602 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



bank, stuck his head into it and remained there. He was prodded up 

 with a stick, but would not move, seemingly considering himself out 

 of sight and protected. 



The plan of management provides for the restocking of all streams 

 of sufficient size in which beavers do not at present exist, and along 

 which there is sufficient aspen or other food for them. There are 

 only five such streams on the Forest. It is hoped to continue the 

 with the cooperation of the State if it can be secured. If not, and 

 authority is granted us, it is hoped to carry on a small amount of this 

 work each year, incidental to regular duties, until it is completed, or 

 until at least a pair is placed in each stream. Judging from the results 

 of three transplanted in Itasca Park, Minnesota, in 1000, and the rate 

 at which they are thought to be increasing here, it is not thought that 

 a large nucleus will be necessary ; but if sufficient cooperation is ex- 

 tended by the State in the way of furnishing a professional trapper to 

 assist, it is thought that four to six per stream would be better. This 

 would serve to bring up production in the shortest period of time and 

 serve to show what improvement in stream conditions can be expected 

 from the ranchmen's point of view. A clear demonstration of the 

 stabilizing effect upon the stream flow of beaver activities will be of 

 value in fixing their place. 



It is planned as an experiment to try to catch them with a woven - 

 wire crate or net placed with the opening over the entrance to the 

 house or to the entrance of the den in case of bank beaver, first 

 closing up the other one of the two entrances. Then, by poking them 

 up in their den, it is proposed to force them out and into the net. This 

 should work during the daytime, since from what information there is 

 available they remain in the dens or houses during the day, and are 

 not easily disturbed. This has been talked over with one or two of 

 the local trappers who think it feasible. If it fails, the wire-corral 

 method will be used. 



Also, in undertaking any future work, it is planned to catch the 

 beaver earlier in the season, preferably about the first of August, since 

 high water is then over, making it easier to trap them, and allowing 

 the planted specimens more time to become located, build a house, and 

 store food before winter sets in. 



The work was done on contributed time. The cost in contributed 

 time is high owing to the work being new and in a more or less ex- 

 perimental stage. An attempt was first made to trap the beaver from 



