TRAPPING. 73 



THE MINK. These can bo taken either on land or water; the 

 land being generally preferred by trappers. The trap is set near the 

 bank of a streanio If one of their holes cannot be found, make 

 one. Three sidc3 of the cavity should be barricaded with stone> 

 bark or wood, and the trap sat in the entrance. For bait, use a 

 fish, bird or murh-rat, cut in :mall pieces and placed in the hole 

 beyond the trap so thai the mink will be obliged to step over the 

 trap to get it. Cover the trap with leaves, grass or feathers. In 

 the coldest weather, smoke the bait to ^ivo it a stronger scent 

 The (best scent for attracting miak is made as follows Get some 

 eels, trout or minnows, and cut up into small pieces, put them 

 into a loosely corked bottle and hrng it in the sun for two or 

 three weeks, an oil will then be formed on the top whicli emits 

 a very strong odor Sprinkle a few drops of this oil on the 

 bait and around the trap* It wfl be sure to draw mink from some 

 distance. The chain of the tiT,p> should be fastened to a spring pc le 

 to lift the animal out of the reach of depredators, or if ohe trap is 

 set near water it should be attached to the sliding pv ^e, so as to 

 drown the animal at once. 



THE MUSK-RAT. First find a partially submerged log with 

 some recent droppings of the musk-rat on it, cut i notch for the trap 

 an inch or two under the water; t 1 - -i fasten the trap to a spring pole, 

 for, if on the land, among weeds and bushes, he will not un frequently 

 twist off his leg and escape. The traps are also placed in the runs, 

 on bogs and old musk-rat houses, and wherever there are recent 

 indications that the musk-rats come to feed. Where the game is 

 scarce, the traps are sometimes baited, but otherwise this is not 

 necessary. Carrots, parsnips, api'.Vs or potatoes, can be used for 

 bait. A stick is stuck in the ground, slanting in wh a manner that 

 the end shall be or 8 inches above the treddle of the trap. The 

 bait is stuck on the end of the stick, and in this way ? if there are 

 any rats in the vicinity, you are pretty sure to catch them. Some- 

 times the traps are covered with an inch or two of weeds; and 

 some trappers put a drcp or two of the oil, found in the glands of 

 the musk-rat, on or near ihe traps. Equal, if not better than a steel 

 trap, is an old barrel, sunk to the level of the ground, near the 

 bank of a ditch, where there are evidences of the presence of the 

 animals. Half illl it with water, and put in a couple of shingles, or 

 light strips of board, to float on the surface. Place sweet apples or 



