

Ground Vermin Setting Traps. 277 



finger, so that the catch can easily be made to fit in its 

 place and retain the trap as it is. A little practice will 

 soon enable one to set the gin as easily and safely 

 as possible. 



The complete setting of the gin is, however, more com- 

 plicated than just fixing it as a trap, and requires further 

 description. The manner of " tilling" varies, of course, 

 according to the nature of the surroundings of a given 

 spot. It must be borne in mind that the more cleverly the 

 trap is concealed the better chance one has of obtaining a 

 capture, and unless the covering placed upon the gin resem- 

 bles very closely what the ground was before it was cut 

 away for the purpose, the vermin will very quickly descry 

 the disturbance, and, suspecting something dangerous, will 

 be careful to steer clear. If the surface of the spot chosen 

 as suitable be grass or herbage, commence by placing the 

 trap upon the ground in the position it would presently 

 occupy, with the spring and chain extended towards the 

 right-hand side when looking at what may be termed the 

 front of the site, or in other words, towards the right of 

 that side from which it is supposed the vermin will 

 approach. This done, drive the stake straight down until 

 the head attached to the chain is about an inch below the 

 surface of the ground. Then, keeping the trap extended 

 so far from the stake as to allow a little play for the chain, 

 dig out with the flattened end of the hammer a square 

 hole just large enough to contain the jaws of the trap 

 when open, endeavouring so to form the hole that what 

 is dug out comes off in a little square ; then further dig 

 a sort of flap of turf along where the spring wire lies, 



