AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 
31 
WINTER W OLF-SK ALLS, 
Or the manner of destroying Wolves in Sweden ; with 
Anecdotes of these ferocious animals. 
Wolf-skalls are not unfrequent 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 skall 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 
both night and day by persons appointed for the purpose. 
When, therefore, it is discovered by the tracks that a suf- 
ficient number of Wolves are 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 (Jagttyg,) 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 spot, 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 above 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. 
“When the Ofwer Jagmastare, or head forestranger, 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 near 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-cloth, 
by which the daily watch of a whole division of the coun- 
try for this purpose will be 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 them inti- 
