92 THE TRAPPER'S ART. 



smoke, and can be kept out by buttoning all tight. But the 

 trapper should also provide himself with a protective against 

 these pests. A good preparation for this purpose may be 

 made by warming about three ounces of hog's lard, and add- 

 ing to it half an ounce of the oil of pennyroyal. This oint- 

 ment, applied once in an hour or less, to the parts exposed, 

 will give entire protection. 



Another preparation can be made by mixing equal parts of 

 common tar with sweet oil, applying as before. This prepa- 

 ration is by some considered the best, because it also prevents 

 tanning, and is easily washed off with soap, leaving the skin 

 soft and white. 



THE SHANTY. 



The tent which- 1 have recommended is probably best 

 adapted to the irregular operations of amateur sportsmen, the 

 volunteers and guerrillas of the trap. The old regulars and 

 veterans of the service always have built, and probably will 

 continue to build, rude huts, called shanties, at various points 

 in the region of their operations. Shanties are of two kinds, 

 temporary and permanent. The temporary shanty is made 

 by driving two forked stakes into the ground, laying a ridge- 

 pole across, leaning many other poles against this, and cover- 

 ing the skeleton thus formed with bark or split boards. The 

 permanent shanty is made of logs, laid one above another in 

 a square form, joined at the corners by means of notches, and 

 roofed over with split logs formed into troughs, and placed in 

 this form : / ^^^^^ The crevices should be stopped 



with clay or moss. At one end a rude fire-place and chimney 

 of stone should be built, the latter reaching just above the top 

 of the shanty. 



TRAPPING LINES. 



Trapping, when carried on systematically and on the large 

 scale, has, like an army, its lines of operation, its depots of 

 provisions, and its arrangements for keeping open its commu- 

 nications with its base. The general proceedings of a regular 

 trapping campaign may be described as follows : The trapping 



