PROFIT FROM THE MUSKRAT 87 



The animal lifts the gate on leaving the burrow and 

 is imprisoned and drowned. Others follow until per- 

 haps all the occupants of the burrow are caught. A 

 similar trap may be made entirely of heavy wire net- 

 ting of half-inch mesh, bent to shape. These traps 

 are well adapted to very narrow streams or ditches 

 favorite runways of the animals. 



"An open barrel sunk near the bank of the stream 

 or pond frequented by muskrats is said to be an ef- 

 fective trap. The top of the barrel should be level 

 with the surface of the ground. The barrel is half 

 full of water, upon which pieces of carrot or apple 

 are floating. A piece of board about 8 inches square, 

 or a few floating chips, will delude the animals into 

 jumping into the barrel to secure the food. Musk- 

 rats taken alive should be killed by a sharp blow 

 across the back of the head. 



"A floating barrel is said to be a good substitute 

 for a sunken barrel. A hole 8 to 12 inches square 

 is sawed in the side of a barrel having both ends in- 

 tact. A strong cleat is nailed across each end, pro- 

 jecting 6 or 8 inches on the sides. Upon the 

 projecting cleats boards as long or somewhat longer 

 than the barrel are nailed. Enough water is placed 

 in the barrel to make it float with the outer platform 

 level with the surface of the pond say, with about 

 one-third of the surface of the barrel exposed. 



"Another way of taking the muskrat is to spear 

 it inside its winter house. This is a common Indian 

 method; but it should not be encouraged. Not only 

 are the pelts injured by the spear, but when the 



