A hunter's life 387 



CHAPTER XVI. 



Mode of trapping Bears, Wolves, Panthers, and other Beasts — Describes a Bmr- 

 trap, or Pen — Shooting Deer by Fire-Light — Shooting Deer at a Lick — Malt.iog 

 an artificial Lick — Natural History of the Deer — A general Description of AUfr 

 gany County— The Mountains — Rivers — Soil — Productions— Climate — Timber — 

 Coal — Iron-ore -Water-power. 



With a short chapter on the mode of trapping some ot 

 the animals which I have been so long engaged in hunt- 

 ing, and a brief notice of the soil, productions, etc., of 

 portions of Allegany County, I shall conclude my narra- 

 tive. 



I have been asked to describe the wooden trap used in 

 catching bears, which is built as follows : 



First, a floor of split trees is laid on the spot whereon 

 the pen or trap is to be constructed, which should be se- 

 lected between two trees, standing from eight to twelve feet 

 apart, so tha.t a pole may be laid across, to serve as a lever 

 for raising the upper part of the trap. Two end logs are 

 then laid down close to the floor, which must be five feet 

 long, and two side logs notched closely down on the end 

 ones. Another end log is then notched on to the side one 

 at the front end of the pen, and all securely pinned toge- 

 ther ; after which a second end log is laid on the rear end, 

 and a round notch made in both the side logs to receive 

 it. This end log must roll as the top of the trap raises. 

 Then, beginning at one side of the pen, cover it over with 

 half-trees, split in two pieces, leaving no crack through 

 which a bear can put his nose, or he will tear off slabs 

 unta he makes a hole large enough to escape through. 



