36 THE HUNTER AND TEAPPER. 



" sign " on a log, chop a notch in it and set your trap 

 about an inch under water, putting the chain-ring over a 

 tally stick or over a stake driven into the log, in such a 

 2^osition that the muskrat may get into water deep enough 

 to drown him. So go along near the shore in your canoe, 

 huntiiig out these resorts of the muskrat, and set your 

 traps as directed. On a moonlight night at this season 

 of the year, you may go with your boat or canoe into 

 some sly place, and then set up a squeaking noise as much 

 like a rat as you can. If any are wdthin hearing they will 

 soon make their appearance, and you may take aim at the 

 head and shoot. This is a good way to hunt them along 

 the edge of drowned land, and in ponds and lakes. An- 

 other good plan is to set your trap in two or three inches 

 of water, at the places where they crawl ashore to dig for 

 roots, and if you place a bit of parsnip, sweet apple, or 

 carrot, on the end of a stick just over the traj), you will 

 be quite sure of a catch. 



Do not commence hunting too early in the fall ; they do 

 not bring forth their kittens until midsummer, and about 

 the first of September they are but little things with very 

 black 2^elts, and hardly worth the catching. But as soon 

 as frosty nights come, and they begin to build their 

 houses, you may go to Avork setting your traps two or 

 tliree inches under water, at the place wdiere they haul up 

 their building material. At this season they feed chiefly 

 on aquatic plants, and form large beds of loose stuff at 

 their feeding places, and you may set your trap in these beds. 



