THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. 95 



only exposed, all the while playing the tongue in the water. This 

 they do to allure their prey within reach, the fish mistaking it for a 

 worm rush to their certain destruction. 



The best means of exterminating them is by the use of some kind 

 of fire-arm. A smooth bore, 22 caliber Flobert gun, loaded with a 

 cartridge containing shot, and a good marksman at the proper end of 

 it, generally makes a combination that forever prevents that snake 

 from exercising his fishing propensities. 



If young snakes are about, they may easily be discovered by placing 

 pieces of board here and there about the ponds; these boards are 

 lifted up in the morning, often revealing two or three of the little 

 snakes that had sought shelter there, when thus found they are easily 

 despatched. 



A good snake trap was accidentally discovered as follows : 



A wire coop made of ^ inch mesh galvanized iron wire netting, 

 served as the dwelling of a couple of muskrats, which the children 

 kept as pets. These having died, the coop was used to confine live 

 frogs, and kept outside of the establishment in the water, just at the 

 point it leaves the ponds. 



The next morning a large water snake was found caught in the 

 meshes of the wire, and dead. 



It had evidently tried to get into the coop, and help itself to a frog 

 or two, and was thus caught, the wire preventing the entrance of the 

 entire body, the scales of the reptile at the same time precluding 

 the possibility of retreat. Since then this trap, and smaller ones, 

 have been used with very good results, and being simple they are 

 easily made. 



Following the snakes, and at the time the ponds are filled with 

 water, one must be on the watch for fish-eating birds, among which 

 are 



