88 ANIMAL COMPETITORS 



ponds are ice-bound, the animals that escape the spear 

 often perish after their houses are destroyed." 



Trapping was at one time a popular calling 

 in the United States; but fur-bearing animals 

 have so decreased in numbers that nowadays 

 few persons earn a livelihood by trapping alone. 

 A large part of the supply of muskrat fur is 

 taken by boys, who adopt this method of earn- 

 ing a little extra spending money. They often 

 attend school, and look after the traps in the 

 morning and evening. 



Preparation of the pelt. Muskrat skins in- 

 tended for market should be "cased," not 

 opened along the belly. In skinning begin at 

 the heel and slit up the middle of one hind 

 leg to the tail, around it, and then down the 

 other leg to the heel. The skin may then be 

 easily (but gently) turned back over the body, 

 leaving the fur side inward. Next, cut closely 

 and cautiously around ears, nose and lips, and 

 scrape off adhering bits of flesh. The skin, 

 inside out, is then stretched over a thin board 

 shaped like a rifle-cartridge, and a tack or two 

 is inserted to keep it in position until dry, 

 the drying should be in the open air, not before 



