NOTES OF A HUNTER. 118 



which my knees had made in the yielding snow they had 

 mistaken for the drag of the otters' bodies ; the prints of the 

 dogs' feet for the otters' paws. You may say they were super- 

 ficial observers. Excitement will have its effects, and nothing 

 but correct information can in such a case counteract it. 

 " Knowledge is power." 



The print of a raccoon's paw greatly resembles that of the 

 bare foot of a young child. It is easily recognized. The 

 bear, woodchuck, and skunk are also plantigrade ; but the 

 print of their paws has little resemblance to the " coon's." 



Otter will not eat bait, as a general thing ; but they will 

 smell of it, which is frequently just as good. Some stale 

 meat, or better, fish, will attract them, especially if it is placed 

 in a queer, unusual position, hung from a bush or stake, so as 

 to attract their attention. Inquisitive as they are, the trapper 

 should take care thafc the object or bait excites their curiosity 

 without alarming them. 



I have been informed by experienced trappers that a wolf- 

 trap should be Avell rubbed with the green leaves of the male 

 fern or " brake " when they are to be had. They give a 

 humid, earthy smell to the trap, and the juice, when it evapo- 

 rates, appeal's to carry off all scent of human contact. I sug- 

 gest, however, that if trappers would lay out a little more 

 money in buckskin gloves they would be well remunerated. 

 The contact of the bare hand with the trap is very objection- 

 able ; you might as well hold out a noose and call a wild horse 

 to put his head in it. The gloves should only be used when 

 handling the trap. Some rub the traps with blood, when 

 trapping carnivorous animals ; others substitute herbs, as 

 skunk -cabbage, &c., for all animals. For the bear, the In- 

 dians say, the best bait is skunk-cabbage. They are said to 

 be very fond of it. I cannot verify this, for I have never 

 had an opportunity to try it. It would take as sturdy a pine- 

 hender as him that Theseus slew, to make a spring-pole that 

 would raise a bear beyond wolf reach — for wolves will attack 

 and devour even a bear, wounded and hampered. 



The raccoon may frequently be taken during a hard frost, 

 by cutting a hole in the ice on any stx'eam which may be near 



