A NEW ANIMAL TRAP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2509, 16 April 1902, Page 25

A NEW ANIMAL TRAP.

We have been shown the drawings of a new '" automatic trap for animals," the patent for which has been applied for by Mr H. M Davey ; acting on behalf of Mr A. Espie, of this city, and if all that the inventor claims on its behalf can be successfully accomplished it should prove most useful in assisting to cope with the rabbit pest. Trappers and farmers are aware of that fact that bunny will travel miles -to get into a I kitchen garden or a nice grass paddock, and ] in tin* contrivance the idea is to save them the trouble of travelling farther than their own back door. The garden will be planted and fenced securely with rabbitpioof fencing-, and let into the ground to a depth under which the rabbits will not burrow. Two sides of the fence, from the bottom to half-way up to the top, will be lifted and. held in position by a catch, which will be released by a clockwork contrivance, and the elevated portion of the fence will fall into its proper place and imprison everything within the four walls of the enclosure. | The^clock can be wound up the same as any ordinary alarum clock, and be made to release the catch at any moment the trapper desires. By this means it is claimed that once the traps are properly set one man can do what it now requires 20 men, working 100 traps daily, to accomplish. To the squatter this means an immense saving per annum, and the first cost of the new invention is the only" one, as they are of a permanent nature. To the farmer and settler ' who sows his crop of turnips di- grass the ' cost of fencing will, it is claimed, be made un by the catching of rabbits for the market, without in any way damaging his crop , or fences or retarding his usual avocation, i The invention has been shown, to numbers ] of practical men well hq in. the rabbit auea*

tion, and also in the habits and manner? of bunny, and one and all are unanimous that, ths idea is perfectly feasible, and calculated! ti do good work in the country. Another advantage claimed is that weather ha* no effect, as the trap 3 can be used in all sorts of weather— wer, cold, or snow. The patentrights have also been applied for in the i Commonwealth of Australia and Canada, and . also in the United States.