164 FUR FACTS 



cepting the side facing your trap. Also build the same around or on 

 each side of your trap. For this use dry bush, such as balsam, hem- 

 lock or spruce tops. Don't put any old logs around, as the bear will 

 be sure to climb upon them to get the bait. The bear seems to have 

 a horror of dry brush. It is because it becomes entangled in his long 

 fur. Cover the trap with a thick coat of moss, stick a few ferns in 

 on top of the moss, so it will appear like a stone. Fasten the trap 

 to a pole about twelve or fifteen feet long and large enough so the ring 

 of the chain fits over it at the butt end. Fasten the ring of the chain 

 to the pole by driving a wedge in the pole after you have slipped 

 the ring over it. 



Bear have what trappers call a "biting tree" at some particular 

 point beside a stream or on the bank of a lake. They will have a small 

 tree, balsam, spruce or tamarack, and every bear that passes it in 

 the spring of the year will stop, get up on their hind legs and bite 

 the tree up as far as they can reach. Close to such trees is a good 

 place to set for bear, as they are generally looking around for some- 

 thing at such places. At these places it is best to set your traps be- 

 side a tree. Select a tree that has a hog's back running up to the 

 foot of the tree; sink your trap in the ground so that it is level with the 

 surface and when set, cover it well with moss and leaves; pile up old 

 dry brush, on the back side of the tree and on each side of the trap. 

 Fasten your trap as described for setting in the water. Use a No. 5 

 Newhouse Trap. Look at your bear traps about once a week. Don't 

 allow your bait to get old or foul-smelling, as a bear likes his feed 

 fresh. In the spring the green feed will commence to grow on the 

 hills before it does in the valleys, and the bear will go to hills for 

 this green feed. Locate a place where the hill is narrow, and set 

 your trap as described in setting beside a tree. 



The most successful method that I have used in trapping bear, is 

 setting on the beech ridges in the fall of the year. The bear is very 

 fond of beech nuts, and in a country where there are plenty of beech 

 nuts on the beech ridges is where you will find the bear as soon as the 

 nuts are ripe. Set your trap the same as described in the two previous 

 methods, only use fresh fruit for bait, such as crab apples, or most 

 any sort of fresh fruit; also use scent." 



P. B. AUSTIN. 



How to Prepare Bear for Market 



Bear skins should always be taken off open and the head, feet, 

 and legs should be left on. In taking off skins that are to be used 



