A MIXED BAG. 313 



As to the discussions that have been in H-T-T, one writer 

 says he has twenty ways to catch the fox ; now I have just as 

 many different ways as there are different conditions. I would 

 say that no one can become a successful trapper until he learns 

 to comply with the natural conditions, which will differ with almost 

 every trap he sets when trapping fox, mink, etc. 



I will tell my brother trappers what I have been doing this 

 fall (1902) along the line of trapping. In August I took a trip 

 through portions of Montana, Idaho and' Washington, to look up 

 a site to do a little trapping this winter. There is much more 

 game here than in the East, but nothing like you hear talked of. 

 I found the mountains too steep and the underbrush too thick 

 and from what I could learn, I was afraid the weather was too 

 cold for one of my age and condition of health, but, oh boys, what 

 trout fishing I found in the Clearwater; this is a branch of Snake 

 River and empties into that river at Lewiston, Idaho. 



As I found things, I thought I would return to old Potter 

 County, Pennsylvania, and have a little fun trapping the fox and 

 skunk as that is about the only game there is in this section 

 when we have no beechnuts, for that is the only mast we have 

 here. We have no beechnuts this season and most of the fur-bear- 

 ing animals have migrated south of here where there are chest- 

 nuts, acorns and hickory nuts. 



Brothers, I will tell you where my camp is, and you will 

 always find the latch-string out. My camp stands at the very 

 head of the Allegheny River, 1700 feet above sea level. From the 

 cabin door you could throw a stone over the divide to where the 

 water flows into the west branch of the Susquehanna. In a half 

 hour a person can, from my camp, catch trout from the waters 

 of the Allegheny, and the Susquehanna. 



As we have no beechnuts we have no bears, so I have not set 

 my bear traps. This will cut my sport considerably short. I have 

 put out but about sixty small traps, so I spend my time about 

 equally between camp and home. 



I will send a picture of myself and my old dog Mage, who I 



believe knows more about trapping than some families. But poor 



' old Mage is 13 years old and is following the down trail very 



