A Method of Catching Rabbits, and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 5th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 1st Feb., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Method of Catching Rabbits, and Apparatus therefor.
I, MARY ANN MOONEY of 4 Beaufort Terrace, Commercial Road, Bedford, in the
County of Bedford do hereby declare the nature of my invention for A METHOD OF
CATCHING RABBITS, AND APPARATUS THEREFOR to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to entrap rabbits in such a manner that they may be
caught uninjured, in large numbers at a time, and at a small expenditure, each
apparatus working automatically requiring very little time and attention, and being
especially adapted for use in Australia.
My method is to entrap the rabbits by tempting them to enter an enclosure formed
of movable iron hurdles covered with wire netting each hurdle being furnished with a
sliding shutter also covered with wire netting, which can be caught up and held by a
catch or trigger each catch or trigger being connected by a wire with all the hurdles
in succession, or with as many as it may be desired to work, which said wire may be
pulled at any given time so that all the shutters drop simultaneously, this is to be
effected by the wires being attached to the works of a strong alarum clock the wires
being pulled by the alarum as it runs down. The enclosure is to be set up as near to
the rabbits burrows as convenient, or over growing grain &c. which the animals have
attacked, or it can be moved from place to place as required, the space within the
enclosure may be sown with successional sowings of oats, wheat, &c. or any kind of
food scattered about of which the rabbits are known to be fond, such as fresh dried
wild parsley &c. The shutters are to be caught up just before the rabbits' feeding
time, and the alarum set to run down when they may be expected to be most numerous,
the attendant taking care to keep well away from enclosure while the shutters are up.
When the shutters drop he can enter the enclosure, drive the rabbits into a small
enclosure formed for the purpose and either kill them on the spot or take them to a
central factory where they may be boiled down, skins dressed &c.
Apparatus. Movable iron hurdles of convenient size, say 5 or 6 feet in height
covered with wire netting to within 15 or 16 inches of ground line-or more if desired,
the end of each upright end of iron of hurdle is grooved on the inside from ground
line to double the height of shutter, or the end of hurdle may be slotted for the shutter
to work in. The said shutter is an ifon frame covered with wire netting, and has 4
pulley wheels one being fixed in each corner of iron frame, the grooves in the hurdles
being made to fit the pulley wheels each shutter to be caught up in the centre by a
catch or trigger affixed to the hurdle a wire being attached to, and connecting any
desired number of triggers a corner pulley such as bellhangers use may be placed in
the corners. This wire to be attached to the works of a strong alarum clock (enclosed
in box) so that when the alarum runs down the wire is pulled and the shutters drop
simultaneously thus entrapping all the animals that may be within the enclosure. Å
small enclosure is made in one corner of the large enclosure to drive the rabbits into
to secure or kill them. Electrical apparatus may be used instead of clock-work.
Dated this Fourth day of February 1889.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Method of Catching Rabbits and Apparatus therefor.
I, MARY ANNE MOONEY of 4 Beaufort Terrace, Commercial Road, Bedford, in the
County of Bedford do hereby declare the nature of my invention for A METHOD OF
CATCHING RABBITS AND APParatus thereFOR and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
This invention is more especially designed for use in the Australian Colonies and
elsewhere where rabbits are numerous, the object being to catch them uninjured and
in large numbers at a time.
An enclosure (Fig. 1) is formed of any shape and the rabbits are then temptal to
enter it by senttering any kind of bait such as dried wild parsloy, celery, celery seed or
anisesees erushed and made into cakes &c. or the enclosure may be sot up over growing
corn. The hurdles, of convenient size and length of which the enclosure is composed,
are to be made of iron or word and covered with wire netting to within 15 or
16 inches of ground line; the end of each upright and of hurdle is grooved on the
inside from ground line to double the height of shutter, or the end of hurdle may be
slotted for the shutters to drop in. The said shutter is an iron or wooden frame
covered with wire netting, and is fitted with 4 pulley wheels, one being fixed in each
corner of shutter, the grooves in the hurdles being made to fit the pulley wheels (Fig. 5),
A small pad of india rubber is fitted in the bottom of groove to lessen concussion and
prevent noise. The shutter is caught up and held by a trigger or catch, each catch or
trigger being connected by a copper wire with the trigger or catch of the next hurdle
and so on in succession through as many hurdles as desired; one end of the wire to
be fixed on screws set in the triggers (Fig. 6) so that the wires may be easily
tightened as required to allow the same tension to exist throughout the line of shutters the
other end of wire to he fastened into trigger (Fig. 6). The wireut one end of enclosure
to be attached to the works of a strong alarm clock which on running down liberates a
lever and allows all the shutters to drop simultaneously at any time the clock may be
set to run down, or the wire may be wound on a drum attached to the clockwork
which would wind up as the alarm wheel runs down, and thus liberate the shatters.
The clock-work to be enclosed in strong Lox.
A portable apparatus of wood or iron for the use of rabbit catchers in the "bush
is made of lenglus of fish-netting, say of 50 yards run attached to standards fitted
with slots for lars to fit into (Fig. 7). The row of standards for the shutters to work
in to be grooved in the same manner as the hurdies, the shutters also being mule as
for the hurdles and covered with wire netting. The advantage of using fish netting
in the bush being that it may be pegged down over the inequalities of the ground and
can be used in any position the row of shutters only requiring level ground; these
should be sel as near to the rabbits' burrows as possible and the method of catching
is this. Bait the trap for or 6 nights or mornings about their feeding time, let
them feed and go away then when they have gained confidence they will flock in
great numbers and then when they are feeding the shutters should be set to drop,
and the attendant knowing the time at which they will be caught can then enter
the enclosure and kill them or take them away before they have time to escapo
by burrowing and as they cannot possibly get away to communicate with others (us
they undoubtedly do) they may be caught successively in great numbers-the great
point being to gain their confidence before allowing the shutters to drop.
;
Some of the hurdles forming the enclosure may be covered with wire or fish-
netting entirely for the purpose of pegging-down and only a portion of the hurdles
fitted with shutters (Fig. 1).
It will be found necessary to attach heavy weights to the clockwork to work a large
number of shutters.

page_text: Fig. 1. Sketch of enclosure of hurdles ; A, plain hurdles, or standards and movable
bars covered with wire or fish netting; B hurdles fitted with shutters; C small
enclosure; d box containing clockwork.
Fig. 5. Plan of hurdle showing slot and pulley wheel i; H shutter.
;
Fig. 6. Trigger Goatch for holding up shutter; / hole for attaching wire; m hole
for screw to tighten up wire.
Fig. 8. Elevation of hurdle with shutter H suspended; G catch; N pivot hole;
P screw for tightening up wire; O hole through which wire is passed; y rubber pad.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim
is:-
1. A method of entrapping rabbits in an enclosure (Fig. 1) by means of apparatus
furined of hurdles (Figs. 2 and 3) or standards and netting and fitted with movable
bars (Fig. 4).
2. Hurdle (Fig. 2 and 3) fitted with shutter H which has pulley wheels attached,
these being fitted to run in grooves in hurdle, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the shutter
being held up by trigger (Fig. 6) which has wires attached for connecting the adjoining
hurdle, substantially and as herein-before described.
3. Pulley wheels fitted in groove of hurdle.
4. Wire connecting all the hurdles being attached to and liberated by clockwork to
allow the shutters to drop at a given time simultaneously.
5. A simultaneously dropping row of shutters fitted to run on pulley wheels in
groove of hurdle (Fig. 2) all connected by wires & worked by clockwork substantially
and as herein before described and shown in drawings.
Dated this 5th day of November 1889.
MARY ANNE MOONEY.