EARTH-STOPPING 283 



as described on page 260. Or gas-tar may be 

 rubbed against the sides of the earth ^vdthin. 

 Three days after this has been done, the same 

 whipper-in should go round to every earth-stopper 

 again, and see that he stops up every earth in 

 the following manner : first, make a fagot of sticks 

 the size of each hole, which should be thrust 

 in, then drive a stake through it ; after which, 

 \\\t\v a spade cover the whole over with earth. 

 It may not be necessary to state it, but the reason 

 why this last operation is not done at fii*st is that, 

 in consequence of the fox-earth being smoked by 

 brimstone, a fox may, if in, not come out the first 

 night ; but by waiting three days he will by that 

 time find his way out, and, consequently, the earth 

 may be stopped without fear of stopping him in. 

 After this is done, the earth-stoppers are to under- 

 stand that the earths are to be kept stopped during 

 the whole winter, until they have orders to open 

 them in the spring for the vixens to lay up their cubs 

 in — to be opened the last week in February. But 

 if at any time previously in the season a fox goes to 

 ground, half a crown will be deducted for every 

 time any hole is found open, — which will be a 

 sure remedy against going to ground. The earth- 

 stoppers' pay -will, of course, be under this new 



