now TO CATCH THE KACCOOX. 47 



the fur is then not veiy good. Later in the fall, and dur- 

 ing the winter and spring, up to the middle of spring, it 

 is excellent, and when the pelts are well dressed they make 

 good mittens ; j^uttmg a whole skin in each one they reach 

 up to the elbows. In the spring of the year, when the 

 snow begins to go off the ground, the raccoon is easily 

 found. On a warm night they come out from their hol- 

 low trees, make a circuit, and return on their back track. 

 By watching for their return, you are quite sure to find 

 them, one, two, three, or four, altogether. When you go 

 out to hunt them, take an axe with you, and fell some 

 hollov/ tree in which they have their nest, and see what 

 fun you will have in trying to outrun the little ring-tails. 

 Later in the season, when the ground is bare, and the 

 ice is out of the creeks and ponds, they travel along the 

 muddy shores in search of frogs, of which they are very 

 fond. Take a good smart trap and set it on the edge of 

 the water. Fasten it well, and bait it with fi:-;h or fowl of 

 any kind, placing the bait above the trap as for a mink, 

 or behind the trap, in such a way that the coon can only 

 get at it by going over the trap. Scent the bait with oil 

 of anise. You may also catch him with a pole trap, bait- 

 ed with frogs, fish, or a bit of partridge. "When you find 

 coon tracks in the mud, you may set your trap with a lit- 

 tle oil of anise rubbed on the under side of the pan, cov- 

 ering it up with leaves or moss. The first one that comes 

 along will stick his fore paws into the trap, feeling for the 

 bait. 



