90 FUR FACTS 



may be called "hollow ice", but on ripples, about rocks and around 

 roots of trees, also small inlets on sides of the streams and springs, 

 the water is open, and here I suggest that at such times and places 

 is the trapper's opportunity. At such times the mink is under the 

 ice, both day and night, fishing for minnows, crawfish and mussels. 

 Go to the open ripples, rocky places about tree roots, logs, inlets and 

 springs where they go under or come up, and if the water is not too 

 deep, say enough to cover your trap to a depth of five inches (I mean 

 that five inches is not too deep), place your trap in the direction that 

 it appears they jump from the opening. The best fastening for your 

 trap is a rock to which you wire the trap. Slip the rock under to 

 one side, dash water and leave the place carefully. 



The trapper can use bait under the ice at such times to great 

 advantage; indeed, I regard sets under ice more successful than on 

 land, for they can be made with less trouble and less exposure to 

 animal attention than upon land. The trapper can use almost any 

 place where the water is not too deep, and the opening suitable to 

 put traps and bait under. The bait should be tied to a stick of such 

 a length as the place seems to require; then fasten or fix the bait by 

 pushing the stick down, then bending it so as to press the upper end 

 against the ice above; then put whatever you tie to underneath. 

 Next, place trap at, or about a foot from the stick, if the stick stands 

 straight; if not, place the trap under the bait. A rock is the best 

 fastening; You can often pick up a rock so shaped that you can 

 wire trap to it. I prefer to use a rock to fasten to, for you make less 

 sign than with any other means. (Note — If it can be done, dash water 

 about where you have been setting.) 



There are many devices which are good, but in any thickly settled 

 community they are not practical, on accoimt of hunters and dogs. 

 The steel trap is the best adapted to the trapper, for they" can be 

 secreted in such a way as to be inaccessible to dogs and out of sight 

 of fishers and hunters. The best is the cheapest, for cheap traps get 

 out of order soon, and more is lost in catches than is gained in cheap- 

 ness. Among the best is the Newhouse, Victor and Jump. The 

 trapper should provide himself with pieces of wire thirty inches long 

 with which to fasten his traps. (I never use the staple.) More 

 length is needed to let the animal into the water. A No. 1 trap will 

 drown a mink or rat in ten inches of water. I have a device called 

 the "Farmer's Chicken-House Guard". Get a joint of sewer tile 

 three inches in diameter, insert it under the chicken-house at rear, 

 leaving bell on the outside. Connect it with a box on inside; set 



