264 THE KEEPER'S BOOK 



by Mr. Carnegie in his volume on Trapping, who ap- 

 pends to his recommendation this clear description of its 

 qualities : "The spring is the most important part of the 

 trap, is thoroughly well tempered and strong, but, never- 

 theless, easily pressed down when the trap is set. The 

 flap and catch and other important parts in which most 

 makers fail are of copper, and do not wear away like 

 iron, nor do they rust, which would clog the trap and 

 prevent it acting. The plate is square, with the four 

 corners taken off, and is of zinc, being so fitted as to be 

 level with the jaws when set. These latter are thick 

 and rounded, the teeth fitting one into another, though 

 not closely, a space of one-eighth of an inch being left 

 between. The teeth should on no account be sharp or 

 pointed, as their being so tends to break the leg and cut 

 the sinews, thus liberating the rabbit ; nor should the 

 teeth be continued round the turn of the jaw. ... In 

 order to prevent the rabbit, when caught, drawing the 

 trap away, the back piece of the gin is furnished with a 

 hole at the end, through which a chain about a foot long 

 is attached by means of an S hook. The chain should 

 have about eight links, with a swivel in the middle, 

 and a ring of one and a quarter inch diameter at the end. 

 It is purchasable apart from the trap, and should 

 be well tested, as the weakness will be found where 

 least looked for, viz. in the swivel, and this should 

 always be examined. The ring is for a stake, which 

 is driven to hold the trap. The best wood for this 

 is ash, which should be cut in lengths of eighteen 



