224 



RECREATION. 



shot and killed the wolf with No. 6 shot. 

 F. A. Moore, Barabop, Wis. 



In answer to Carey C. Waleman, in 

 June Recreation, I have observed the 

 raccoon, both in a wild state and in cap- 

 tivity. They often make noises when an- 

 gered or in distress. A few years ago a 

 pair of tame coons were kept at one of the 

 fire stations in Tampa, Fla. Every night 

 the boys unchained them and let them 

 have a romp in the dormitory. Their an- 

 tics were most amusing. Occasionally 

 one would lose .his temper and give a 

 rasping screech. These coons were tame 

 and appeared perfectly contented. When 

 I was: young another boy and I had some 

 box traps set along the edge of a swamp, 

 and, finding a coon in one, we decided to 

 take him alive. We got a loop of fish 

 line over his head and pulled him out. 

 He immediately took charge of things 

 and made it lively for a few moments. 

 While he was scrapping with us he gave 

 utterance to growls and snarls, and I 

 could cite many other instances of coons; 

 making noises. Charley Apopka, 



Columbia Barracks, Cuba. 



WOLF AND FOX TRAPPING. 



I note the question of Mr. Cary, of St. 

 Charles, Minn., in regard to the best 

 method of trapping foxes and wolves. 

 As there are no wolves in this vicinity 

 am unable to give him any information 

 in that line, but can tell him how to get a 

 few foxes. At the entrance of the hole 

 place 3 steel traps triangularly. Partially 

 cover them with leaves in such a manner 

 that they may easily be sprung. Place 

 the traps about 2 feet apart and between 

 them place a small heap of leaves about 

 one foot high. The fox on seeing the 

 heaps will readily think there is some- 

 thing concealed under them and may ac- 

 cidentally walk in one of the traps. This 

 method has been tried by veteran fox- 

 catchers and has never failed. 



Another question is asked by L. O. 

 Ingalls, West Durham, N. Y., in regard 

 to the proper load for foxes. I have al- 

 ways used 2 X A drams of Dupont smoke- 

 less, with 2 felt and one cardboard wad 

 and i% ounces of No. 2 shot. This load 

 has done excellent work. I shoot the 

 Winchester Take Down, model 1897, and 

 would not do without it. 



Am well pleased with Recreation and 

 the way you roast the game hog. Hope 

 you will continue to do so. 



X. Y. Z., West Bethlehem, Pa. 



Answering Mr. Cary's question in 

 regard to the best way to trap foxes and 

 wolves. For foxes, bait a week or 10 

 (lays with crackling, or the refuse of lard. 



This should be scattered on the ground and 

 covered with litter. When the foxes have 

 become accustomed to digging for the bait, 

 set the traps. You can bait them at sev- 

 eral places on their runway and set 2 traps 

 in each place. We bait wolves near an 

 ant hill, gopher mound or other small 

 elevation. Then we set a trap on the 

 mound, covering well and with only a short 

 length of chain. A wolf will almost in- 

 variably get on the mound to howl before 

 going to the bait, which should be about 

 20 feet from the mound. Horse or mule 

 meat is the best bait. 



Chas. Latham, Dailey, Colo. 



NIBBLES. 

 I shall never drop Recreation as long 

 as I can scrape up a dollar. Every man 

 should protect game, song and insecti- 

 vorous, birds. Farmers and fruit growers 

 especially should be active in this work. 

 If we had more birds we would not have 

 so many wormy apples. We have plenty 

 of English sparrows here. They are of 

 no benefit. In some cases I have known 

 them to be a positive injury. They are a 

 dirty nuisance wherever they are. Have 

 known them to peck all the buds off 

 cherry and plum trees, and off currants 

 and all other small fruits. Last fall they 

 dug a hole in every red apple in my or- 



en r\ T(\ 



Mr. L. W. Ellis, Perry, la. 



I notice in the March number of 

 Recreation Yelraf, Albany, N. Y., wrote 

 about a hawk trying to catch a sparrow. 

 One winter in San Francisco a hawk came 

 nearly every day and sat on the arrow of 

 the weather vane on Scutter street rail- 

 road power house. He would be about 

 6 stories from the ground and would wait 

 until a flock of sparrows came to feed on 

 the street under him. Then he would 

 drop on the bunch of sparrows, get one, 

 fly back to his perch on the arrow and 

 eat the sparrow. 



L. E. Harriman, Campbell, Cal. 



If you hunt with a gun, every bird you 

 get is lost to the world. If you hunt with 

 a camera, the world may enjoy the fruits 

 of your skill, and the bird is left to enjoy 

 life. 



If you want a hunting boat, a canoe or 

 a family rowboat. send me a club and I 

 will send you a boat made by the Racine 

 Boat Mfg. Co. Read the new offers on 

 these goods in my premium list this month. 



