126 THE Aroostook WoobDs. 

shore, for though seeming heavy, when No. 3 would proba- 
bly hold most any otter, this is heavy and drowns them as 
soon as they plunge to deepest water which they always will 
do. But if a light trap is used, a rock may be attached to 
the chain, to keep the otter under water. Set all traps bear- 
ing level, always. Sometimes one must dig out a little for 
them, and nearly always we find it necessary to place a flat 
stone or a piece of bark beneath one of the jaws to insure 
against its tipping when the animal does not step plump upon 
the pan of the trap. Have a pole attached to the ring of the 
chain, the same when set in the water, as upon the land, and 
perhaps longer, when the water may be shoal. This may be 
laid along the edge of the stream upon the shore, the end 
fastened, allowing free chance for the otter to plunge out to 
deep water, when he quickly drowns. 
Again, say it is very cold weather, and all is frozen over 
and we can see no signs of the otter above water, but you 
remember having seen at the mouth of some brook, even if a 
very small one, perhaps, where they were passing up and 
down when it was not frozen and it was out of season for 
catching them. This they are often doing beneath the ice as 
well, often crowding in at the mouth of a brook, where there 
seems littke room fora mink. Cut out the ice here in the 
best place you can decide upon, making a hole large enough 
to work in handy, and place the trap nearly in his passing 
way, which is midway for the small channel of the brook, as 
he is aiming for the centre of the stream and its deepest 
water; push down a few dry sticks, chance permitting, upon 
each side of the trap to guide him directly over it, arranging 
to have the trap in water deep enough, so that when freezing 
over again there will yet be sufficient room for the otter to 
