

 substantially as stated. Each abutment, or deflector, d, is formed with one or more 

 bends or wings, e,f, &c., which extend longitudinally or thereabouts of the length of 

 the chute, in order that the current of water intercepted by the abutment shall be com- 

 pelled to take an upward or return movement for a short distance before passing to 

 the next ensuing abutment to be again iutercepted and diverted. In this manner, the 

 current of water entering the head of the chute is continually interrupted and diverted 

 from a direct course, a series of eddies beiug the result, following each other iu such 

 rapid succession as to retard the current throughout the entire chute. As the ouly head- 

 way the water can attain is in passing from one abutment, or deflector, to another, and 

 as these may be so near to each other as to almost entirely reduce the stream to a con- 

 tinuous series of eddies, the water makes its exit from the chute at about the same 

 velocity with which it courses through the upper part thereof, and this velocity may, 

 of course, be increased or diminished, according to the number of deflectors. 



In a chute, or fish-way, constructed essentially as above described, the fish encounter 

 very little resistance to their passage, and the eddies allow them to remain at rest at 

 any time. In fact, in fish-ways now in actual use on this principle, thousands of fish 

 are fouud in the proper season to be both ascending and descending the chute at the 

 same time. 



Claims. 



1. In a fish-way which is extended through the dam of a water-course and some dis- 

 tance above the same, as described, I claim the ports b, ¥, b-, arranged substantially as 

 shown, whereby the water is admitted through oue or more, according to conditions iu 

 its height, as set forth. 



2. In a fish-way provided with a series of deflectors, d, for causing the water to take 

 a sinuous course through the same, I claim the wings e,f, formed on or attached to said 

 deflectors, substautially as and for the purposes herein set forth. 



E. A. BRACKETT. 

 Witnesses : 



W. E. BOARDMAX. 

 E. G. PiXKIIAM. 



