46 THE TRAPPER'S ART. 



of the trap should be attached to a shding-pole, in the manner 

 described on page 18, which Avill lead the captured Beaver 

 into deep -water and drown him. 



Beavers are sometimes taken by breaking away their dam, 

 two inches below the surface, in one or two places, and set- 

 ting traps in the breaches. They keep sentinels who examine 

 their dams every night, and the least break is soon detected 

 and put under repair ; so that, Avith traps properly set, some 

 of the Beavers will be likely to be taken while at work at this 

 business. But, as the whole family is summoned out when a 

 breach is considered dangerous, and as in any case several 

 Beavers are likely to be engaged in a work of repair, the cap- 

 ture of one is almost sure to frighten away the rest, for Avhich 

 reason this method of capture should be generally discarded as 

 impolitic. 



The surest way of taking Beaver is by trapping in winter in 

 the following manner : When their ponds are frozen over, 

 make a hole in the ice about three feet across, near the shore 

 and near a hut. Cut a tree of birch, poplar, or alder, about 

 two inches in diameter ; press the top together and shove the 

 whole under the ice in such a direction that the Beavers will 

 be likely to pass and repass it in going to and from their 

 house. The butt of the tree should be fastened at the shore 

 under the ice. Directly under the butt, about ten or twelve 

 inches below, a platform should be prepared by driving stakes 

 or by any other means that is convenient, on which the trap 

 should be set. The chain ring should be attached as before 

 to a dry sliding-pole. After the trap is set and secured, the 

 hole in the ice should be filled up with snow and allowed to 

 freeze. The Beaver, passing the newly cut tree and discover- 

 ing its freshness, will proceed toward the butt for the purpose 

 of securing the whole for food, and, in gnawing it off near the 

 shore over the trap, will be likely to be taken. The reason 

 why the sliding-pole should be dry is, that if it is green the 

 remaining Beavers will be likely to gnaw it off and take it 

 home with them, trap, Beaver and all, for the sake of the bark. 



The Beaver is said to renew its breath, when, travelling 

 under the ice, in the same manner as the muskrat ; and of 



