TRAPPING. 75 



SQUIRRELS. In trapping squirrels, set a steel trap on the up- 

 per rail of a fence near where they frequent; set a pole with an ear 

 of corn, or some other squirrel food fastened to the end of it, up 

 against the side of the fence, leaning in such a position as to 

 spring the bait over the trap at a hight of six or nine inches; when 

 the squirrel reaches to get the bait he will get into the trap. 



SKUNKS. Take an old barrel and place it on its side on a tri- 

 angular stick of wood about 7 inches high, fastening the bait on 

 the bottom of the barrel. When the skunk goes for this bait as 

 soon as he passes the centre, the barrel turns upright with the skunk 

 in it. Then to secure the skunk take it by the tail and well, 

 we would advise you not to. Care must be taken not to place 

 the barrel too high, as it might fall over. The more skunks you 

 catch in the same barrel, the better the trap. 



Skunks may also be caught with the steel trap and spring pole. 

 Set the trap near their hole or path. Strew pieces of meat or dead 

 mice before and near the trap. The offensive discharge can be pre- 

 vented by a blow over the back. 



THE OTTER. This animal is a great enemy to fish, and the 

 trapper is usually not slow in taking advantage of the fact. First 

 proceed along the stream; look for the deepest holes, where the fish 

 are sure to fly when pursued. Look about carefully and you will 

 see the tracks where the otter comes out of the water, up the bank; 

 and often you will find a small tuft of grass greener than the rest; 

 open this and you will find the dung of the otter, full of scales and 

 bones of fish. Having found out a favorite landing-place of the 

 otter, make a run, slanting from the water up the bank, with a 

 trapping-paddle; dig out a place exactly the form of the trap; set 

 the trap slanting, so that the otter will not tread on the spring ; 

 cover it over with fine mould dry leaves, or rotten wood, level 

 with the ground. When done, go back as far as you can, and with 

 your hand throw water on the place where the trap is set and all 

 around, to take away the scent of your hand and the fresh mould. 



Fasten the trap as follows: Cut a small tree the size of the chain 

 ring, and set it upright near enough to the path to help the animal 

 into the trap, supporting it in that position and securing the trap 

 and game by withing or tying the top to another tree. The ring 

 should be slipped on the butt and fastened by a wedge. Before 

 leaving, perfume the trap with a few drops of the fish oil as men- 

 tioned under the head of Mink. The musk of the otter is also very 



