THE "SETTING GEOUND." 159 



inch in opening. We knew many different receipts for 

 beaver medicine, but only used three of them, being those 

 we found we were most successful with. 



Having made all preparations, operations would be com- 

 menced as follows : In the middle of the day, that being 

 the time when it is least probable for any stray beaver 

 to be stirring, a preliminary survey of the stream would 

 be taken, to decide where the traps were to be set, great 

 care being observed to approach the stream no oftener 

 than absolutely necessary ; only the salient points of its 

 banks would be visited those where a view up and down 

 the stream for some distance could be obtained ; from 

 them the places where the traps were to be fixed would 

 be determined on, the best way of approaching the respec- 

 tive spots noticed, and you would return to camp for your 

 traps. 



The number of traps an experienced man can handle is 

 eight, but only a first-rate trapper can nightly set so many, 

 even on the best of trapping-grounds, without making so 

 much " sign " as to spoil the stream ; besides, the proper 

 skinning and stretching of eight beaver-pelts is a day's work 

 for his assistant. 



Eight equipped beaver-traps will weigh about sixty-four 

 pounds ; so, if the ground is practicable for a horse, you 

 will take one to carry them for you, especially if your 

 " setting-ground " is far from your camp ; and if not pressed 

 for time, you will wait until the day following the one 

 on which you have made your reconnaissance to set your 

 traps, so as to be able to get them all down before 

 evening approaches. On arriving near the place where 



