FUR FACTS 95 



the hole. If you have large lots of traps and can not make hole sets 

 for them all, the balance may be set in runways under roots and 

 bluffs, where mmk travel most. 



I always fasten chain in water where mink are caught. They go 

 directly into the water and soon drown in their struggles and you 

 have him safe. One would think it would take lots of work to make 

 sets of this kind, but if you live in a country where mink are plentiful, 

 you will find you will be more than rewarded for your work. I 

 have taken as many as nine mink from one set of this kind during a 

 season. 



In regard to baits and scents, I have trapped for the past fifteen 

 years; have experimented a great deal with scents and baits, and I 

 have no argument to make with brother trappers. I know there 

 are hundreds of worthless and nonsensical ideas about baits for 

 different animals. A scent of the right kind about traps will largely 

 do away with the human scent, and often keep animals from detecting 

 or being shy of places where traps are set. 



The following is a fair and impartial test: Some time during 

 January (do not remember the date) I ordered a bottle of Funsten 

 Animal Bait for mink. On the 27th of January I set thirty mink 

 traps — as many in prepared places or holes as I had. The balance 

 were set in runways. I baited every other trap with Funsten Animal 

 Bait, placing a little back in the hole or about the trap, so I had 

 fifteen with bait and fifteen with no bait. The traps set for three 

 nights. From the fifteen baited with Funsten Animal Bait I took 

 six mink and one coon. From the other fifteen, not baited, I took 

 three mink, one coon, and one opossum. 



My method of setting traps for mink is as follows: Divide 200 

 traps into six parts. Set six lines of them in different parts of the 

 country. If weather is cold I have one man to help, visiting each 

 line once every day. I usually have my trap lines from two to ten 

 miles apart. Some times much further on, according to the condi- 

 tions. I travel from one to the other on horse back, or sometimes 

 from one station to the other on trains, when convenient. I work 

 every day and work hard. It is no lazy man's job to be a successful 



trapper." 



R. E. Obh. 



How to Prepare Mink for Market 

 Mink should always be taken off cased pelt side out. Some trap- 

 pers when they get a dark mink think that the proper way to stretch 



