THE BEAVER. 212 
through the ice large enough to work handy, and drive the 
four dry stakes for the platform upon which to rest the trap 
when set, about twelve or fifteen inches below the ice. The 
stakes may be made ready before driving, by wiring together, 
forming the square, then cross wired, forming the resting 
place for the trap. Upon this wiring, weave in a few small 
evergreens enough to form quite a nest, leaving small ends to 
float erect in the water, partly hiding the trap and serving to 
steady it in place, in case the edge of the trap is stepped 
upon before the pan. Baited with a young green tree; 
poplar is the favorite with them, and many branches may be left 
on, the top pushed in the mud at the bank and the butt imme- 
diately over the trap and fastened to the stakes. The beaver 
anxious to carry off the tree to his house, will be caught 
while resting upon the trap and platform, in the act of cut- 
ting off the butt. A dry pole to hold the trap always, the 
ring to slip easily from top to bottom, when there is a stub of 
a branch always left on, to prevent the ring from slipping off, 
and the beaver soon drowns upon the bottom of the stream. 
One or two out of a family may be caught by setting the traps 
upon their dam (which is so near level that the water flows 
evenly over it,) by cutting out places two or three inches 
deep and setting traps in them, but seeing one of their num- 
ber struggling in irons is sufficient to drive them all away to 
seek new quarters. To catch them a little away from their 
works, singly and alone, and drowning them quickly is the 
better way. If traps are new and bright, they should be 
smoked over evergreen boughs. If set upon a muddy bottom, 
the mud _ stirred up will settle over them hiding their 
brightness. 
We have been told of a trapper, who as he was travelling 
