14 



FARMERS* BULLETIN 869. 



Baits of carrot or apple may be scattered: but they are not neces- 

 sary, since the animals use such a device as a highway to reach the 

 .shore. An animal venturing upon it is almost sure to be caught. 

 In this way many occupants of a pond may be taken in a single night. 



The box trap is a favorite with some trappers. This consists of a 

 wooden box with a gate at each end, the cross section inside meas- 

 uring about 6 by 6 inches. The gate is of wire and is arranged to 

 swing inward but not outward. The box is set just under water 

 with one end at the entrance to a muskrat burrow. The animal 

 lifts the gate on leaving the burrow and is imprisoned and drowned. 

 Others follow until perhaps all the occupants of the burrow are 

 caught. A similar trap may be made entirely of heavy wire net- 

 ting of half-inch mesh, bent to shape. These traps are well adapted 

 to very narrow streams or ditches. 



An open barrel sunk in the soil close to the bank of the stream or 

 pond frequented by muskrats is considered an effective trap. The 

 top of the barrel should be level with the surface of the ground. 



The barrel is half full 

 of water, upon which 

 pieces of carrot or apple 

 are floating. A piece of 

 board about 8 inches 

 square or a few floating 

 chips will delude the 

 animals into jumping 

 into the barrel to secure 

 the food. 



A floating barrel is a good substitute for a sunken barrel. A hole 

 8 to 12 inches square is sawed in the side of a barrel having both 

 ends intact. A strong cleat is nailed across each end. projecting 

 6 or 8 inches on the sides. Upon the cleats boards as long as the 

 barrel or somewhat longer are nailed. Enough water is placed in- 

 side to make the barrel float with the outer platform level with the 

 surface of the pond — say, with about one-third of the barrel exposed 

 (fig. 2). Apples or carrots are placed inside for bait. 



CARING FOR THE SKINS. 



Muskrats taken for the fur should be trapped — not shot or speared. 

 If taken alive in a trap they should be killed by a sharp blow on 

 the back of the head. Trappers usually carry a short club for this 

 purpose. 



Muskrat skins intended for the market should be "cased," not 

 opened along the belly. In skinning, begin at the heel and slit up 

 the middle of the hind leg to the tail, around it. and then down the 

 other leg to the heel in the same way. Xo other cuts are needed, 



Fig. 2. — Floating muskrat trap. 



