A YOUNG TRAPPER'S EXPERIENCE. 141 



tinned as long as our provisions would allow, and then we 

 would return on the same line, examining our traps, skinning 

 the animals taken, and stretching their furs. After a short 

 interval, this process was repeated, and kept up while the 

 season lasted. 



Our usual course was, to follow rivers and streams, and 

 visit all the lakes in the vicinity of our line. When following 

 streams, or the shores of the lakes, we would trap the beaver, 

 otter, mink, and muskrat ; and when our line extended over 

 land and away from the water, we took the marten, fisher, and 

 raccoon. 



Our methods of setting and baiting traps, and our contriv- 

 ances for circumventing animals, were generally very much 

 like those recommended by Mr. Newhouse, and need not be 

 detailed. 



In the course of my trapping experience I had considerable 

 practice in taking the fisher, and became somewhat familiar 

 with its ways. This is a very pretty creature, with glossy 

 black fur, and a long bushy tail. But, like the cat, it has a 

 temper that is not so mild and agreeable as its appearance 

 might indicate ; nor does the close embrace of one of New- 

 house's traps tend to mollify it at all. It frequently makes sad 

 havoc with the trap and its appurtenances, and sometimes gets 

 away after being fairly caught. I well remember a trying 

 experience I had with one of these animals in the North 

 Woods. I had seen his tracks, and had carefully set my trap 

 with all the usual fixings and fastenings, in full faith in his 

 ultimate capture. But on going to the place the next day, 

 trap and chain were clean gone, and all fixings demolished. 

 The fisher had been there, and had been caught, but instead 

 of submitting handsomely to his fate, had gone and robbed 

 me of a good Newhouse trap. (It was not Newhouse's fault.) 

 He was a very large animal, and the spring-pole was not 

 strong enough to swing him clear off the ground. So after 

 demolishing the inclosure in which the trap was set, and mak- 

 ing a general smash of things around, he threw himself upon 

 the end of the pole, actually gnawed it off below where the 

 ring was fastened, and left for parts unknown. How he 



