10 



FARMERS^ BULLETIN 832. 



trap a little deeper than the level of the bottom of the runway, for 

 the tendency of a mole is to pass under rather than to one side of a 

 break or obstruction in its burrow. Having definitely located the 

 course of the runway, fill hi enough loose earth to hide and obstruct 

 the passage, and settle the trap snugly into place, the jaws straddling 

 the course. Tap the trigger pan down with the end of the trowel 

 handle and lastly, release the safety hook thnt holds together the 



_ , - ^ bows of the trap. Do 



IfS^^^^P^ not pack the earth in 

 ^ ' ~ the excavation nor fill 

 in dirt higher than the 

 top of the jaws. 



Choicer-loop traps. — 

 In setting the choker- 

 loop trap (fig. 8) less 

 attention need be 

 given the matter of 

 getting the soil fine 

 and loose. The loops 

 may be firmly forced 

 mto the ground with 

 the certainty that 

 they will react 

 promptly when the 

 trap is sprmig. Traps 

 of this type will also 

 stand up to the work 

 better than the other 

 when used in heavy 

 clay or gravelly soils. 

 When placed in position on a mole runway the loops should encircle 

 its course and reach a httle deeper than the level of the bottom of the 

 run. Before setting the trap in the place prepared for it fill in enough 

 loose earth to come up against the frame. A convenient way of get- 

 ting the trap into position is to hold the end of the trigger wire down 

 with the left thmnb, the fingers grasping the spring arm. Then with 

 the free right hand compress the damp soil beneath the trigger pan, or 

 place a little piece of sod under it, so that the two will be in snug 

 contact when the setting is completed. 



SKINNING MOLES AND HANDLING THE PELTS. 



The process of skinning a mole is very simple and with a little prac- 

 tice one should be able to put eight or ten pelts an hour on the drying 

 boards. The skin envelops the body of the animal rather loosely, 



Fig. 7.— Scissor-jaw, or gripping-jaw trap. Phantom view, showing its 

 position in relation to a deeper runway of the mole. Soil must be 

 loosened with trowel and freed from obstructions, as sticks, stones, or 

 clods, in order that the trap may act quickly. The jaws must straddle 

 the course of the runway. 



