Forget rats and eels, this is the creel thing

During the course of the summer, I’ve written at length about the various traps and cages I made to while away the lengthy lockdown (Trappings of success in rat-catching quest, 24 June, and Use a sheep to snare an eel, 22 July). Some of these traps met with success, but the design and execution of other projects left a great deal to be desired.

I relished the triumph of catching rats and mice, then reminisced about the days when it was easy to catch eels in a home-made wicker basket trap. Making traps is a good way to pass the time, and the various demands of catching different species mean that you always have to stay one step ahead of the game.

And all the while, I circled around