Ferret Line
Ferret line with collar
Name/Title
Ferret LineEntry/Object ID
2025.1.424Description
Leather collar, with metal buckle, attached to a length of thin rope.Context
Ferreting has always been the most favoured way of catching rabbits. The poacher covers the exits holes of the rabbit warren with 'purse' nets'. The ferret then is put into the burrow through a net and the rabbit bolts to an exit with a 'purse' net'. Sometimes, however the ferret will remain underground and eat the rabbit itself. The poacher then has to decide whether to abandon his ferret or extract it by either digging it out or dragging it out on a hook. If neither of these succeed then 'a line ferret' could be sent down to which was attached a small bell. The bell could be heard until the ferret reached the dead rabbit and the other ferret, at which point the poacher knew where to dig for his ferret. To eliminate the problem of killing below ground poachers fitted metal muzzles (see entry Ferret Cope).Category
Game Keepers and Trapping