32 HUNTER'S AND TRAPPERS GUIDE. 



vent injury to their fur, such as may come 

 from their devouring themselves or being de- 

 voured by other animals. 



A contrivance called a spring-pole is in gen- 

 eral use for this purpose and is recommended 

 by many writers (with whom I do not agree) 

 as the best means of saving the animal from 

 its own violence and the depredations of oth- 

 ers. It is made as follows: 



Cut a pole of required size and drive one 

 end of it into the ground ; bend it down 

 from the top and attach the trap to it, then 

 fasten the bent pole to a notch or hook on a 

 small tree, or a stake driven in the groun 1. 

 When the animal is caught it unhooks the 

 pole, which flies back and lifts it up into 

 the air. For at least two reasons this seems 

 to me a very imperfect device. When the 

 spring pole straightens, the chain of the trap 

 winds around it, letting the animal swing 

 back and forth, and giving it every possible 

 chance to wear its skin out against the pole 



