Ground Vermin Traps. 273 



long ; on the contrary, it should be very elastic and 

 turned low at the bow, so that there is no more trouble 

 than necessary to form a place in which to cover the 

 spring. For vermin it is advisable to be provided with 

 two sizes of gins, the one lot (say, one-third of the total 

 quantity) to consist of traps with 4in. jaws, while the 

 remaining larger quantity should have 3in. jaws. All these 

 traps must be of the very best manufacture (but not neces- 

 sarily the dearest, as price is no criterion of the quality 

 of traps), and should fulfil in every respect the description 



FIG. 13. IMPEOVED DOESET TEAP WITH SAFETY CHAIN. 



of gin we are about to advocate for employment. By far 

 the most important part of a vermin gin is the 

 spring, which should be strong, but, at the same time, 

 excellently tempered, so as to allow of its being pressed 

 sufficiently low down by the simple grasp of the hand 

 without resort having to be made to any large amount of 

 force. It is riveted on to the back piece that is the 

 flat piece of iron forming the base of the trap at about 

 i in. from the end, and bent over towards the jaws, which 

 on one side are inclosed in a loop at the end of the 



