124 Tue Aroostook Woops. 

diately after setting the traps for otter. In the first, we will 
open the jaws of our traps here on the shore and have them 
ready to place on arriving at the brook, as we wish to tramp 
about as little as possible upon their chosen play ground, for 
they are keen scented fellows and it takes but a little disturb- 
ance to cause them to desert a play ground fora time. Take 
the light hunting axe and the water pail, which we shall need 
to dip the water to wet our tracks above, upon their play 
ground, after setting the traps there, and this will wash down 
any scent left behind us. We require no stakes to drive 
down to hitch to, as this is a dead fast, which is not a good 
plan in trapping any animal. They should have a chance to 
move around instead of being assisted by a dead fast to pull 
or twist out. 
Arriving at the little brook and the otters’ sliding chance, 
we see that they have been playing upon the ground quite 
lately, as along each side of the slide (which here is only ten 
or twelve feet, extending from their playground to the water) 
we see little sticks, twigs, leaves and moss which have been 
recently brushed aside by their breasts and their fore legs 
under them as they go scooting down from their playground 
upon the elevation, plump into the water at times, and just for 
fun apparently. Then in going back up the bank to the top 
again, they walk around to one side, seldom if ever, climbing 
up by the smooth place they have made in scooting down, but 
choosing the easier road around, often sliding down in quick 
succession, then back one after the other, having a romp with 
each other upon the elevation, then walking to the head of 
the down grade, place their fore legs immediately underneath 
and slide down upon knees and breasts as before. 
We will drop down below their works before landing and 
