AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 



31 



WINTER WOLF-SKALLS, 



Or the manner of destroying Wolves in Sweden ; with 

 Anecdotes of these ferocious animals. 



WoLF-SKALLS are not uiifrequent during the winter, 

 in the vicinity of Stockholm. These, as I have said, are 

 conducted at that period of the year in a very different 

 manner to what is usual in the summer time. I had hoped 

 to have been a spectator on one of these occasions, but un- 

 fortunately no chasse took place during my stay in the 

 capital. 



There is a skall-plats, or hunting place, for Wolves, 

 situated at less than four miles from Stockholm. This is 

 an area marked out in the forest by a pathway of about 

 four paces in width. It is in the form of a sugar loaf, and 

 two thousand four hundred fathoms, or four thousand eight 

 hundred yards, in circumference. In the centre of the 

 area, the lure, or carrion, to attract the Wolves, was de- 

 posited; at its upper end are five screens, or lodges; these 

 are intended for the accommodation of the sportsmen when 

 a skaU takes place; that in the centre is reserved for the 

 use of such parts of the royal family as may think proper 

 to participate in the amusement. 



As soon as the snow falls, this skall-plats is watched 

 botli night and day by persons appointed for the purpose. 

 WHien, therefore, it is discovered by the tracks that a suf- 

 ficient number of Wolves ai'e congregated at the carrion, a 

 singular expedient is adopted to prevent those animals 

 again retreating from the area. 



This is effected by extending a piece, or rather many 

 pieces of canvass (Jagtlyg,) on poles previously driven 

 into the ground for the purpose, around the whole skall- 

 plats. On this are painted, in very glaring colours, the 

 heads of men, animals, &c. If the Wolves be once sur- 

 rounded by this artificial barrier, it is said that the hideous 

 figures, thus dangling in the wind, usually deter those ani- 

 mals from leaving the place. 



As every thing is in readiness on the sj)ot, this operation 

 ought not to occupy more than two hours: when it is com- 

 pleted, information is sent off to the authorities, and the 

 requisite number of people to form the cordon is instantly 

 ordered out. 



When the men are assembled, a line of circumvallation 

 is at once formed about the area. The nets are now set up 

 around the smaller end of the skall-plats ; these may be 

 about seven feet in height, and may extend for one thou- 

 sand, or one thousand five hundred paces in length. The 

 people at this point remain stationary, whilst those who 

 are placed at the broader extremity of the figure advance 

 upon their comrades. There are several pathways across 



the plats, cut through the trees, and on reaching these the 

 driving division halts and rectifies disorders. Thus the 

 Wolves, or other wild beasts, are gradually forced towards 

 the skreens, or lodges, where they are of course readily 

 slaughtered. 



The aboA-e plan of killing Wolves in the winter season is 

 adopted in many parts of Sweden. 



Mr. Greiff has treated rather fully upon the several ways 

 in which Wolves may be destroyed. I subjoin a few of 

 that gentleman's observations regarding the winter-skalls. 



" The inducement to form a place of lure, must be de- 

 rived from the reports which come in to the governor from 

 the county, of the damage done by wild beasts during the 

 summer. 



"Wlien the Ofwer Jagmastare, or head forest ranger, has 

 received intelligence on the preceding point, he examines 

 the woods in those tracts where the Wolves have done 

 most damage, and have probably whelped, and makes 

 choice of the most suitable spot on which a place of lure 

 can be formed. 



"A suitable spot means one which is covered with a 

 tolerably thick wood of large trees, especially spruce, 

 where the ground is undulating, and which contains fens 

 and mosses; and of such great extent, that the pathway 

 (Skallgatan) does not pass over fields or plains which pre- 

 vent the tracing of the animals, after a fall of snow or sleet. 

 The wood must be left quiet from passengers, or woods- 

 men, during the time of hunting, or, in other words, the 

 winter season; and should be situated neai- the centre of 

 the parish, whose peasants are to form the skall. A cot- 

 tage should be near the place, that the under-huntsmen may 

 find quarters, and have opportunity to call up in haste the 

 men employed to fasten on the Jagttyg, or hunting-clotli, 

 by which the daily watch of a whole division of the coun- 

 try for this purpose will he avoided. 



"The hewing down of the trees, for the purpose of 

 forming the skall-plats, or place of lure, should take place 

 in the month of August or September, when the assistance 

 of the authorities must be required. If the wood is not of 

 the thickest and heaviest kind, the skall-plats should be 

 ready in two to three days, with thirty to forty labourers 

 per day." 



Mr. Greiff then describes the manner in which the skall- 

 plats is to be prepared; but as the particulars would proba- 

 bly prove little interesting to the reader, I have thought it 

 best to omit them. 



Mr. Greiff goes on to say : " When the skall-plats is 

 ready, it must be kept undisturbed by the woodsmen and 

 from all noise. 



"In the month of October, when the peasants begin to 

 kill their worn-out horses, the head ranger gives tliem inti- 



