PROFIT FROM THE MUSKRAT 87 
The animal lifts the gate on leaving the burrow and 
is imprisoned and drowned. Others follow until per- 
haps all the occupants of the burrow are caught. A 
similar trap may be made entirely of heavy wire net- 
ting of half-inch mesh, bent to shape. These traps 
are well adapted to very narrow streams or ditches— 
favorite runways of the animals. 
‘“An open barrel sunk near the bank of the stream 
or pond frequented by muskrats is said to be an ef- 
fective trap. The top of the barrel should be level 
with the surface of the ground. The barrel is half 
full of water, upon which pieces of carrot or apple 
are floating. A piece of board about 8 inches square, 
or a few floating chips, will delude the animals into 
jumping into the barrel to secure the food. Musk- 
rats ‘taken alive should be killed by a sharp blow 
across the back of the head. 
‘‘A floating barrel is said to be a good substitute 
for a sunken barrel. A hole 8 to 12 inches square 
is sawed in the side of a barrel having both ends in- 
tact. A strong cleat is nailed across each end, pro- 
jecting 6 or 8 inches on the sides. Upon the 
projecting cleats boards as long or somewhat longer 
than the barrel are nailed. Enough water is placed 
in the barrel to make it float with the outer platform 
level with the surface of the pond—say, with about 
one-third of the surface of the barrel exposea. 
‘‘Another way of taking the muskrat is to spear 
it inside its winter house. This is a common Indian 
method; but it should not be encouraged. Not only 
are the pelts injured by the spear, but when the 
