﻿986 
  REPORT 
  OF 
  COMMISSIONER 
  OF 
  FISH 
  AND 
  FISHERIES. 
  [12] 
  

  

  CLAIMS. 
  

  

  " 
  1. 
  An 
  oyster-opener 
  consisting 
  of 
  a 
  supporting 
  frame, 
  a 
  fulcrumed 
  

   lever 
  having 
  a 
  serrated 
  jaw, 
  an 
  adjustable 
  standard 
  having 
  a 
  fixed 
  and 
  

   twisting 
  knife, 
  and 
  means 
  whereby 
  the 
  standard 
  is 
  rigidly 
  locked 
  to 
  the 
  

   base 
  of 
  the 
  frame, 
  substantially 
  as 
  set 
  forth. 
  

  

  " 
  2. 
  The 
  combination 
  of 
  a 
  base, 
  A, 
  having 
  fixed 
  upright 
  standards 
  

   A 
  7 
  , 
  and 
  a 
  recess 
  with 
  transverse 
  rods 
  a 
  2 
  , 
  a 
  fulcrumed 
  lever, 
  B 
  B', 
  an 
  

   adjustable 
  standard, 
  D, 
  having 
  a 
  fixed 
  and 
  twisted 
  cutting-knife, 
  e, 
  and 
  

   a 
  bottom 
  hook, 
  d, 
  and 
  heel, 
  whereby 
  the 
  standard 
  D 
  may 
  be 
  rigidly 
  

   locked 
  to 
  the 
  base 
  at 
  varying 
  distances 
  from 
  the 
  jaw, 
  substantially 
  as 
  

   set 
  forth." 
  

  

  No. 
  299756. 
  

  

  (Cuningham 
  Drake, 
  Philadelphia, 
  Pa. 
  ; 
  patented 
  June 
  3, 
  1884 
  ; 
  oyster-clamp. 
  See 
  

  

  Plate 
  VI.) 
  

  

  In 
  opening 
  oysters 
  difficulty 
  is 
  often 
  experienced 
  in 
  holding 
  the 
  oys- 
  

   ter 
  firmly 
  and 
  the 
  hands 
  are 
  frequently 
  cut. 
  

  

  This 
  invention 
  is 
  intended 
  to 
  present 
  an 
  inexpensive 
  and 
  convenient 
  

   clamp 
  for 
  holding 
  the 
  oyster 
  firmly 
  during 
  the 
  operation. 
  The 
  clamp 
  

   consists 
  of 
  two 
  parts, 
  of 
  wood 
  or 
  metal, 
  hinged 
  together 
  at 
  their 
  rear 
  

   ends. 
  The 
  bottom 
  part 
  is 
  longer 
  than 
  the 
  top, 
  and 
  has 
  a 
  recess 
  rounded 
  

   at 
  its 
  inner 
  end 
  and 
  gradually 
  increasing 
  in 
  depth 
  from 
  the 
  open 
  front 
  

   side, 
  forming 
  an 
  inward-inclined 
  bottom. 
  The 
  top 
  has 
  a 
  similar 
  recess. 
  

   As 
  the 
  oyster 
  is 
  held 
  between 
  the 
  hinged 
  parts 
  or 
  jaws, 
  its 
  projecting 
  

   end 
  may 
  readily 
  be 
  broken 
  with 
  a 
  knife 
  or 
  hammer, 
  and 
  a 
  pointed 
  im- 
  

   plement 
  inserted 
  for 
  prying 
  the 
  shells 
  apart. 
  

  

  CLAIM. 
  

  

  " 
  The 
  oyster 
  clamp 
  or 
  holder 
  consisting 
  of 
  the 
  recessed 
  bottom 
  part 
  

   A, 
  and 
  short 
  recessed 
  top 
  part, 
  B, 
  hinged 
  together 
  at 
  C, 
  the 
  bottom 
  part 
  

   projecting 
  beyond 
  the 
  top, 
  as 
  shown, 
  substantially 
  as 
  and 
  for 
  the 
  pur- 
  

   pose 
  set 
  forth." 
  

  

  No. 
  297079. 
  

  

  (J. 
  Frank 
  and 
  Franklin 
  L. 
  Homan, 
  New 
  Haven, 
  Conn.; 
  patented 
  April 
  15, 
  1884; 
  ap- 
  

   paratus 
  for 
  catching 
  star-fish. 
  See 
  Plate 
  VII.) 
  

  

  An 
  apparatus 
  for 
  the 
  removal 
  of 
  star-fish 
  from 
  oyster-beds. 
  The 
  

   great 
  destruction 
  of 
  oysters 
  due 
  to 
  star-fish 
  is 
  well 
  known. 
  A 
  dredge 
  

   or 
  drag 
  to 
  be 
  drawn 
  over 
  the 
  oyster-beds 
  to 
  start 
  the 
  fish 
  from 
  the 
  oys- 
  

   ters 
  over 
  which 
  they 
  may 
  be, 
  has, 
  behind 
  it 
  and 
  above 
  its 
  plane, 
  a 
  re- 
  

   ceptacle 
  in 
  which 
  the 
  fish, 
  naturally 
  rising 
  when 
  disturbed 
  by 
  the 
  drag, 
  

   will 
  be 
  caught. 
  The 
  oysters 
  which 
  have 
  been 
  disturbed 
  and 
  passed 
  

   over 
  the 
  drag 
  will 
  fall 
  back 
  between 
  this 
  and 
  the 
  mouth 
  of 
  the 
  recepta- 
  

   cle, 
  and 
  be 
  left 
  on 
  the 
  bed. 
  A 
  separate 
  receptacle, 
  however, 
  may 
  be 
  

   attached 
  directly 
  to 
  the 
  drag 
  and 
  thus 
  below 
  the 
  first, 
  to 
  catch 
  the 
  oys- 
  

   ters 
  as 
  they 
  pass 
  over. 
  

  

  