TRAPS AND OTHER HINTS FOR TRAPPERS. 197 



As I get many letters from trappers who are beginners in the 

 business making inquiries about camping and the necessary traps, 

 guns, etc., I will try to give a few practical hints to those who have 

 had but limited experience of trapper's life. While, like the setting 

 of a trap, there is no single code of rules that will answer for all 

 localities and conditions, I will give a few general rules. 



The trapper should first try and inform himself of the nature 

 and conditions of the locality where he intends to trap. If the 

 waters are of such a size that a boat can be used to advantage, 

 then the boat becomes a necessity. Now in regard to traps. If 

 the section where you intend to trap has the larger animals like 

 bear, otter, beaver, etc., then the trapper should provide himself 

 with a sufficient number of traps of different sizes as he may 

 be able t tend and do it well. 



I would advise to start with, that the trapper has about one- 

 half dozen No. 5 bear traps, one dozen No. 4 wolf and about 

 the same of No. 3. But the greater number of traps will be 

 Numbers \ l /2 and 2, if of the Jump or Blake & Lamb pattern. If 

 of other patterns would say use the Hawley & Norton Nos. \Yz 

 and 2, say 75 No. \ l /2 and 25 No. 2. The genuine Newhouse is 

 of course the best long spring trap made, but a little more expensive, 

 and we find that the H. & N. fills the bill. We prefer 'the B. & L. 

 on account of its lightness and convenience in setting. 



Now, if the trapper is trapping where the animals are. no 

 larger than fox, raccoon, wildcat, etc., then I want no traps larger 

 than the No. 1 l / 2 , nor smaller than the No. \ l / 2 Blake & Lamb. 



Now about the gun. If you are in a large game country it is 

 quite necessary that you carry a good rifle. I like the Winchester 

 and not of too large a caliber, but if there is no large game in the 

 locality then I think one should have a Stevens pistol, ten-inch 

 barrel, or a Stevens Pocket Shotgun, 15-inch barrel, and in either 

 case have a good holster to carry it in. As for myself I prefer a 

 Pocket Shotgun. It might be well to have a large shotgun in 

 camp. You will also want your belt axe or hatchet and a good 

 heavy sharp axe at the camp. 



As for bedding, this will largely depend on what kind of a 

 cabin or camp you have. If you are in a tent, two persons should 



