3n 



dispense tidbits of food that are liked by the 

 trout. Occasionally grubs fall from the holes in 

 wood from which beaver have eaten the bark. 

 While beaver are digging in the bottom of the 

 pond they doubtless unearth food-scraps that 

 are welcome to trout, for these often hover in 

 numbers on the outskirts of the muddy water 

 which beaver roil while digging. 



Although it appears that beaver have dull 

 winters with but little to do but eat, sleep, and 

 swim, it is probable that some of their time is 

 spent at work. A part of their tunneling and 

 pond-bottom canal-digging is done in winter. I 

 have known of their extending canals in the bot- 

 tom of the pond and making submarine tunnels 

 while the pond was ice-covered. 



There are times when the dam has sprung a 

 leak and must be repaired on the inside beneath 

 the ice. Early thaws and spring freshets some- 

 times wreck a dam beyond repair, or do extens- 

 ive damage to the house or dam at the time when 

 beaver enemies are likely to be at their leanest. 

 The house and dam are sometimes ruined when 

 the streams are so low and icy that it is not safe 



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