No. 4.] RATS AND RAT RIDDANCE. 215 



Sometimes a weighted deadfall will kill a cautious rat. A bit 

 of plank, well weighted, supported with a "figure 4" trigger, 

 built to "throw clear," covered with straw and enticingly 

 baited, may do the business. (See 

 cut.) 



Rats drink a great deal, and in 

 houses where there are no wells they 

 resort to any accessible water tanks 

 in garrets or closets. Traps set in 

 dark places near such tanks are likely 

 to bring results. ^^^ \nJ- L^,_,:j:,..;:,^ M^^^i^W^. . 



When visiting a trap it is best not " Figure 4 " trap and details of 



. , , 1 • . p construction. 



to go too near it or touch it tor sev- 

 eral days, unless it has been sprung. If a rat has been caught 

 the trap should be cleaned and reset. If the trap has been 

 sprung and has failed to catch him, reset it carefully and rebait 

 it as before. In time the same rat may be caught. 



When rats become so wary that they will not spring con- 

 cealed traps, watch for them and mark their runways, and set 

 unbaited and uncovered traps there. If such a trap is set on a 

 narrow joist, or where rats are known to run, they will see it, 

 become accustomed to it and may in time become careless and 

 spring it by jumping or running over it. I have taken one old 

 rat in this way on the third night after setting the trap. This 

 rat had not touched carefully set and baited traps. 



Rat Bait. — Rat catchers and other experts differ regarding 

 the best bait for rats. Some believe that rats should be baited 

 with the food to which they have been accustomed, — fish should 

 be used in a fish market, meat in a meat market, and grain in 

 a stable or grain store; others contend that the opposite plan 

 secures best results. In the experiments made by the Massa- 

 chusetts State Board of Agriculture a combination of both 

 plans was successful. Where rats could get only grain, oatmeal 

 or rolled oats was used in small quantities about the traps; a 

 little was sprinkled on the tread and a light trail of oatmeal 

 was laid from trap to trap, while the traps were baited with 

 bacon, cheese, sausage, or some other animal food. Sometimes 

 when rats are feeding on grain some strong smelling animal 



