266 THE KEEPER'S BOOK 



this be well hidden by the grass, heather, or what not ; 

 then give a hitch or bend to the centre of the wire to hold 

 the same in a loop just four inches in diameter. Next, 

 stick the carrying peg in the ground to hold the loop 

 (which should just easily go round your closed fist) at 

 an acute angle to the run, also in the grass at the side, 

 or otherwise concealed, four inches from the ground, and 

 with the runner of the noose on the low side, so that the 

 loop may run easily along the wire. Properly set, the 

 catchloop should stand up at right angles, or nearly so, 

 from the support peg, elevated above the surplus wire. 

 If the latter be at the top, the noose will not run so 

 freely ; this can advantageously be hidden with bits of 

 cut grass, leaves, etc., as also may the string which con- 

 nects the wire with the holding peg." 



Netting may be practised either by the small bag 

 net attached outside a rabbit-hole, or by the long net. 

 The first is used, of course, with a ferret. The long 

 net is familiar and needs no description. It is used 

 outside covers and is worked at night. 



Poaching the Rabbit 



The planting of thorns near to rabbit runs is of value 

 in counteracting net-poaching. Where the long net is 

 used by poachers or farmers, it is as well for the keepers 

 to forestall them by arranging a shoot in this method : 

 Have a shoot with the long net and let the rabbits away, 

 then a second shoot on the same principle, and it will be 



