NEW AND IMPROVED DEVICES FOR FISH CULTURISTS. 997 



funnel. The rod is inserted into the tube of the funnel, giving the plunger a 

 total length of 18 inches. 



To operate the aerator, the plunger is churned up and down in the screen. 

 The screen filled with ice may be used also in cooling the water in which the 

 fish are held. 



Both as aerator and cooler this device is especially useful in transporting 

 fry which are the more susceptible to injury in handling, such as shad, pike 

 perch, and whitefish. With these means, moreover, the attendant can give 

 proper attention to a large number of fish in a short space of time and with a 

 minimum amount of labor. 



The combined net and ice pick consists of a semicircular frame of 10 inches 

 long dimension, made of no. 6 wire and covered with soft net of any desired 

 mesh. This is fitted into a wooden handle, the opposite end of which holds a 

 disappearing point 3 inches long, made of ^^-inch spring steel. 



The net is of use in pouring water from transportation cans in order to 

 replenish with a fresh supply, or for purposes of "doubling up" the contents of 

 two cans, as may be necessary just before delivering from the train. It also 

 takes the place of the siphon and scaff net usually carried by attendants in 

 charge of shipments of fish, and since these and the ice pick are usually carried 

 separately, the combination device reduces the number of articles from 3 to i. 



SEINE FOR COLLECTING FINGERLING BASS. 

 [Exhibit 6. Fig. 6, pi. cvi.] 



This seine, made of heavy bobbinet, is rigged upon two handles consisting 

 of bamboo poles 14 feet in length. The web is 16 feet long and 4 feet wide, 

 corked and leaded, and is attached at each end to a 4-foot steel brail % inch 

 in diameter. The brails are fastened to the bamboo handles by strap-iron 

 hinges, which allow the brails to break but one way. A heavy cord attached 

 to the lower end of each brail passes through a screw eye in the handle at a 

 point the brail's length distant from the hinge. In operation the seine is 

 projected over the water with the brails extended, the back of the hinges 

 downward. The handles are then given a half turn, allowing the brails to 

 drop at the hinges, beyond the school of fish. The seine falls into the water 

 and as soon as the leads touch the bottom of the pond the cords are tightened. 

 Pulling from the lower end of the brails with the hinges bent, the cords draw 

 upon the bottom of the seine, and it is easily hauled ashore. 



The use of this seine, since it can be operated from shore, avoids the roiling of 

 the water which occurs when the operators wade into the pond, and it makes 

 possible the capture of fish at any desired time without drawing off the water. 

 The seine is of advantage, among other purposes, in thinning out the fish from 

 time to time to avoid exhaustion of the food supply and consequent cannibalism. 



