CHAP. XI.
Concerning the taking Birds great and small, especially Wild Fowl with Lines, Springs, Strings, Bird-Lime, &c. in Woods, Meadows, [ 40] Splashes and the like.
WHen you have found out any place where Fowl resort, either great or small, observe this Device. Get a good Bundle of Sticks sharp∣ned at one end, and forked at the other, and a∣bout a Foot in length; stick these into the Ground slightly, only to bear up the Lines or Cords of which we come now to speak, and the Sticks [ 50] must be placed in strait Lines, and at equal dist∣ances over the whole Haunt where they resort. You must get such a proportion of Pack-Thread, or small Cord as you intend to use, which must be daubed all over with strong Bird-Lime, if it be for strong Fowl, or that you use it in the Water, otherwise ordinary Bird-Lime may serve. Your Rows of Sticks should not be above Two Yards distance from each other, and the Sticks of such proportions as to support your Lines, which [ 60] must be laid all along over the Forks. You must fasten the ends of your Lines to your last Sticks with slipping-knots, that when any Bird comes to touch on any part of the Line, the whole Line may give way to ensnare it, so that the more the Fowl striveth to get away, the more fast it becometh.
If you set against the Morning, fix your Rods over Night, and set the Lines at least an hour be∣fore Day; for if you go later, 'tis twenty to one but the Fowl will be there before you; and if you set for the Evening, all must be fitted by Sun-Set, or before, lest the Birds finding you there do avoid the Place: And 'tis not amiss that in all these places you embolden the Fowl by strowing some Baits to entice them thither.
If you set in the Water, your Lines should be not above five or six Inches out of the Water, that the Fowl may not touch on them as they Swim to and fro; and you may then fix one end of your Line, and only let the other end be with a runing knot, and so you may be assured of find∣ing what you take. If you set over any Water, your Sticks must be longer or shorter according to the depth of the place. In light Nights this Device is not so good, but in dark and great Fogs it is excellent, for you need not watch them, only re∣pair thither every Morning and Evening, and when you have tried one place you may remove to another Haunt, and still preserve and supply your Sticks, Lime, and Lines as you see occasion.
It were not amiss in case you set for Water-Fowl, that some of your Lines be about two Foot high above the Water, to ensnare the Fowl as they make their flights, not before they de∣scend into the Water; for you cannot but have observed that they use to fly about that distance at such times.