On THE LINE oF TRAPS. 225 

it a yank that is about sure to spring it, even when you think 
it overloaded, when he finds vest, guéet, Peace. But for the 
old, wary general,:that has robbed the traps and eluded us a 
few times, we must give him the steel trap and the tip up. 
And in this case the steel trap need not be too large; a good 
single spring trap that opens out large enough for his foot is 
correct. For the tip up, first a suitable crotch or forked stake 
is cut, sharpened and pushed down beside and withed to a 
tree (always provided the suitable tree with a fork is not 
growing just right for the house and trap). A long pole is 
cut and placed on this fork, the small end for the trap to be 
fastened to. The larger end should be of good heft, as it is 
the tip down of quite a little weight. (As it now rests, it 
reminds you of the old well sweep without the old oaken 
bucket). The trap is wired to the end of the pole by the ring 
of the chain. For holding the pole down, in front of the 
house, and trap, a stake long enough to stay there, and well 
hacked upon all sides to help keep it down, is driven just 
right for the length of chain, and just right to be up even with 
the house floor. This stake is cut square across it and well 
in, and a deep slice taken out from below the cut, when a 
corresponding piece for a hook is notched, and sliced out the 
same and to fit that in this stake, and the hook fastened to the 
end of the pole beside the trap ring. This hooks down the 
pole, and if the notches are square cut and not beveling, it is 
all right to stand the wind until the fisher is caught, when at 
his first jump, up it goes. <A fisher seldom breaks away 
as he has no chance to employ his muscle, except to dance 
in the air. An old dry stub upon a knoll chopped into, 
is good for a house for the trap, choosing the south exposure. 
It is best to drive in a couple of wedge shaped stakes just over 
the entrance, for a bark roof to keep out the storm. 
