388 THE KEILLER OTTER-TRAP. 



liouse ; B B, the water-Hue above ; C C, the water- 

 Hue below ; D, the mill-race or spout ; E, the eel-box, 

 some two feet square, and grated at the bottom to retain 

 the eels, immediately beneath the spout D, and nearly 

 on a level with the upper water-line B B ; F, the lever ; 

 G, tbe drop or down-fall ; H, the line to which is 

 appended the eel I, that serves as bait, and the tail of 

 which, as will be observed, protrudes through the grating 

 of the eel-box ; K, the gillet^-plnne, or trigger ; L, the box 

 for the reception of the Otter, in whicli, I'ather thau 

 drown, he always takes refuge on finding himself impri- 

 soned ; M, the funnel, so to say, leading from the water 

 to the box L, whicli is armed with spikes pointing 

 upwards ; so that although the Otter finds ready access 

 to the box, his return from thence is next to impossible. 

 When now the beast tugs at the bait I, the giller- 

 pinne K (owing to the lever F being disturbed) slips 

 on one side, and the drop descending, his retreat is 

 efi'ectually cut off". 



