116 TRAPPING THE ONLY EFFECTUAL, 



Cats, martins, and fowmartes are easily trapped. Plant a 

 circle of twigs about three yards round, the twigs a foot and 

 a half long and close to each other, placing the same bait as 

 for a fox in the centre, but without any covering ; leave two 

 openings at opposite sides just large enough for the trap. 

 You may also set with baits hanging on the stem of a tree 

 a few twigs placed on either side to prevent the vermin 

 sneaking in there, and so carrying off the bait. Box-traps 

 are very good for stoats or weasels, but as they are gener- 

 ally set in the low grounds, where pole-cats also abound, I 

 prefer an iron rat-trap with a strong spring ; having found 

 that the fowmarte constantly pushed up the lid of the other, 

 and so escaped. The rat-trap will hold a pole-cat, and do 

 little or no injury to cattle or dogs. The bait should be 

 hung upon a twig immediately above, and almost out of 

 reach of the weasels. 



Stoats, and especially weasels, are often seen in great 

 abundance in summer. They may then be very easily shot, 

 as you have only to imitate the squeak of a mouse to bring 

 them close to you. I once, when without a gun, decoyed one 

 so far away from its retreat that I killed it with my stick. 

 Should the keeper see a weasel, all he has to do is, with as 

 much speed as possible, to cut a small piece from any of his 



terriers. When occasion offered, they were to join packs, and collect the best shots 

 (alias, the greatest poachers) in the neighbourhood. I can only say, without in the 

 least impugning the motives or honesty of intention of the projector, that if the 

 Highland proprietors suffer a gang of this kind to take the hill at pleasure, they will 

 soon hardly have a head of game on their estates. As to allowing farmers to keep 

 greyhounds, terriers, &c., no gentleman who sets any value on his grouse or hares 

 would ever think of it. 



