TRAPPING. 71 



purpose. In setting traps for rabbits, grease of any kind must be 

 avoided. Too much preparation must not be made around your 

 traps things must be left as natural as possible. Animals are 

 usually very shy and are easily frightened off. In the case of foxes, 

 raccoons, etc. , it is better to induce them to come for a few nights be- 

 fore setting the trap. Scatter around bones, pieces of meat, bread, 

 corn, etc., it will teach them to be bold, and success will be mori 

 certain. 



In trapping animals whose skins are valuable, precautions have- 

 to be taken to prevent them injuring their fur, or being devoured by 

 other animals. 



A contrivance called a Spring Pole is used for this purpose, and 

 is made as follows: Cut a pole of the required size, drive it firmly 

 into the ground, bend it down from the top, and fasten the trap to 

 it; fasten the bent pole by a notch or hook on a small tree or a stick 

 driven into the ground. If a small tree stands near, you can trim 

 and use it as it stands. When the animal is caught, his struggles 

 will unhook the pole, which flies back and lifts him up into the air, 

 thus securing him from self-violence and from prowlers. 



Animals that live in the water require a different contrivance. 

 Cut a pole ten or twelve feet long, leaving enough of the branches 

 on the end to prevent the ring of the chain slipping off. Place 

 the pole near your trap, in an inclined position, with its small 

 end reaching into the deepest part of the stream, and its large end 

 made fast in the bank by a hook driven into the ground. Slip the 

 chain ring on the pole, and be sure that it is free to traverse the 

 whole length. When the animal is caught, it plunges desperately 

 into the region towards which the pole leads. The ring slides down 

 to the end of the pole at the bottom of the stream, and with a short 

 chain prevents the animal from coming to the surface or returning 

 to the shore. 



Proper Season for Trapping. 



Newhouse, who is authority on these matters, makes the follow- 

 ing remarks: 



''All furs are best in winter; but trapping may be carried on 

 to advantage for at least six months in the year, i.e., anytime 

 between the first of October and the middle of April. There is 

 a period in the warm season, say from the first of May to tho 



