Apparatus for handling a fishing line having hooks spaced apart along it, such as is used in "long line" fishing, as the line is hauled in from the sea, comprises a rail-member, means for hauling the line in a direction at an angle to the rail-member and a guide-member which is engaged by successive hooks of the line as it is hauled, to guide the hooks into engagement with the rail-member, whereby the movement of the line at an angle to the rail-member causes the hooks to slide along the rail-member so as to separate them from the line and feed them towards a storage rail.
A device for capturing hooks for use in conjunction with longline hauling and stowage apparatus includes a hook elevating ramp, an engagement plate, and a brush. The hook elevating ramp elevates the hook to the location of the guide track by which the hook is to be captured for storage, while the engagement plate rotates the hook to ensure its engagement on the guide track. The brush serves to stabilize the hook immediately prior to and during hook rotation.
A system for the mechanized handling of long lines uses a hook-collection tube scarfed at the intake and a long line storage winch with an auxiliary turn-around roller. The individual functional elements are mounted on the frame of the long line storage winch which serves as a line-hauling and storage member to provide functional cooperation of the individual functional elements.
An apparatus (10) feeds loose fish hooks singly to a baiting machine and comprises a rail (14) which receives fish hooks (19) in a hanging condition on the top of the rail (14). A feeding arrangement (11) conveys the fish hooks (19) along the rail (14) towards a slide member (26) which delivers the fish hooks singly to the baiting machine. The slide member (26) is provided with a cavity (27) having an associated opening (27b) for the reception of a portion (19a) of the hook. Opening (27d) of the cavity (27) is bounded endwise towards the rail (14) during movement of the slide member (26) between its catch position and its delivery position.
An apparatus for use with commercial long line fishing gear for receiving the long line as it is hauled from the sea, separating the gangions and hooks from the line and directing them to a storage tub or other storage means. The long line enters the apparatus through an entrance funnel and then passes through a guide funnel where the hooks are oriented substantially in a common plane. Thereafter, the line passes through a sorting gate assembly which orients the bends of the hooks in a common manner and directs them onto a rail assembly. The hooks are then guided by the rail assembly to a storage rail attached to a storage tube. As the hooks proceed along the rail assembly the ground line is drawn over a hydraulically powered sheave and directed into the storage tub.
