Magnet fishing

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A pair of bolt cutters collected through magnet fishing in the Scarpe at Lallaing, France Magnet fishing catch.jpg
A pair of bolt cutters collected through magnet fishing in the Scarpe at Lallaing, France
A neodymium magnet used for magnet fishing Magnet fishing "hook".jpg
A neodymium magnet used for magnet fishing

Magnet fishing, also called magnetic fishing, is searching in outdoor waters for ferromagnetic objects available to pull with a strong neodymium magnet. [1]

Contents

Practitioners

In English, people who practice magnet fishing may be called magnetfishers or magneteers.

It is thought magnet fishing was initially started by boaters using magnets to recover fallen keys from the water. [2] Magnet fishing as a hobby began to take off in the early 2000's starting in Europe. [3]

Objects recovered

Magnet fishing can recover metal debris such as discarded bicycles, guns, [4] safes, [5] bombs, [6] grenades, [7] coins and car tire rims from bodies of water, but many who engage in the hobby are hoping to find rare and valuable items as well. [8] [9]

Tools

Typical magnet fishing equipment, including protective gloves, a bucket for storing catches, antibacterial hand gel, and a neodymium magnet attached to a rope. Vybava pro magnet fishing.jpg
Typical magnet fishing equipment, including protective gloves, a bucket for storing catches, antibacterial hand gel, and a neodymium magnet attached to a rope.

Magnet fishing is typically done with gloves, [10] a strong neodymium magnet secured to a durable rope between 15 and 30 meters (50–100 ft), and sometimes a grappling hook as a supplement to the magnet. [11] For safety it is recommended to also use a pair of gloves to protect your hands from any sharp objects you may pull up with your magnet. [12]

Potential harms

Some magnet fishers have retrieved dangerous objects, including loaded guns, unexploded ordnance, [13] [14] [6] [15] and sharp pieces of metal. [10]

Neodymium magnets are powerful and can interfere with pacemakers, posing a health risk; they can also damage other electronic devices. Fingers can get crushed between the magnet and a piece of metal, potentially causing serious bodily harm. [11] Tetanus can also be a risk for those without an up-to-date tetanus vaccine. [8] [ medical citation needed ]

In general, police urge those who find weapons or similar items to contact them. [2] [16]

Magnet fishing and the law

Street sign pulled out of the Jizera in Svijany, Czech Republic, with the magnet used to retrieve it still attached to the signpost. Dopravni znacka vytazena z reky pomoci silneho magnetu pro magnet fishing a pevneho lana.jpg
Street sign pulled out of the Jizera in Svijany, Czech Republic, with the magnet used to retrieve it still attached to the signpost.

Depending on the jurisdiction, anything of value may belong to the local government, not the finder. [13]

Belgium

Amateur magnet-fishers in Belgium helped the police by recovering new evidence, specifically firearms and ammunition, related to the crimes of the Brabant killers. [17]


France

The rules of magnet fishing are the same as those governing the detection of buried objects:

“No one may use equipment capable of detecting metallic objects for the purpose of searching for monuments and objects likely to be of interest to prehistory, history, art or archaeology without first obtaining an administrative authorisation issued in accordance with the applicant’s qualifications and the nature and manner of the search”. [18]

Germany

In Hamburg, magnet fishing without a permit is punishable by fine. [19] [20] In Berlin, magnet fishing is governed under the same rules as metal detecting, which requires a permit. Permits are not granted to hobbyists, as the context of any find is lost when untrained personnel disturb a site. [21] Like all major cities in Germany that experienced fighting and strategic bombing during World War II, unexploded ordnance poses a serious risk. [21]

England and Wales

Magnet fishing is subject to local regulations concerning outdoor waters. The Canal & River Trust, which owns most of the canals in England and Wales, has bylaws prohibiting people from removing material from the canal and rivers it owns, so fishers may be subject to a £25 fine [22] for magnet-fishing or removing any material from canal or inland navigation under the control of the Canal & River Trust in England or Wales, other than the Lee and Stort Navigation, Gloucester and Sharpness Canal, and River Severn Navigation. [23] The Trust "expressly prohibit[s]" the practice, although it refrains from legal action against first-time offenders. [2] In 2018, a child magnet-fished a sawn-off shotgun out of the Titford Canal in Oldbury, West Midlands. [24]

Poland

According to Polish penal code, magnet fishing without a valid government permit is a crime punishable by up to two years imprisonment. [25] [26] [27]

Scotland

Magnet fishing is allowed in Scotland. If planning to magnet fish in a scheduled area (including the Canal Network), then the fisher must first obtain a Scheduled Monument Consent from Historic Environment Scotland, and permission from Scottish Canals. An official group exists which gives its members permission to magnet fish in a stretch of the Union Canal in Edinburgh, with more locations planned in the future. Archaeological or historical finds must be reported to Treasure Trove Scotland. [28]

United States

In the US, there are no federal laws restricting metal fishing. Magnet fishing in state waters without a license is prohibited in South Carolina under the Underwater Antiquities Act. [29] In Indiana, magnet fishing is allowed on public waters on Department of Natural Resources properties by permit. The magnet must be able to be carried and retrieved by hand. [30] Certain states have their own regulations pertaining to magnet fishing. [31]

Popularity

The hobby has been adopted by celebrities such as English rugby player James Haskell. [10] [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neodymium</span> Chemical element with atomic number 60 (Nd)

Neodymium is a chemical element; it has symbol Nd and atomic number 60. It is the fourth member of the lanthanide series and is considered to be one of the rare-earth metals. It is a hard, slightly malleable, silvery metal that quickly tarnishes in air and moisture. When oxidized, neodymium reacts quickly producing pink, purple/blue and yellow compounds in the +2, +3 and +4 oxidation states. It is generally regarded as having one of the most complex spectra of the elements. Neodymium was discovered in 1885 by the Austrian chemist Carl Auer von Welsbach, who also discovered praseodymium. It is present in significant quantities in the minerals monazite and bastnäsite. Neodymium is not found naturally in metallic form or unmixed with other lanthanides, and it is usually refined for general use. Neodymium is fairly common—about as common as cobalt, nickel, or copper—and is widely distributed in the Earth's crust. Most of the world's commercial neodymium is mined in China, as is the case with many other rare-earth metals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fishing</span> Activity of trying to catch fish

Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment, but may also be caught from stocked bodies of water such as ponds, canals, park wetlands and reservoirs. Fishing techniques include hand-gathering, spearing, netting, angling, shooting and trapping, as well as more destructive and often illegal techniques such as electrocution, blasting and poisoning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magnet</span> Object that has a magnetic field

A magnet is a material or object that produces a magnetic field. This magnetic field is invisible but is responsible for the most notable property of a magnet: a force that pulls on other ferromagnetic materials, such as iron, steel, nickel, cobalt, etc. and attracts or repels other magnets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metal detector</span> Electronic instrument which detects the presence of metal nearby

A metal detector is an instrument that detects the nearby presence of metal. Metal detectors are useful for finding metal objects on the surface, underground, and under water. A metal detector consists of a control box, an adjustable shaft, and a variable-shaped pickup coil. When the coil nears metal, the control box signals its presence with a tone, light, or needle movement. Signal intensity typically increases with proximity. A common type are stationary "walk through" metal detectors used at access points in prisons, courthouses, airports and psychiatric hospitals to detect concealed metal weapons on a person's body.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mudlark</span> Someone who scavenges for items of value on the shores of rivers

A mudlark is someone who scavenges the banks and shores of rivers for items of value, a term used especially to describe those who scavenged this way in London during the late 18th and 19th centuries. The practice of searching the banks of rivers for items continues in the modern era, with newer technology such as metal detectors sometimes being employed to search for metal valuables that may have washed ashore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neodymium magnet</span> Strongest type of permanent magnet from an alloy of neodymium, iron and boron

A neodymium magnet (also known as NdFeB, NIB or Neo magnet) is a permanent magnet made from an alloy of neodymium, iron, and boron to form the Nd2Fe14B tetragonal crystalline structure. They are the most widely used type of rare-earth magnet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Recreational fishing</span> Fishing as a hobby

Recreational fishing, also called sport fishing or game fishing, is fishing for leisure, exercise or competition. It can be contrasted with commercial fishing, which is professional fishing for profit; or subsistence fishing, which is fishing for survival and livelihood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dredging</span> Excavation of sediment, usually under water

Dredging is the excavation of material from a water environment. Possible reasons for dredging include improving existing water features; reshaping land and water features to alter drainage, navigability, and commercial use; constructing dams, dikes, and other controls for streams and shorelines; and recovering valuable mineral deposits or marine life having commercial value. In all but a few situations the excavation is undertaken by a specialist floating plant, known as a dredger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lobster fishing</span> Aspect of the fishing industry

Lobsters are widely fished around the world for their meat. They are often hard to catch in large numbers, but their large size can make them a profitable catch. Although the majority of the targeted species are tropical, the majority of the global catch is in temperate waters.

A samarium–cobalt (SmCo) magnet, a type of rare-earth magnet, is a strong permanent magnet made of two basic elements: samarium and cobalt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rare-earth magnet</span> Strong permanent magnet made from alloys of rare-earth elements

A rare-earth magnet is a strong permanent magnet made from alloys of rare-earth elements. Developed in the 1970s and 1980s, rare-earth magnets are the strongest type of permanent magnets made, producing significantly stronger magnetic fields than other types such as ferrite or alnico magnets. The magnetic field typically produced by rare-earth magnets can exceed 1.2 teslas, whereas ferrite or ceramic magnets typically exhibit fields of 0.5 to 1 tesla.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magnetic implant</span> Procedure where a magnet is inserted to create a sense of magnetism

Magnetic implant is an experimental procedure in which small, powerful magnets are inserted beneath the skin, often in the tips of fingers. They exist in tubes and discs. This procedure is popular among biohackers and grinders, but remains experimental. Magnetic implants are often performed by amateurs at home, using readily available surgical tools and magnets found online. However, some professional body modification shops do perform implant surgeries. Magnetic implants can also be used as an interface for portable devices to create other new "senses", for example converting other sensory inputs such as ultrasonic or infra-red into a touch sensation. In this way the individual could 'feel' e.g. the distance to objects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fishing techniques</span> Methods for catching sea creatures, especially fish

Fishing techniques are methods for catching fish. The term may also be applied to methods for catching other aquatic animals such as molluscs and edible marine invertebrates.

<i>Microsoft Tinker</i> 2008 video game

Tinker, also known as Microsoft Tinker, is a puzzle video game developed by Fuel Industries in which the player controls a robot through various mazes and obstacle courses. It was originally released on September 23, 2008, as part of Windows Ultimate Extras, and contained 60 levels, including a 20-level tutorial. A free map editor was also released; however, it is not compatible with the Games for Windows – Live version of Tinker. It is only compatible with the Windows Ultimate Extras version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fishing industry in China</span>

China has one-fifth of the world's population and accounts for one-third of the world's reported fish production as well as two-thirds of the world's reported aquaculture production. It is also a major importer of seafood and the country's seafood market is estimated to grow to a market size worth US$53.5 Billion by 2027.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian Rare Earths</span> Government-owned corporation

IREL (India) Limited is an Indian Public Sector Undertaking based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It specializes in mining and refining rare earth metals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Byske (river)</span> River in Sweden

The Byske is a river in Sweden.

Ennore Creek is a backwater located in Ennore, Chennai along the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. It is located in the zone comprising lagoons with salt marshes and backwaters, submerged under water during high tide and forming an arm of the sea with the opening to the Bay of Bengal at the creek. The zone is spread over 4 km2, and the creek covers an area of 2.25 km2. It is located 20 km north of the city centre and 2.6 km south of the Ennore Port; the creek area stretches 3 km into the sea and 5 km along the coast. The creek is nearly 400 m wide, elongated in northeast–southwest direction and merges with the backwater bodies. Once a flourishing mangrove swamp, the creek has been degraded to patches in the fringes mainly due to human activities in the region. The depth of the creek varies between 1 and 2 m and is shallow near the mouth. The north–south trending channels of the creek connect it with the Pulicat Lake to the north and with the distributaries of the Kosasthalaiyar River in the south. The northwestern part of the creek merges with the tidal flats. The soil in the region is loamy and alluvial. Most of the area consists of tracts of alluvial soil and the eastern region comprises beach dunes, tidal flats and creek. The creek is oriented from west to east and opens into the Bay of Bengal to the east at Ennore. The creek acts as an outlet for the excess water from the Poondi reservoir. The creek separates the town of Ennore from the Ennore Port located in the north and the Kattupalli Shipyard located further north. The North Chennai Thermal Power Station is located to the north of the creek and the Ennore Thermal Power Station is located to the south. The creek is part of the Pulicat water system, including the Pulicat lagoon and the Buckingham Canal. As per the 1991 Coastal Regulation Zone notification, the entire Pulicat water system is designated CRZ I. The creek is experiencing siltation due to emergence of the Ennore Port.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fishing license</span> Mechanism for fishing management

A fishing license (US), fishing licence (UK), or fishing permit is an administrative or legal mechanism employed by state and local governments to regulate fishing activities within their administrative areas. Licensing is one type of fisheries management commonly used in Western countries, and may be required for either commercial or recreational fishing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magnetic slime robot</span> Soft Robotic Magnetic Slime

A magnetic slime robot is a self-healing soft robot made up of polyvinyl alcohol, borax and neodymium magnet particles. It was co-created by professor Li Zhang of Chinese University of Hong Kong. It is a non-Newtonian fluid that behaves like a liquid or solid depending on force, having "visco-elastic properties". The robot is developed by and could be deployed inside the human body to perform tasks such as retrieving objects out of it. Contrary to its name, it currently does not have a robot in it, and is only controlled by magnets. It can reach speeds of 30 millimeters per second.

References

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