142 CANADIAN WILDS. 



must be set at the opening where the water es- 

 capes. This is the first precaution, so that if 

 any beaver during the trenching process tries 

 to escape down the creek he must pass over the 

 trap and get caught. 



Where the water of the lake and that of the 

 creek is of the same level there is consequently 

 no dam, and then the creek, at its narrowest 

 part, has to be picketed from side to side. This 

 is often a laborious job, as pickets have to be 

 cut and carried to the creek, a cut three or four 

 inches wide made in the ice and then the pickets 

 driven down side by side, or very close to each 

 other, so the beaver cannot possibly pass. 



This work done to our satisfaction, our next 

 point was the lodge itself. This we broke in 

 from the top and all the sticks, mud, etc., we 

 jammed down in the opening or exit. This is 

 done to prevent the beaver returning once thev 

 have left the lodge. At several places around 

 the lake the beavers have what the Indian call 

 "washes." These are burrows they make be- 

 neath the surface, generally up under the roots 

 of a large tree. They use them for breathing 

 places and to retire to if disturbed at the lodge. 

 They make these at any favorable spot where 

 the conditions are suitable, and the "washes" 

 vary in number from three to five up to twice 

 that number. 



