While in the tackle shop yesterday one of my friends came in he is a carp angler he asked the manager to order him a certain kind of weigh sling. He asked me how I was getting on with my small Avid cradle that I use for my general fishing. I said fine and added that I thought the next thing will be a cradle with inbuilt scales and that this could do away with the likes of weigh slings and mats weighing poles and tripods. Just net your fish lay it in the cradle read the weight and return to the water. The manager standing behind the counter had a grin on his face and I said to him what's funny. He said had a fella in here yesterday who has taken out a two year patent on the design of just that. He bought a working prototype to the shop with him and he is looking for a backer to help him put it on the market. My friend asked if the manager had a contact which he did so my friend has arranged to to meet him today. So if you are thinking of buying a cradle in the near future hang on for a bit if the idea of appeals to you.