18 THE TRAPPER'S ART. 



as it stands. If not, cut a pole of sufficient size and drive it 

 firmly into the ground ; bend down the top ; fasten the chain- 

 ring to it ; and fasten the pole in its bent position by a notch 

 or hook on a small tree or a stick driven into the ground. 

 When the animal is caught, his struggles, pulling on the 

 chain, unhook the pole, which flying up with a jerk, carries 

 him into the air, out of the reach of prowlers, and in a con- 

 dition that disables his attempts to escape by self-amputation 

 or other violence. The size of the pole must be proportioned 

 to the weight of the game which it is expected to lift. 



THE SLIDING-POLE. 



Animals of aquatic habits, when caught in traps, invariably 

 plunge at once into deep water; and it is the object of the 

 trapper, availing himself of this plunge, to drown his captive 

 as soon as possible, in order to stop his violence, and keep him 

 out of the reach of other animals. The weight of the trap 

 and chain is usually sufficient for this purpose in the case of 

 the muskrat. But in taking the larger amphibious animals, 

 such as the beaver, the trapper uses a contrivance which is 

 called the sliding-pole. It is prepared in the following man- 

 ner : Cut a pole ten or twelve feet long, leaving branches 

 enough on the small end to prevent the ring of the chain from 

 slipping off. Place this pole near where you set your trap, in 

 an inclined position, with its small end reaching into the deep- 

 est part of the stream, and its large end secured at the bank 

 by a hook driven into the ground. Slip the ring of your chain 

 on to this pole, and see that it is free to traverse down the 

 whole length. When the animal is taken 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 victim from rising to the sur- 

 face or returning to the shore. 



THE CLOG. 



Some powerful and violent animals, if caught in a trap that 

 is staked fast, will pull their legs off, or beat the trap in 

 pieces ; but if allowed to drag the trap about with a moderate 



