40 THE TRAPPER'S ART. 



scribed are pursiied by different trappers. Some trappers prefer 

 to take them as tliey come out of the water near their " shdes." 

 It should be understood that Otters do not come ashore di- 

 rectly on to the " slide." They choose for their " slides " that 

 part of the bank, of the stream or lake, wliich descends at a 

 steep angle into deep water, so that when descending the 

 " slide" they may plunge swiftly into the water without ob- 

 struction. In coming out of the water to go on the " slide," 

 they choose a place where the water is shallow at the shore, 

 and where they can walk up the bank easily. Hence, their 

 place of exit is generally at a little distance from the " slide." 

 The Canadian trappers, Holland and Gunter, describe their 

 mode of trapping the Otter, as follows : — 



" We set the trap close to the land, where the Otter comes out of 

 the water to go on the ' slide.' We place the trap about three inches 

 under water, and a little on jne side of the path of the animal, so 

 that the pan of the trap is about three inches from the centre of the 

 path. The chain-ring of the trap we fasten to a pole fifteen feet 

 long and one and a half inches in diameter. Then to the chain 

 close to the pole we fasten a stone of about eight pounds' weight, to 

 serve as an anchor ; so that when the Otter is caught and makes for 

 deep water, the stone sinks him to the bottom and he drowns. In 

 cases where the water is too shallow to admit of setting the trap 

 ai)propriateIy, an excavation should be made. If the water is too 

 deep, place a flat stone or a piece of sunken wood under the trap. 

 In all cases the trap should be set level ; the anchor-stone and chain 

 should be sunk under water; and the pole should be placed upright 

 on one side of the path, in such a manner as to let the Otter get 

 into deep water. We use the Newhouse Fox-Trap altogether for 

 Otter." 



Spencer J. Clark, of Oneida County, New York, who for- 

 merly trapped in Wisconsin, recommends setting the trap 

 where the Otter comes out of the water, in the following 

 position : The Otter swims to the shore, and as soon as his 

 fore feet strike the ground his hind feet sink to the bottom, 

 and he walks out erect. Find the point where the Otter's 

 hind feet strike the bottom, and set the trap there. The ad- 

 vantages of this method are, first, the trap is in a position 



