Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-01-08


with meat or liver until he is an old
hand at the business. You will then
have ferret that will be the envy of
the neighborhood. Sometimes the
best animals will take fit and ''lay
up, that is to say, they will refuse to
come out, and in such case the best
way is to make nest of grass or leaves
at one end, and bank both ends up
with sod of grass. The next morn.
ing, or possibly as you return, the
ferret will be found curled up on the
bed waiting for his master.
The question of muzzling ferret is
always lively matter of argument.
Most of the muzzles used are totally
untitled for use, and one might as rea-
sonably expect race horse to run
with plowing collar around his neck
as to expect ferret to do good work
with one of the made -to-sell monstros-
tiles on his nose. A muzzle should
consist of five light, soft leather straps,
which are put together SO one forms
the ring of the snout, the others lying
one along the nose, one under the
chin, one around the nose near the
eyes and the last encircling the neck
close behind the ears. If you cannot
make one yourself take the little fell
low to harness maker and get him
interested in the matter, and he will
turn out muzzle that will fit like a
lady's glove, and the ferret will work
comfortably and we'll. Remember al.
ways that the animal is obeying a
natural instinct when he hunts and
that your aim is to assist him as much
as you can.
As to working them with bells am
not SO prejudiced. If the grass or
underground is thick one must either
have bells or very great watchfulness,
as it ruins ferret to let him run
around loose, even for very few min.
utes, and that is what he will do if he
gets out of an earth without being
seen. The objection to bells is that
the sound travels long way through
the ground, and if there are any other
passages with rabbits in them they
will all "git up and git" while the
hunter is occupied with one. If they
are used they should be of the tiniest
model of sleigh bell procurah'e, and
should be slung on to a v, light
strap, care being taken in putting the
collar on that the bells are so arranged
that the buckle comes under the chin,
and the bells one each side and one in
the middle of the back of the neck
If the bells hang under the chin they
are in the way and half the time they
cannot sound, while if properly dis.
posed ON the collar the weight of the
buckle will keep them on the back of
the neck, where they will do most
good.
AS most rabbits bolted from earth
are shot within twenty-yard range,
the gun must either be cylinder bore
or must be so loaded as to produce
what is called scatter" shooting, and
what is more it must be hard-hitting
gun, for the furry fellow takes lot
of killing, and frequently gets away
with quite load of shot on board.
The orthodox load is one ounce and a
quarter of No. shot and three
drachms and half of powder, using
thick wads over the powder; but many
good men prefer No. A shot, and un.
hesitatingly use wood u smokeless
powder in the second barrel, if not in
both. This is very. Important on a
misty morning, when smoke from
black powder hangs around. Arrange.
ments to include fair rabbit shooting
and board may be obtained as low as
twelve dollars per week, and a personal
visit will arrange for any number OF
odd days ON about the same terms.
Rabbit shooting obtained this way
beats tramping unknown ground Out
of sight. New York Recorder.