Possible Clues:

• Caught, went round the bend
• Caught in position with no escape, like rat
• Got sole trading rights to wheat before the beginning of December
• Caught angling, perhaps
• Gosh, dweeb pocketing drug gets caught!
• In an awkward position
• Put in an awkward situation
• Company taking on sailors, earl and socialist was put in a difficult position
• Put in a difficult situation, as sat away from second-rater
• Enclosed crop before the beginning of December