240 FIFTY YEARS A HUNTER AND TRAPPER. 



mistake of running after scents. We make a mistake in thinking 

 that the fox is more sly in some states than in others. 



Not long ago, I received a letter from a friend in Maine, 

 asking if I did not think that the fox was harder to trap in some 

 states than others. Now the states that I have trapped in are 

 rather limited, but I have trapped in Wisconsin, Michigan, and 

 Pennsylvania, mostly in Pennsylvania. I have also trapped in one 

 or two other states, and wherever I found the fox, I found him 

 the same sly fox. In order to trap this animal successfully it was 

 necessary to comply with the natural conditions. 



We make mistakes in not handling our fur properly; in not 

 removing all fat and flesh from the skin in not stretching the skin 

 on the proper shaped stretchers. Stretchers for most fur that we 

 case should not taper more than Y* to 34 of an inch from shoulder 

 to hind legs. 



We make mistakes in setting our traps too early, for one prime 

 skin is worth more than three early caught ones. We make mis- 

 takes in not having one, and only one, responsible and honorable 

 party in each large city to ship our furs to ; by giving one party 

 a large trade should give the trapper the full market price for his 

 furs. It would also have a tendency to make the buyer honest and 

 honorable, even though he was not built strictly that way in making. 

 All trappers should know the address of the party agreed upon in 

 each city. This would give the trapper a chance to ship to the party 

 most convenient to the trapper. 



The worst mistake of all mistakes is in one who uses poison 

 to kill with. Let me tell of an instance that came under my obser- 

 vation the spring of 1900, I believe it was. I had an occasion 

 to go into the southern part of this country, my road lay over the 

 divide between the waters of the Alleghany and Susquehanna, about 

 five miles of the road lay over a mountain that was thickly 

 wooded and no settlers. While crossing this mountain I saw the 

 carcasses of four foxes lying in the road. On making inquiries I 

 learned that a man living in that neighborhood was making a 

 practice each winter of driving over the roads in that section and 

 putting out poisoned meat to kill the foxes. I chanced to meet 

 this man not long ago. I said, "Charley, what luck did you have 



