360 Department of Conservation of Louisiana 



"My trap is simplicity itself; the platform is of wood and. as it 

 floats, it becomes an attraction to passing animals. Floating logs and 

 pieces of wood are frequently natural resting places for muskrats, and, 

 consequently, they will not hesitate to climb on the plaftorm. Once 

 taken, an animal can be removed by working it into a corner, so that 

 the tail will come under the lower edge of the cage part of the trap; 

 seize the tail, raise the cage, and drop the captive alive and unhurt 

 into a sack." 



Mr. Cummins' trap, it will be noticed from the illustra- 

 tion herewith reproduced, can catch two 'rats at a time, if 

 two happen on the platform and bait at the same time. 

 When the cage comes down, the lower edge of the cage can- 

 not smash or otherwise injure the captive's tail, as there is 

 a narrow opening provided for when the cage snaps down. 



The halftone illustration on page 363 shows a cage made 

 up by Donald Campbell and it will be noted that it resem- 

 bles the Cummins trap to a considerable extent. Thd cage 

 is nothing more or less than a galvanized wire dish 

 strainer secured from the 5c and lOq stores. It has been 

 used successfully at Port Rowan and should work equally 

 as well in Louisiana marshes. It will be noted that the 

 "pan" on the trap devised at Port Rowan is quite wide and 

 that there is an absence of a top bar and rod to hold the 

 trap open. It, too, needs baiting. 



Mr. Cummins' trap cost $5. By the time expressage and 

 freight and customs duty is paid, the cost amounts to $10 

 each. Such traps should be built at a cost considerably 

 under $1. The Cummins' trap is now being manufactured 

 in the United States by A. B. Delmage, of the Tide Water 

 Fur Farms, West Point, Virginia, and the inventor informs 

 me that it is to be put on the market at $2.50 each. 



The field for the "sure-fire" live trap is large and ex- 

 periments should be made of all makes and designs offered 

 until the 100 per cent live trap is found. 



A Folding Live Trap From Wisconsin 



Something new in the way of a live trap has just been 

 manufactured by the Folding Trap Company, of Toma- 

 hawk, Wis., which is illustrated (p. 364). A sample trap has 



