NETS AND ACCESSORIES. 185 



tioii of a half circle, one net slightly overlapping the other when closed, 

 as shown in Fig. II. The four points, of each net formed by the two 

 cheeks (/) and two heel-pins (e) are on a straight line. The nets are 

 stretched tight over tops of staffs (b) which have socket attachment and 

 work on wire in cheek as a pivot or hinge. The tension on pull-line 

 will keep the nets straight and even, except when a strong wind blows 

 across them, in which case the arm of pull-line is shortened or a pulley 

 (j) attached. 



A DESCRIPTION OF THE PARTS. 



The nets should be made of linen material, about the size of No. 35 

 gilling-thread, of a dark, dirty-green color, the size of mesh being thir- 

 teen-sixteenths of an inch from knot to knot, or 15 knots to a foot. A 

 convenient and serviceable size of net would be 30 feet long by 7 feet 

 deep, to use with 4 foot staffs. They should be provided with an arm- 

 ing of heavier cord at the top and bottom edges, which the top line (c, 

 Fig. I) should be threaded through at top, and to form a stout edging 

 to permit of pegging to the ground at bottom. 



The top-line of net should be a fine linen cord, about one-eighth of an 

 inch thick, provided at ends with a small wooden clamp (i, Fig. I) sim- 

 ilar to those used upon tents ; and at the place where the net ends on 

 the top line, one or more loops or eyes should be spliced, to admit the 

 button on top of staff, and also to fasten the arms of pull-line into. 



The pull-line should be of same material as top-line, with diverging 

 arms at end next the net. It should be about 40 yards long, which is 

 the average distance to stand from the middle of net while operating it. 

 A round piece of wood, about 4 inches long, is temporarily fastened to 

 it to permit of taking a good grip in pulling. 



The staffs should be about 4 feet long and three quarters of an inch in 

 diameter, of some light, strong wood, with brass socket and eye (a, Fig. 

 Ill) at bottom, and button and ridge (b, Fig. Ill), also of brass, at top. 



The cheeks (a, Fig. IV) are wedge-shaped stakes averaging 9 inches 

 long, with wire (No. 10) driven in about an inch from top, which at a 

 projection of an inch is bent upw r ard for about an inch. They should 

 be made of hickory or other hard wood, and the wire should fit in the 

 wood so snugly as to baiely permit of being moved with the fingers. 



The heel-pins (b, Fig. IV) should also be made of hard wood, about 18 

 inches long, and 1 inch in diameter at thickest part, tapering to a point, 

 with projection at top to prevent cord from slipping off. 



The crooks (c, Fig. IV), which are used for staking the bottom edge 

 of net to the ground, are cut from the branches of some hard wood tree, 

 the long end beiug about G inches in length. 



The bobber [1, Fig. V), which is used in connection with fly-stick for rais- 

 ing and flying braced bird, is constructed as follows : a is a piece of hard 

 wood 2 J inches long, half an inch thick, and five-eighths of an inch wide ; 

 & is a piece of No. 10 wire that when bent so as to form an eye at top 

 is 9 inches long, and passes through a, leaving a space of half an inch 



