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It may thus be described : At a convenient point in 

 the stream, where floods do not materially affect the 

 water level, posts are firmly driven into the gravel, and 

 boards are nailed to these, the bottom one sunk some 

 few inches to prevent anything burrowing underneath 

 it, the ends projecting some foot or two into the bank 

 at each end, and well clayed or sodded in. An 

 aperture is then cut in the top board for the egress of 

 the water, now dammed up a few inches, and chocks 

 of wood are nailed to the inner edges of the aperture. 

 These chocks have fillets nailed to their lower 

 margins, on which rest a light grating of iron wire, 

 fastened along the lower edge of the aperture, in such 

 a manner that the grating can be turned up to clear it 

 of leaves, weeds, or any thing else. As a rule the 

 grating has rings forged on it and an iron wire, or 

 very thin rod, passes through those and staples at each 

 end, so as to form a sort of hinge. The grating lies 

 above the aperture, its free end pointing up stream. 

 The oldest wood should be used in the construction 

 of these traps, so that nothing may tend to scare the 

 ascending fishes. 



This backing up of the water provides a slight fall 

 below, which scours the gravel and invites the atten- 

 tion of any trout in the neighbourhood. They jump 

 the fall with ease, and are thus caught, as, when 

 attempting to return, the light iron grating proves a 

 barrier to their escape. A sort of camp-sheet may be 

 fitted all round to prevent their making burrows for 

 concealment in the bank, and shelters may be provided 

 if the inroads of herons should be feared. An alarm gun 

 may also be used to warn of the approach of poachers. 

 Those made by Mr. Burgess, of Malvern Wells, are 



