LGFC Weighmaster’s Course Notes
o Constitution - Excerpts related to weighing
o By-Laws - Excerpts related to weighing
o General Weighing Procedure for All Scales
Also available as a PDF file - Click here for the PDF version.
· Recorded weights which are incorrect for the scale used. Take the 25Kg dial scale – the divisions on this scale are 100grams which means that a recorded weight can be, say, 11.1 or 11.2 but it cannot be 11.15 or any other number in between 11.1 & 11.2 since it is not permissible for the weigher to subdivide by eye.
· On occasion there has been debate between anglers over the weight indicated on a scale – meaning that one or both do not know how to read the scale.
· The result of making the mistake of subdividing the divisions is small and in fact the processing computer program automatically detects this and corrects by dropping the recorded weight to the lower reading. However when such a weight comes in a niggling question arises – is the error simply the weigher dividing by eye in ignorance of the fact he is not permitted to do this OR does he not understand the major and minor divisions at all and therefore records a totally erroneous figure.
· Hopefully, when two people argue about a scale reading the correct one will prevail – but if the other had been doing it by himself a totally incorrect reading will have been recorded. This affects points, prizes and trophies and most importantly it affects records. Records are hard won and should not be displaced simply by incompetent scale reading. I have had people write & ask after their record of twenty or even thirty years ago.
The History
· In the beginning the only weigher of fish was THE WEIGHMASTER and he had to be called to the gantry each and every time there were fish to be weighed! An onerous task indeed and therefore the system evolved to what we have had in recent years.
The Solution
· The solution we have decided is to require you to attend this course at the end of which you will be signed on as Assistant Weighmasters provided you countersign that you understand how to read and use the scales. THERE IS NO TEST. There will be more courses in future on demand and anyone who feels they need to refresh will be welcome. Provided committee is agreeable we will also provide for non-members to do the course and qualify.
Constitution - Excerpt related to weighing
41. APPOINTMENT OF WEIGHMASTERS
The Committee may appoint, at its discretion, such Weighmasters at Lae or other places as it considers necessary.
By-Laws - Excerpts related to weighing (pending ratification)
4. WEIGHING OF FISH
(a) All fish brought to scale shall be viewed and weighed on Club approved scales, on solid ground suspended from a rigid structure, by a weighmaster.
(b) The weighmaster for any weighing must be someone other than the angler who captured the fish.
(c) Weights recorded at sea or on any body of water will not be accepted. Estimated weights will not be accepted.
(d) At least one additional witness to the weight is required for weights which may be claimed as national or international records.
(e) The name of the weighmaster shall be noted as Witness to Weighing on the completed capture certificate at the time of weighing and shall sign as Witness to Weighing.
(f) All fish brought to scale at Lae must be weighed on the Club gantry.
Member’s scales may be used at the gantry only when the appropriate club scale is unavailable or unserviceable.
At the time of weighing at the gantry the actual tackle use by the angler to catch the fish must be available for inspection by the Club Weighmaster.
(g) The LGFC scale registration number shall be noted on the capture certificate against each capture for which it is used.
(h) The weight recorded on the certificate must be the weight indicated by the scale. Only weights indicated by the graduations on the scale will be accepted. Visual fractionalizing of these graduations is not allowed. Any weights that fall between two graduations on the scale must be rounded to the lower of the two. This applies to both whole and gutted fish.
(i) The weight of the sling, platform or rope (if one is used to secure the fish to the scales) must be determined and deducted from the total weight. The weight of such sling or platform or rope is determined (on registered scales of the Club) by rounding up to the nearest graduation on the scale. Should the weight registered on the scale chosen be under the first graduation the weight indicated by the first graduation must be used.
5. REMOVAL OF FISH AFTER WEIGHING AT CLUB GANTRY
Members are responsible for the rapid and complete removal of their fish from the Lae Yacht Club. Fish are not to be gutted/cleaned at Lae Yacht Club.
6. SCALES
(a) Only scales approved by, and registered with, the Club Weighmaster may be used for the purpose of recording the weight of captures.
(b) All registered scales shall be assigned a unique Registration No. by the Club Weighmaster. The Registration No. must be permanently fixed to the scale in figures at least 30mm high.
(c) To be approved and registered, mechanical or analogue (dial) scales must be a model approved by a government authority (in PNG, Australia, the U.S. or the E.U.) for trade use. In addition, for these scales the adjuster must be recessed and of a type that can only be operated by a screwdriver or stylus. The adjustment range available may not be more than +/-2.5% of capacity. Scales, approved by appropriate authorities, which have an adjuster screw or wheel which, because of it’s position, may be easily moved out of adjustment are not acceptable.
Digital scales must be a recognized ‘name’ brand indicating weights in kilograms. They must have a ‘Tare’ or ‘Zero’ button. These scales must be capable of having the ‘Units’ locked into Kilogram mode in such a way that change of units is not available manually by pressing a single control button.
(d) Where a record breaking fish is captured outside Lae local waters and circumstances make return to Lae and/or weighing on club registered scales impossible, the weight recorded on a scale not registered with the club will be accepted only if the scale, with it's adjustment untouched, is tested by an approved PNG testing authority and found to be weighing correctly.
(e) The Club Weighmaster shall ensure that the Club scales and Member’s approved scales, which must be delivered by the member to the Weighmaster, are tested for accuracy before use and subsequently every twelve (12) months in accordance with IGFA requirements.
(f) The Club Weighmaster may require the retesting for accuracy of any registered scale at any time.
7. APPOINTMENT OF WEIGHMASTERS
(a) All Committee Members who have completed the Club Weighmaster’s Course are appointed Assistant Weighmasters in accordance with Clause 41 of the Club Constitution.
(b) All members and other persons, sixteen (16) years of age and over who have completed the Club Weighmaster’s Course are appointed Assistant Weighmasters in accordance with Clause 41 of the Club Constitution.
10. CAPTURE CERTIFICATES
(a) The form of the capture certificate shall be as set out in Appendix 1.
(b) All captures must be recorded on the Club’s official printed capture certificate. One angler, one day per certificate number.
(c) Completion of all sections on the certificate within the red box is compulsory and other sections must be completed if applicable. Failure to complete all compulsory details and signatures may result in disqualification of any capture for which this information is incomplete.
(d) Certificates must be placed in the requisite box at LYC Radio Shack or handed to the Club Weighmaster, within five (5) days of capture, except at end of season when all must be in by July 1st. Except for the end of June an extension of time may be obtained from the Weighmaster for fish caught during extended angling trips.
Note: There are two boxes. One (labeled "Monthly Competition") is for monthly competition certificates only. The second is for all other days. The ‘Tick if Comp’ box must be ticked on all certificates lodged for monthly competitions.
11. WORD OF MEMBER ACCEPTED
The word of a Member who catches fish without a witness will be accepted in good faith that the fish was caught according to IGFA Rules. However, a witness to the weigh-in must be obtained as per By-Laws 2 & 3.
12. GUTTED FISH
(a) Gutted fish will be accepted and are eligible for all Club points, prizes and records provided that the gutting is done in an orthodox manner, including removal of all gill-rakers and intestines, and does not remove any predator or other damage incurred during the time the fish is hooked up prior to boating. The weight recorded by the weighmaster and for all other purposes, including records and trophies, will be the scale weight of the gutted fish.
(b) Properly gutted fish must be inspected by the person witnessing the weigh-in and will receive an extra 10% for points scored only. The ‘Tick if Weighed Gutted’ box should be ticked adjacent to the weight recorded, for each gutted fish weighed.
(c) Bleeding a fish does not constitute gutting.
The following requirements are laid down by the IGFA:
1. The fish must be weighed by an official weighmaster (if one is available) or by an IGFA official or by a recognized local person familiar with the scale. Disinterested witnesses to the weight should be used whenever possible.
2. The weight of the sling, platform, or rope (if one is used to secure the fish on the scales) must be determined and deducted from the total weight.
3. At the time of weighing, the actual tackle used by the angler to catch the fish must be exhibited to the weighmaster and weight witness.
4. No estimated weights will be accepted. Fish weighed only at sea or on other bodies of water will not be accepted.
5. Only weights indicated by the graduations on the scale will be accepted. Visual fractionalizing of these graduations is not allowed. Any weights that fall between two graduations on the scale must be rounded to the lower of the two.
6. All record fish should be weighed on scales that have been checked and certified for accuracy by government agencies or other qualified and accredited organisations. All scales must be regularly checked for accuracy and certified in accordance with applicable government regulations at least once every twelve months. If at the time of weighing the fish, the scale has not been properly certified within twelve months, it should be checked and certified for accuracy as quickly as possible, and an official report stating the findings of the inspection prior to any adjustment of the scale must be included with the record application.
ANALOGUE (Dial/Pointer/Spring) SCALES
Analogue scales must be rated as suitable for ‘Trade’. Some Salter Model 235 and 233 10” scales comply. Suitable scales will have a lead slug, on older models generally set in the face of the scale, on most current models integrated on a plate riveted to the rear of the scale – where the test date can be stamped by the testing authority. Also the adjustment screw will be either a slotted screw, requiring a screwdriver to adjust or be a recessed thumb wheel requiring a screw driver or stylus to adjust – and in addition it will have limited range of adjustment (+/-2.5%).
‘Non-trade’ scales, which are unacceptable, will normally have an easily accessed thumb screw or thumb wheel adjuster with a large adjustment range. An example of non-trade scales are the standard Salter 10” & 6” dial scales. There are also many scales of this type on the market manufactured in Europe, Japan and Asia. Note that, to complicate matters, some ‘non-trade’ scales (as defined above) are now accepted for ‘trade’ in PNG. These scales however are NOT acceptable for our purposes because of the ease with which they can be knocked out of adjustment, which would put a question mark over any weights recorded off them.
To function correctly scales and their load must be totally free to align themselves vertically. To achieve this they are always supplied with two hooks, one to suspend the scale itself and the other to attach the fish to the scale. It is important that the hooks be used since alternatives such as rope may introduce external pressure which in turn will produce false readings. Because scales may be used by people who are unaware of these nuances it is preferable that scales used for weighing game-fish have both hooks permanently crimped so that they cannot be removed.
For game-fish purposes it is preferable that the bottom hook, which will often come into contact with corrosive liquid such as salt water, be made of stainless steel. Plated steel hooks should therefore be replaced where possible.
DIGITAL SCALES
The LGFC digital scales are all Salter ElectroSamson, 10Kg x 10g, 25Kg x 20g and 45Kg x 50g.
Having stated above that all analogue scales must be ‘Trade’ it should be noted that these are not. While Weights and Measures Dept. who test scales and issue compliance certificates will not issue a ‘Trade’ certificate because they do not comply to their definition of such (no lead slug and no adjustment screw) they are prepared to attest that they weigh in accordance with trade standards.
One major reason for introducing digital scales was our perception that digitals would remove the tendency (illegal though it is) for splitting graduations and/or rounding up. The other advantage is finer graduations (10g compared to 20g for 10Kg scales and 50g against 200g for 45/50Kg) and therefore often a few extra points compared to the ‘rounded down’ weight required to be recorded on dial scales.
However, despite their apparent ease of use and accuracy it has become apparent that this will only be achieved if the laid down procedures are strictly followed.
General Weighing Procedure for all Scales
First and foremost – understand the rules for weighing defined in the By-Laws above.
Weigh the Fish
· CHOOSE THE SCALE
When there are a number of scales of different capacities to choose from, always select the smallest scale size available to handle the estimated weight of the fish – i.e. where a full range of scales are available, weigh fish up to 10Kg on 10Kg scales, 10-25Kg on 25Kg, 25-50Kg on 50Kg etc. Unless there is no other option, fish should not be weighed in the bottom 20% of a scales capacity.
Ensure the scale is ‘In-date’ i.e. has been tested within the previous 12 months AND is a scale registered with the LGFC. Registered scales will have an assigned Scale No. currently between 1 & 65.
· HANG THE SCALE
Ensure that the scale is suspended freely from a rigid structure. Obviously at an official weigh-station this will not be a problem as a variety of hanging points are provided.
At other locations, the beams under a high set house will be ideal. The limb of a tree is fine provided it is strong enough to support the fish and scale without flexing. The height above the ground must accommodate the scale, any tail-rope and of course the fish.
· CHECK THE SCALE
The scale pointer should be indicating zero or within half a graduation of zero. If there is any indication that the scale may be faulty it should be removed from service and tested before further use.
· INSPECT THE FISH
Check the fish for predator or other damage such as prop damage that may have been incurred during the fight. Such damage disqualifies the fish and it’s weight should not be recorded.
· GUTTED FISH
To be acceptable for weighing and recording as ‘Gutted Fish’ (to gain the extra10% points), the fish must be fully gutted i.e. intestines and gill rakers completely removed.
· HANG THE FISH ON THE SCALE
The hanging fish must not touch the ground.
To function correctly, the scales and their load must be totally free to align themselves vertically. It is particularly important that the scale swing freely on the top hook. If there is no top hook a rope is acceptable provided that the scale is suspended by a free swinging loose loop. It is not permissible to bind the scale directly to anything rigid as this will cause erroneous readings.
· TAIL-ROPES (SLINGS)
Some of you will query why go to all this trouble for a tail rope of ‘negligible’ weight. Yes, some ropes will be negligible on some scales but not on others – I have seen ropes 40cm long weighing 30gm and others 5metres long weighing a kilo. Since there can only be one rule, the rule can only be – account for the tail rope!
The procedure for handling these will vary depending on whether the scale used to weigh the fish is analogue or digital.
o ANALOGUE - Where the scale to be used is analogue, the tail-rope must be weighed separately and the weight recorded. It may be weighed on any registered scale – i.e. a scale more appropriate to it’s weight (analogue or digital). If weighed on an analogue scale, the weight recorded must be the weight indicated by the graduation under the pointer (except where that is zero) or, where the pointer falls between graduations, the next graduation ABOVE the pointer. Where the pointer indicates zero the weight recorded will be that of the first graduation.
When used, the sling weight must be recorded on the certificate under Wgt. Of Sling.
Recording weights using a sling is of course a hassle - putting the hook through the mouth or gills is the easiest on many occasions.
o DIGITAL - Where the scale to be used is digital, the tail-rope must be tared out first by hanging the tail-rope on the scale, pressing the Tare or Zero button, and ensuring the scale reads zero with the rope in place & not touching the ground.
· READING THE SCALE
When the fish is hung the reading will oscillate. Steadying by hand is ok provided it is hanging free and steady when the reading is taken.
ANALOGUE
To avoid parallax error your eye must be square on to the pointer. Stand on something if necessary. If you’re weighing a billfish or shark on the gantry you have to get up there level with the scale somehow! You must not guesstimate from an offset position such as standing on the ground looking up.
When the pointer rests between graduations, the reading recorded must be that indicated by the lower graduation.
All scales have minor, and one or two major, graduation marks but the distance between consecutive marks will always be the same and that amount will be printed clearly on the face of the scale. The largest of the major marks will always be numbered and the first thing you need to do is fix in your mind those major numbers on either side of the pointer – then if those numbers are in steps of more than one kilo you need to fix on the closer marks that represent individual kilos on either side of the pointer and what value they are – then you need to count up from the lower of these – the number of graduations? Times the graduation value which you will find printed on the face of the scale.
Illustration 1 – 50Kg Scale with 200g divisions – reading is 27.6(5) but someone might mistakenly read 27.3 on the assumption divisions are .1 instead of .2
Illustration 2 – 100Kg Scale with 500g divisions – reading is 52.5 but someone might mistakenly read 50.5 on the assumption divisions are .1 OR 50.25 thinking they .05 OR 55 thinking they are 1Kg.
The size of graduations varies from scale to scale so it is essential to understand the graduation interval on the scale being used - depending on the scale this may be 20g, 50g, 100g, 200g, 500g, 1000g or 2000g.
Again - FIRST fix in mind the numbers on the marks either side of the pointer NEXT work out the location and value of the full kilo marks either side of the pointer NEXT count the divisions from the lower kilo mark to the division immediately lower than the pointer LASTLY multiply number of divisions BY division value to arrive at the fraction of a kilo represented, and -
FINALLY! – we have a weight to record.
It is this figure, as read from the scale, which must be entered on the certificate on every occasion. If a sling was used do not attempt to deduct the sling weight yourself - this will be done later when captures are processed.
Of course, just to confuse such detailed instructions, there is one scale which does not measure fractions of a kilo and that is the 500Kg with steps of 2Kg. When you need to use that rest assured there will be plenty of experts to assist if you can’t work it out!
DIGITAL – If using a tail-rope (sling), this must be tared out before proceeding.
1. Press ‘ON/ZERO’ to zero the display (with sling/tail-rope attached if used) – repeat if necessary to get zero.
2. Check units are set to ‘Kg’ (top left of screen). If not – press ‘UNITS’ until ‘Kg’ appears.
3. Put fish on and wait for reading to steady.
4. Press ‘HOLD’ – reading will lock IF steady – if necessary press ‘HOLD’ again when reading is steady. Record reading.
5. If it won’t steady – record the lower figure.
ALL the above steps should be repeated for each fish.
As mentioned above for analogue scales, it is the figure read from the scale which must be entered on the certificate on every occasion. Any adjustment for gutting will be applied later when captures are processed.
Since any sling/tail-rope has been tared out, no entry should be made in the ‘Sling’ column on the certificate when the above steps are followed.
· It is the responsibility of the weighmaster (Witness to Weighing) i.e. YOU, to sight each weight and attest to correct entry of that on the certificate.
· While the weighmaster has no other responsibility with regard to the certificate everyone should be aware of the requirements for correct completion. i.e.
o One certificate per one angler / one boat / one day.
o Corrections by overwriting are not acceptable. An incorrect entry should be re-entered and initialled.
o Everything within the red border must he completed.
o All tagged captures must be recorded on the capture certificate and all items completed as for weighed fish.
o Either, the Scale No. (LGFC Registration No.) in the case of weighed fish OR the Tag No. in the case of tagged fish must be entered under the Scale No./Tag No. column.
o Either, the weight observed on the scale in the case of weighed fish OR the estimated weight in the case of tagged fish, must be entered under the Scale Wt/Est. Wt column.
o If a fish has been gutted this should be indicated with a tick in the ‘Tick if Weighed Gutted’ column. The weight recorded for gutted fish is the weight observed on the scale and no adjustment may be made to this on the certificate, apart from in the Points column.
o The Wgt. of Sling column MUST be completed by entering the weight of the sling if a sling is used and the fish is weighed on an analogue scale. It is not required where the sling weight has been tared out on a digital scale.