On Tue LINE or TRAps. 223 

interested in the pleasant work, noon comes quickly, yet they 
are always jolly hungry. The dead fall for the sable and mink 
is much the same wherever used; but for those unacquainted 
with it, that may be interested, we are pleased to describe it. 
The dead fall, or wooden trap, if properly built and set with 
sufficient heft upon the fall piece, will do a good business, 
however much may be said to the contrary. A large log, a 
down pine stub, a square cut off fir or spruce tree, is usually 
selected to build upon. Dry cedar splits are provided a foot 
long, and a half to three-fourths of an inch thick, for the 
house which is shaped like a V. The splits may vary in 
width from two to six inches. These are made wedge shaped 
at one end that they may be driven in the log or stump upon 
which the house is being made. The hunting axe struck in 
and then withdrawn, opens in the stump a chance for them to 
be driven solid for the house. Immediately in front of the V 
shaped house is laid the bed piece, which is generally of 
spruce a foot long, two and a half inches in diameter, the 
bark left on at the top side, beneath flattened to fit. In front 
of this bed piece of spruce, to keep it solid and to receive the 
long fall piece, are driven two stakes on a line with the splits. 
The fall piece and bed piece are from one tree and fit together 
nicely, the fall being from six to ten feet long, according to 
convenience. The near end of the fall, fitting and resting 
upon the bed piece (or choker;) the outer end may be sup- 
ported by resting in the fork of a small tree; if not, a forked 
stick is provided and withed to a tree, the top of the tree 
afterward cut off to prevent swaying and springing the trap. 
Upon this fall piece rests the weight of logs (their ends close 
beside the trap) that pin down and kill the animal. Next 
the spindle, or bait stick, upon the end of which is fastened 
