HOW TO HUXT ASD CATCH THE MUSKP.AT. 37 



In winter, when the ice has made a bridge over all, go 

 to one of their houses, and on the south side make an open- 

 ing through the side directly into their chamber, and set 

 your trap at the entrance of the dive-hole. Close up the 

 opening that you have made, and you vrill soon catch the 

 rat. If there are other houses, destroy all but this one, 

 to which the whole colony will come, and you may catch 

 them all ; or you may have a one-tined spear made of 

 round three-eighths rod, about eighteen inches long, with 

 a strong beard near the point. Have this fixed to a han- 

 dle, say four feet long. Go very softly up to the south 

 side of the house, and drive in your spear in a slanting di- 

 rection, a few mches above the ice. You will often transfix 

 two at a time. Or you may demolish the house and watch, 

 the dive-hole, spearing the animal when you see his nose 

 come up. 



You may use a scent to call the muskrat in the begin- 

 ning of the year. There are various things that will do 

 it. Perhaps the strongest is found in the female rat, in a 

 small bag which holds from thirty to forty drops, and lies 

 near the vagina. Carrying this scent in a vial, go to a 

 log which -lies with one end in the water, set your trap and 

 fasten it as above directed, and put a drop or two of oil 

 en the log just above the water. The first rat that comes 

 along will be yours. The oils of rliodium and amber can 

 be used in tiie same manner to advantage. 



