TRAPPERS 19 



Trappers make use of several kinds of traps. 

 In the first place there is the ordinary trap, 

 similar to the one we ourselves use for destroy- 

 ing foxes and wolves. It comprises two iron 

 toothed jaws, which close with a spring. This 

 trap is set openly in the path of the foxes, a 

 suspended dead bird tempting the animal to 

 its doom. To obtain the bait the fox leaps 

 into the air and, in falling backwards again, its 

 paws enter the trap, the jaws of which snap 

 together instantly. 



Another commonly used snare is constructed 

 of heavy stones balanced by a weight to which 

 the dead bird is attached. In this instance 

 the animal is crushed to death. The most 

 important trap of all, however, is that destined 

 to capture the fox alive. It is composed of a 

 long wooden box at the bottom of which the 

 dead bird is placed. The animal enters the 

 box, takes the bird in its mouth, and in doing 

 so releases the spring which causes the lid to 

 slam down violently. 



No pains at all are taken to hide this latter 

 form of trap. They are easily seen from a 

 distance. For the fox must either be very 

 tame or famished before one may hope to take 

 it alive. Nevertheless, much trouble and in- 

 genuity is expended in training and winning the 



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