86 ANIMAL COMPETITORS 



to them on the ice; but this practice destroys 

 the houses and is not to be commended. Trap- 

 ping near the houses in open water is far 

 better. When the houses are not far from the 

 bank, a long plank may be used advantageously 

 as a support for traps. It is moored to the 

 shore by a wire passed through a staple driven 

 into one end of the plank, while the other end 

 projects into the pond or rests against the side 

 of the muskrat house. Light cleats are nailed 

 to the upper side of the plank at intervals of a 

 foot with space enough between them to hold 

 a trap when set. The ring at the end of each 

 trap chain is fastened to the plank by a staple. 

 Baits of carrot or apple may be scattered along 

 the plank; but they are not necessary, since the 

 animals will use such a plank as a highway to 

 the shore, and are almost sure to be caught. 

 Most of the occupants of a house may some- 

 times be taken on one plank in a single night. 



"The box trap is a favorite with some trappers. 

 They use a long wooden box whose cross section inside 

 is about 6 by 6 inches and which has a gate at each 

 end. The gates are of wire and arranged to swing in- 

 ward but not outward. The box is set just under water 

 with one end at the entrance to a muskrat burrow. 



