THE STEEL-TRAP DISGRACE To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.
SIR,—Since I have lived in a " Steel Trap Country " I have observed that the lazy man, who is not a true artist at rabbit-catching, gets the required result by the use of steel traps ; thus among the lazy, the inefficient, and the cruel, steel traps become more and more popular.
There are two schbols of thought on this question : the hunting population, and the members of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to. Animals: The latter, in some individual cases, consider hunting cruel. The former are in most cases ardent supporters' of prevention of cruelty to animals So, side-stepping- the question of the cruelty of hunting, let the two schools meet on the field of agreement and join issue hi doing away with the steel trap. To "do this, one thing is absolutely necessary, and that is that supporters of the motion prohibit its use in every instance.
Even if a badger does dig up a flower-bed, and the gardener, keeper, or trapper is ordered to get rid of the beast, it must be made perfectly clear that not even in such a case is a steel trap to be used, even if it is taken up at dawn ! No, if we are to get rid of this instrument of torture, it must be by absolute prohibition of its use.
To this end I propose that every hunt throughout the country selects one of its members, together with the local representative of the R.S.P.C.A., and that they prepare a paper, as follows : " Certified that I will do my utmost to discourage the use of the steel trap ; that no servant or other person employed by me shall be allowed to set one on any land or in any building of which I have possession or over which I have control, and that no contracts for the killing of rabbits will be given by me to the users of steel traps. Further, that I will transfer my custom from any shop or stores where steel traps are on sale." Then let the Master of Hounds give the lead and sign this, followed by the secretary and the members of the hunt, before the next day's hunting.
• Those interested in the R.S.P.C.A. will surely all sign in a body, and, by personal influence of all parties, many others will follow suit and sign also. I would suggest that these lists be put up on church doors for all to sign and see, in the same manner that lists of holders of gun and game licences are posted up ; and, if this were done throughout the country, I am convinced that one of the greatest engines of cruelty would very soon disappear.—I am, Sir, Bre., A CORRESPONDENT.
[Sir William Beach Thomas deals with the steel-trap problem in his weekly article on page 453. No words of ours can express our detestation for the steel trap. Here is a problem which is surely non-controversial.—ED. Spectator.]
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