PENNANT'S MARTEN 83 



then only an accidental one is trapped. As for 

 the porcupine, I suppose they will increase again 

 in time, but for my part I have not seen one 

 around here for some years. In 1897, I saw 

 along the banks of the Big Romaine River in 

 Labrador, two porcupine, which shows that there 

 are still a few in that locality. Fishers are not 

 shy or very wary of man, and they are easily 

 trapped ; that it is to say, it is easy to get one in 

 your trap, though it is hard to keep him in it. 

 They are very powerful and active, closely resem- 

 bling the carcajou in this respect, and once in the 

 trap they work incessantly with claws and teeth, 

 until they either cut their foot or drag the trap 

 away. On two occasions I followed up a fisher 

 many miles before overtaking him although ham- 

 pered by a large steel trap and dragging chain. 

 The only safe way to set steel traps for fisher is 

 to have the chain secured to the end of a lifting 

 pole. This must be balanced on a forked tree 

 sufficiently high and strong enough to lift the ani- 

 mal clear off the ground. Care must also be 

 taken that no trees are left in the vicinity, or 

 else tKe animal will climb them and get the pole 

 down. Fish or meat of any kind will do for bait, 

 but the most certain and deadly is a piece of por- 

 cupine with the quills on, part of which have 

 been singed in the fire. This will attract them 

 for miles around. Some trappers prefer dead- 



