250 FIFTY YEARS A HUNTER AND TRAPPER. 



for a hide that looked like that. Now this skunk skin was spoiled 

 so far as the looks went, if not in real value, and it at least gave 

 the dealer a good excuse to put that pelt in the third or fourth 

 grade. The trapper, in skinning this skunk, had ripped down on 

 the inside of the forelegs and across the belly three or four inches 

 up from the tail. The proper way being to begin at the heel, 

 ripping straight down the leg and close to the under side of the 

 tail. Then carefully cut around the roots of the tail and work the 

 skin loose from the tail bone until the bone can be taken between 

 the fingers on one hand and with the other hand draw the tail 

 bone clear from the tail. 



In this pelt the tail bone had been cut off close to the body 

 and left in the tail. In stretching this skin the trapper had made 

 a wedge-shaped board. The board was at least four inches wider 

 at the broad end than it should have been and then sharpened off 

 to a point. I think it best to make the stretching board in width 

 and length in proportion to the animal, slightly tapering the board 

 up to where the neck of the animal joined to the shoulders, then 

 taper and round up the board to fit the neck and head of the 

 animal. The tapering from the shoulders to the point of the nose 

 of course would necessarily be longer on a board for a fox or 

 mink than that of a muskrat or coon, which would need to be 

 more rounding. There are some good printed patterns for stretch- 

 ing boards for sale. 



I have noticed that some trappers have holes in the broad 

 end of their stretching boards and hang up their furs while dry- 

 ing with the head of the animal hanging down. Now I think that 

 is a wrong idea. It is not a natural way for the fur on the animal 

 to lay, pitching towards the head of the animal, and especially if 

 there is any grease, blood, or other matter that would dry, caus- 

 ing the fur to stick out like the quills on a fretful porcupine. 



Now, boys, let us get into the habit of getting more money out 

 of our catch of furs by removing the greater part of the fat from 

 the skins ; also by taking a little more time to skin and stretch 

 the furs that we catch ; also by doing less early and late trapping, 

 when the -fur is not in a fairly prime condition. I am pleased to 

 see so many of the trappers in Pennsylvania advocating a closed 



