TRAPPING, SNARING, NETTING, ^c. 129 



turn of the jaw. The superioi finish and general 

 quality of these traps make them rather dearer than 

 the ordinary ones. They cost \s. ^d. each, but a re- 

 duction is made if taken by the dozen. 



' In order to prevent the rabbit when caught draw- 

 ing the trap away, the back piece of the gin is 

 furnished with a hole at the end through which a 

 chain about a foot long is attached by means of 

 an S hook. This chain should have about eight 

 links with a swivel in the middle, and a ring of 

 i^ in. diameter at the end. It is purchasable apart 

 from the trap, and should be well tested, as the 

 weakness will be found where least looked for, viz. 

 in the swivel, and this should always be examined. 

 The ring is for a stake which is driven into the ground 

 to hold the trap. The best wood for this is ash, 

 which should be cut in lengths of 18 in., and split, 

 then rounded off to the required size, fitted tightly to 

 the ring, driven on to within i\ in. from the top, and 

 be overlapped by this part, which ought to be left un- 

 rounded as far as the ring comes.' 



The best way to set a gin is to cut out a piece of 

 the turf or soil, and place the trap so that the plate is 

 on a level with the surface of the ground, and then 

 sprinkle it over with loose soil. Unless this is done 

 a rabbit will be certain to avoid it. 



K 



