356 



RECREATION. 



"A mink is sure to go under this bank," 

 said Max. "I've fixed a place where the 

 steepness of the bank will crowd him in the 

 trap. If you had a bait stuck up He either 

 wouldn't go under or else would swim 

 around the whole business. So I dig out 

 enough to leave the trap barely under 

 water. Now I'll put an old leaf or 2 and 

 a little mud on the trap and drive the stake 

 down until the top is under water." Max 

 set one more trap in a similar place and 

 said: 



"Now don't come here for a week and 

 then see what luck you have." 



I did as directed and when I visited the 

 traps each held a drowned mink standing 

 on its head in deep water. 



No mink ever lived but could be caught 

 in the way shown -by Max. This method 

 is known as a "blind set," and is exceed- 

 ingly successful. The No. 1 trap is large 



enough for water sets; but in winter when 

 making a dry set it is, with its covering of 

 snow or other substance, apt to clog in 

 springing, thus throwing out the mink's 

 foot. For that reason the No. 1^2 trap 

 should be used; it will clear itself, and 

 takes a hold so high that the mink can not 

 escape by foot amputation. 



Mink should not, as a rule, be caught 

 in the Middle and Eastern States earlier 

 than November 15 nor later than March 

 15. In the first case they are still un- 

 prime and in the latter are badly faded in 

 color, and have begun shedding. Soon 

 after this the skin turns from its winter 

 color of red and white on the flesh side, 

 denoting primeness, to black, which is 

 caused by the roots of innumerable 

 hairs that are apparently pricking 

 through, and the fur itself soon becomes 

 thin. 



AMATEUR PHOTO BY HENRf P. MORTON. 



FAREWELL TO SUMMER. 



If you find it impossible to tell twins 

 apart, tell them together. — Scissors. 



