HUNTING OTTER AND MUSQUASH. Ill 



over on his side, gave one convulsive quiver, and 

 he also was dead. 



A No. 3 Newhouse trap is generally used. 

 In fact, this number is called throughout the 

 country "otter trap." These traps are set at the 

 overflow of beaver dams and otter slideways 

 during the open water and at little portages 

 used by water rats crossing from one bend of a 

 small river to another. No bait is used; the 

 trap is set in about 4 inches of water with a 

 picket out in deep water to tie the chain to and 

 a small piece of castorum on a forked stick. 



The odor of the beaver castor has a very al- 

 luring effect on most all animals, and is greatly 

 used by the hunter. 



Traps for otters are set in the following way, 

 under the ice : A place is selected in some small 

 creek, connecting two lakes, where signs of ot- 

 ters are found. These signs are noticeable at 

 the discharge of the lake, where the lake ice thins 

 off into open water, for the ice is so thin that 

 the otter readily breaks a hole to come out on 

 the ice to eat the fish. The otter is a fish-eating 

 animal, and is very expert in catching them. 



Their slideways are generally made on some 

 moss-covered, rocky promontory, jutting out 

 into a lake. Here they will climb up one side 

 and slide down the other for hours at a time. 



