238 THE PASSENGER PIGEON IN PENNSYLVANIA 



we slung our two lines of rope from one to the other. 

 Our next move was to attach a net to each rope, then 

 the opposite side of the nets was carried back full 

 width and anchored to the ground by stakes, cut from 

 small saplings, with one limb left on and cut back to 

 within three or four inches of the stake, and cut off 

 about two inches above the hook, which it showed 

 when finished, three small stakes were driven into 

 the ground, so as to have the hook catch the rope, and 

 were driven in to the head, one about every three or 

 four feet apart. Then two stakes made of inch or 

 inch and a half slats about three inches wide, 

 with an auger hole bored about one-half inch into it 

 near the top. These were driven in a line with the 

 smaller stakes, and driven so that the sink hole in the 

 stake was left about two inches above the surface of 

 the ground. 



"Then two throw sticks were introduced — these 

 consisted generally of a part of an old broom handle, 

 and were cut about two and one-half feet in length. 

 The end to receive the rope was knicked in the end 

 to prevent the rope from slipping. Then the net was 

 carried back with the line and the smooth ends of the 

 sticks placed in the concaved receptacle for it, and the 

 forked end against the rope. It was then pressed 

 down to an angle which held it in place. If it failed 

 to do it, a few small stones were laid on it to hold it 

 down, then the bag or slack of the net was folded up 

 and piled close to the line. A few weeds were gen- 

 erally thrown on it to hide it from the pigeons. 



