WORK FOR RAINY DAYS 287 



The keeper always has a supply of odd jobs on hand 

 to occupy his time on a soaking wet day, or when a 



snow-storm rages. He has always plenty to 

 Work for d o but much of his work cannot be done 

 Day^ properly in bad weather, and to work out of 



doors on a wet day may be as much a waste of 

 time as to work indoors on a fine day on matters of no 

 moment. It would be foolish to go ferreting in heavy 

 rain nets become soaked, rabbits will not bolt, and 

 digging for ferrets in soft mud is heart-breaking 

 work ; at the end of the day, while there may be a 

 few rabbits that look as if they have been bathing in 

 mud, there is all the tackle to be dried for the next 

 day. Then again, it would be sheer waste of time 

 to stop rabbit-burrows when snow has freshly fallen, 

 for half the holes would be hidden, and the work would 

 have to be done over again. It pays to wait until the 

 next day, when rabbits have been out to feed and the 

 holes are seen easily. 



When he decides to stay under cover the keeper 

 hardly knows where to begin, as he looks about his 

 store-houses and sheds. Here are traps that should 

 be cleaned and overhauled, broken chains to be 

 mended, bent parts to be carefully straightened a 

 little judicious filing and a drop of oil are needed here 

 and there to make all parts work together smoothly 

 and swiftly. Snares must be overhauled and sorted, 

 the sound ones to be neatly shaped so that the noose 

 stays open ready for use, and each one must be fitted 

 with its string, teeler, and plug. A supply of new 



