Activate Javascript or update your browser for the full Digital Library experience.
Previous Page
–
Next Page
Full Title
How to make and set traps : Including hints on how to trap moles, weasels, otter, rats, squirrels and birds. Also how to cure skins / by J. Harrington Keene.
Author
Keene, J. Harrington.
Date Added
9 January 2014
Format
Journal
Language
English
Publish Date
1902
Publisher
New York : Frank Tousey
Series
Ten cent handbooks > no. 40
Source
Dime Novel and Popular Literature
Alternate Title
Ten cent handbooks -- no. 40
Topic
Trapping > Handbooks, manuals, etc. Hunting > Handbooks, manuals, etc. Hides and skins > Handbooks, manuals, etc.
About
More Details Permanent Link
Disclaimers
Disclaimer of Liability Disclaimer of Endorsement
OCR
Ty apne
my
a!
AM sitar alba tn, - -
. en a
HOW TO MAKE AND SE@ ‘TRAPS, 19
‘oily substance exceedingly bad smelling. Pour some of this
y» (on arag and drag it about from a common center where the
e |
—
TAtseocos ety
4
w
mers
. V
\ trap is, ‘and indeed it is well to drag it after one as the traps
, are seen to successively. The trap bait should be roasted
salt fish. A-kippered herring dves famously, and a few drops
of oil of aniseed can be put on the bait. I have known this
to be exceedingly successful.
_A similar sort of treatment is necessary for.the water-rat.
: There is, however, but little necessity to use baits if the trap
‘ibe set under water at the spot where the creature emerges.
‘The precise place can be easily seen, and its freshness or
istaleness as a ‘*run” be determined in the same way as Lhat
ief a brown rat. The water-rat is easily distinguished from
“; its cousin the brown by the tail of the former being covered
¢ with hairjand that of the,latter with scales, of which, there are
200 rows. It must ;not be supposed, however, because
*\the Water-rat derives its living from the water chiefly that it
(is not adestructive. creature inland. A very interesting
‘i writer says: ‘“* We have seen water-rats cross a wide meadow,
‘climb the statks of the dwarf beans, and after detaching the
-{ pods with their teeth, shell the beans in a most woman-like
.( manner.” They are also said to mount vines und feed on
I ) grapes, and I can_ verify that they are fond of plums from
~ the following incident:
1 Between my study window and the margin of a stream at
“ the foot of my garden stand two tall trees of the bullace plum,
i; und this year they have been unusually full of fruit. I placed
a ladder against one of the trees in order to pick the plums,
but ram or some other interference prevented my doing so at -
‘the intended time; thus the ladder remained for some » days. :
Now I havea large. tabby cat, and besides a good rat-killer
_ she is fond of birds, and strangely enough will climb trees
and spring ata bird within reach, in nine cases out of ten
falling to the ground with her captive in her mouth. As Isat
writing one morning Tabby mounted her coign of vantage by
means of the ladder, and scaled to the topmost height, .en-
joying the sunshine, and not, I fancy, on-this occasion wait-
:,, ing for prey. However, ood things come when least ex-
ay pected, and presently Tabby and I both beheld a large water-
4 ' rat—unseen by the latter, of course—approach the ladder,
~ and aftec peering slyly round, began to mount it, which he
did with remarkable agility. On reaching the first large
branch he stepped on it, and without the least hesitation made
for a cluster of the plums and hegan his feast. I told you
Tabby saw him as well as I, and I would have given much
too if she had not. As Mr. Rat sat absorbed with his back
to her, like a jungle. leopard, creeping with silent certainty
on its innocent, unsuspecting prey, Tabby slowly approached,