THE PASSENGER PIGEON IN PENNSYLVANIA 195 



From lengthy descriptions given by T. L. Sart- 

 vvell, C. M. Slack and A. N. McFall, the following is 

 obtained as to the process of netting them. 



The nets varied in size from twelve to twenty feet 

 in length and were from three to six feet or more in 

 width. One side of the net would be staked along its 

 entire length to the ground and thru the other side 

 which was free, was run what was called the net string, 

 wdiich was fastened on each end to tlie spring poles 

 by which the net was sprung. The spring poles were 

 of hemlock and fastened to the net springs, doubled 

 back to give force by which the net was spread and 

 were a number of feet from the net. The net would be 

 tucked carefully on the ground along the staked side 

 and so arranged that when it was released it would 

 fly out and spread itself over the ground or bed on 

 which the pigeons on being attracted would alight. 

 The bed was previously prepared by strewing 1)uck- 

 wheat or corn over the ground. The net would be 

 sprung so quickly that the pigeons would have no 

 chance of rising and it settled dowm over them. 



The net would be worked from what was known as 

 the bough house, built near by to screen the nets from 

 observation. From this shelter were worked the 

 pigeon stool and the fliers. 



The pigeon stool was a live pigeon used as a de- 

 coy and securely fastened to straight poles that were 

 fixed in such a manner they could be raised three or 

 four feet from the ground and then lowered to the 

 ground with the pigeons en the end. In so doing, the 



