DISEASES AND ENEMIES. 55 



places where the muskrats go into the ponds. They will 

 make a little bare path, or run on the edge of the bank, 

 by always going in and out at the same place. Then 

 set a trap (a common game trap, such as is sold in all coun- 

 try stores) in the water, so that tlie plate of the trap will 

 come in the middle of the run and about a half inch under 

 water, taking care to place the jaws of the trap in such a 

 direction that when shut they will be in a line with the 

 run. Then stake the chain into deep water. No bait is 

 necessary. If any bait is used, a sweet apple or parsnip 

 is good. The muskrat comes throui^h his run, steps on the 

 pan of the trap and springs it. He tries to take it with 

 him to the shore. If he su(;ceeds in doing this, he will 

 likely get out in some way ; for instance, if he is caught by 

 the leg, he will sit down and knaw it off, in order to get 

 free. But as the trap is staked out into the water, he can- 

 not get to shore, and will be drowned by his struggles and 

 by the weight of the trap, for he cannot survive under 

 water very long without rising to the surface for a supply 

 of air. 



Water snakes cannot do any damage to the large Trout, 

 and even the small Trout are too much for them, unless 

 they are very thick, or are in a very small pond. We 

 have seen the large Trout in our ponds dart and apparently 

 attempt to bite a snake, which was passing through. They 

 exhibited no fear of the snake ; but the snake certainly did 

 appear to be afraid of them. Undoubtedly they will eat 

 the small fish if they can catch them. We have often 

 opened snakes, caught about our ponds and creek, but never 

 found any Trout in them ; so the danger from snakes can 

 not be very great, except to the very young fish. Frogs 

 have a very bad name ; but. we think, do not eat the fish 

 very much, although they will certainly eat all the little 

 ones they can get hold of. Even if they do no injury, they 

 are not of any advantage, and may as well be disposed of. 



