194 



FIFTY YEARS A HUNTER AND TRAPPER. 



where it is entirely impracticable to make the set with a long spring 

 trap. Another advantage that the "jump" trap has over the bow 

 or long spring trap is its comparison to the long spring trap in 

 shipping by express. This, if going on a long journey, to your 

 trapping grounds, is not safe by frieght, as the trapping season 

 may be over before your traps reach you. Still another advantage 

 is the amount of room saved in packing, for you can pack two 

 of the "jump" traps in the same space required to pack one long 

 spring trap. The writer has had a good deal of experience in 

 this matter and knows the difference in handling the two makes 

 of traps. 



Now I do not like to use the double spring "jump" trap where 

 I am trapping, for I might possibly catch a dog or other domestic 

 animal and it is a hard trap to get a live animal out of. 



Many, perhaps most trappers use the No. 1 trap for trapping 

 mink, muskrat, marten, etc. The No. 1 Newhouse or Victor is 

 sufficiently strong for these animals but as I have stated, I do 

 not think this the best plan if the trapper is operating on grounds 

 where there are larger animals to be taken, as most frequently 

 the one set can be made to catch several kinds of animals. I have 

 found also that one is more liable to catch the animal by the end 

 of the toes in a No. 1 trap than in the No. 1^4, but where one 

 is trapping for the purposes of saving the fox, skunk or other 

 animal alive, then the No. 1 trap should be -used, as the anima] is 

 not so liable to break a leg or to hurt the foot so badly. 



For otter I prefer the single spring Newhouse trap, owing to 

 the fact that it is more easily concealed than the double spring 

 trap. I see that a number of writers think that the No. 5 bear 

 trap should have a larger spread of jaw so as to catch higher 

 on the bear's foot. Now I do not intend to dictate to others as 

 *o what kind of a trap they should use, not in the least, for I 

 have my own ideas as to traps and guns as well as the manner 

 of using them. Now as for myself, I think the Newhouse No. 5 

 bear trap could not be improved, as to spread of jaws. The grasp 

 is just right to catch the bear through the thick of the foot where 

 there is no danger of the bear twisting the foot off. In case 

 where the trap has a spread of jaws sufficient to grasp above 



