HOVv' TO CATCH THE FISHEII. 43 



soaking their lisli over niglit, and it was frequently carried 

 off by tlie Fisher, whose well-known tracks were seen in 

 the vicinity. While I have been engaged catching Mar- 

 ten, having a line of wooden traps several miles long, the 

 Fisher wonld get upon the trail, and destroy all the traps 

 he came to, taking the bait as he went. It brings forth 

 two young ones at a time, annually. The hunting season 

 for the Fisher in the northern parts of Canada and the 

 Western States commences about the tenth of October, and 

 hists till the middle of May, when the fur becomes less 

 valuable. The ordinary price is a dollar and a half per 

 skin, but for two or three years past they have fetched 

 ten dollars, although they are not so fine nor so highly 

 valued as the Sable. 



After finding my Marten traps torn, I had to devise 

 some way to stop that, by capturing the Fisher. I found 

 that he would never go in at the door of the trap, but 

 would pull up the cover, and so take the bait without be- 

 ing caught. I at once built a string trap, with two holes, 

 one above the other, making two doors to enter the trap, 

 and so arranging that when one sprung, both would 

 spring ; so that if he went in at the upper or lower door 

 he was equally certain to be caught. 



I found, however, that he always went in at the top. 

 The Fisher may also be caught with a good double spring 

 steel trap, by using the following precaution. First bend 

 down a small sapling, and fasten the top under a hook, 

 previously driven in the ground for the purpose. To the 



