Final answer:
General Zaroff catches his prey by misleading ships with deceptive lighting, causing them to wreck upon the rocks near his island.
Step-by-step explanation:
The character General Zaroff in the story catches his prey by tricking ships into wrecking on the rocks near his island. He accomplishes this by manipulating lights that normally guide ships to safety, thereby blinding them and their ship, leading them to disaster. This cruel method allows Zaroff to then capture the stranded individuals for his hunting games. He does not use any of the methods listed in the options provided. Instead, he sets traps, uses his hunting dogs, and employs his knowledge of the island terrain to capture his prey. General Zaroff is a skilled and cunning hunter, which makes him a formidable adversary to his victims.