PLAN OF A TRAPPING CAMPAIGN. 



BY PETER M. GUNTER. 



I BEGIN a trapping campaign, by selecting my hunting 

 ground, building my shanties, making my canoes, carrying 

 my traps to proper localities, and carrying in provisions. 



In selecting a trapping ground it is a great advantage to 

 get where you can travel by water as much as possible. You 

 are likely in that case to capture more mink and otter. I 

 manage in this way : I take a trip in a circle, following lakes, 

 rivers and small streams, and striking across from one to the 

 other, till I come round to the starting point. At this point I 

 build a wigwam. This I do in the following manner : I 

 cut four crotches, each about six feet long, and sharpen their 

 lower ends. I stick two of them into the ground eight feet 

 apart. Then I place a pole four inches in diameter on the 

 top. This forms a plate for one side of the building. Four 

 feet distant, and parallel to these, I place the other two 

 crotches with a similar plate. Then I place other poles across 

 the ends from one plate to the other. This done, the frame 

 of the wigwam is finished, ready to inclose. Now to do this 

 with only an axe would bother many. I do it in this way : 

 Fell a cedar or any other tree that splits free, and cut off 

 logs about twelve feet long. Split these up into boards for 

 the roof. Lay one end of the boards on the ground, the other 

 on the plate. Cover both sides in this way. Thus your roof 

 is finished, leaving a space about two feet wide along the peak 

 for a chimney. Then split some more boards for the gable 

 ends. These are short and may be placed in an upright posi- 

 tion. The door may be a split board. It should be opposite 

 the fire, and open to the north to prevent smoke. Fill the 



