86 FUR FACTS 



it does not follow that many others may not become good trappers 

 by training and experience. The trait of the trapper is seen in the 

 boy while quite young, and all opposition will not stop his tendencies. 

 The trapper should be a good walker, and one who is fond of ramb- 

 ling walks, for much walking is required by the trapper. He need 

 not necessarily be a fast walker, except at times. Indeed, most of 

 his walking should be done slowly, in order to give him opportunity 

 for making inspection of tracks and signs in his territory — ^inspection 

 of all that pertains to his information. The trapper should be an 

 early riser, and should visit his traps frequently. 



It is important that the trapper should be fully acquainted with 

 the habits of the animal he attempts to trap, and this can be acquired 

 only by long and close attention to the places it frequents, its ramb- 

 lings, the peculiar place where it stops and slides or wallows; its ins 

 and outs, its ups and downs, from and to the water. All this can be 

 best learned in time of snow, but the old trapper does not necessarily 

 need the snow. The trapper must learn his art, for nothing but the 

 outlines can be put on paper. The trapper must make himself fam- 

 iliar with his territory. He must learn to know the main stream and 

 tributaries, or branches, the hills and hollows. He should note 

 everything pertaining to signs of the animal, its place of passage; in 

 short, tracks, holes, hollows, hollow logs, hollow stumps, and such 

 holes, for in so doing he will often find them burrowed up in places 

 not suspected. 



The small streams and branches tributary to larger ones, are 

 much better for the trapper than the large ones. The large streams 

 clear themselves of passing drift, and they wash out the holes and 

 hiding places of the animals. The small streams are more winding 

 and crooked, and much drift is lodged along the way. They afford 

 more eddies and ripples and rocky places, which afford hiding places 

 for animals, and, therefore, good places for setting traps, both in 

 and out of the water. The small ones have more thicket and willow 

 on their margins. Now, if there is a bluff on one side and low on the 

 other, the low side is best for setting traps. Quantities of muskrat 

 and fish are signs of good trapping range. The muskrats make holes 

 and hiding places for the mink, also good setting places for the trapper 

 especially those not in use by the rat. 



The Habits of the animals — This is doubtless the most important 

 subdivision of the guide to the trapper. The trapper should know, 

 from his own personal knowledge, the habits of the animal he attempts 



