24 CAPONS FOR PROFIT. 
keep the lance well sharpened. The knife as made 
by some manufacturers has a straight edge. I pre- 
fer to have it well rounded, as then you can make 
the incision with one dip, and yet without having to 
go very deep with the point as you have to do with 
the straight-edged knife. 
Next you need aspreader. A whale-bone spreader 
was formerly much used. We now have wire spring 
spreaders that are much simpler, and 
much more convenient to use. In 
fact, I think the simpler the spreader is, the better. 
The one shown in Fig. 4 gives good satisfaction. 
The Spreader. 
Fig. 4. SPRING SPREADER. 
Still simpler and cheaper is the wire spreader shown 
in Fig. 5. There are various other styles of spreaders 
ZY ° 
Fie, 5. Wire SPREADER. 
that can be safely used, but those here illustrated 
are as serviceable as any, and have the advantage 
of simplicity. 
Next comes a pair of nippers, or forceps, some- 
thing like Fig. 6. It is used to hold a 
little piece of sponge with which to mop 
up blood inside the capon, or to pick up any stray 
The Nippers. 
