00-KOO-HOO'S EL DORADO 91 



put on the nipple, and a birch-bark shelter arranged to keep 

 the gun-lock free from falling snow. Brush is then placed in 

 the snow in such a way that it will cause the fox to approach 

 from only one direction, and that the one the hunter desires. 

 It is not a good trap, being very uncertain, as whiskey-jacks, 

 ermine, mice, or rabbits may meddle with it, and set it off. It 

 is seldom used except for wolverine. 



Frequently the value an Indian places upon a certain pelt 

 is determined not according to its quality, but according to 

 the trouble the animal caused him in securing it, and for that 

 reason he will sometimes expect more for a red fox pelt than 

 for the skin of a beautiful black fox. Then, in order to retain 

 the Indian's goodwill, the experienced trader will humour him 

 by giving the price asked, and count on making up his loss in 

 another way. 



In hunting fur-bearers poison should never be used, since it 

 bleaches the fur and thus reduces its value. Moreover, it is 

 apt to kill in an almost endless chain many forest creatures 

 besides the animal sought, as they may feed on the first victim 

 to the deadly drug. 



The hunter's last resort in trapping the coloured fox is to set a 

 snare for him. In setting a snare the Chipewyan and northern 

 Indians always use a tossing-pole, while most of the southern 

 and eastern Indians use a spring-pole; the difference being 

 that a tossing-pole is usually made by bending down a small 

 tree — the size of the tree being determined by the size of the 

 game — to the top of which is fastened the snare ; or the tossing- 

 pole may be made by cutting a pole for that purpose. The 

 result, however, being that the moment the snare is sprung the 

 tossing-pole flies free, and hauling the game into the air, holds 

 it there out of reach of other animals that might rob the hunter 

 of his prize. A spring-pole is made by setting a springy pole 

 in such a position that when the snare is sprung, the tension is 

 released, and the pole, springing up, hauls the animal against 



