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been that traps are most effective when set in shallow water near shore, in snags, or 
beneath undercut banks parallel to objects along which aquatic animals are likely to 
be moving. If traps are not checked at frequent intervals turtles caught in them 
will drown. 
“Any kind of fresh (juicy or bloody) meat or fish will generally make good bait 
for turtles. . . . Canned sardines (in oil) can be purchased almost anywhere that food is 
sold and make an ideal general purpose bait when conditions are such that maintaining 
fresh bait is impossible. A trap baited with one or two sardines will frequently catch 
turtles and will nearly always catch fish, which can in turn be used as fresh bait.” 
FIELD NOTES 
The value of time and effort invested in collecting, measuring, and 
preserving specimens is always enhanced if careful and complete field notes 
have been recorded. Even without the specimens, field notes are valuable 
although often the original collections are necessary to couple observations 
with the correct species or subspecies to which they refer. Each collector 
usually develops an individual system which suits his particular purpose. 
However, two principles should always be kept in mind: (1) the field notes 
may be of assistance to future workers and therefore should be as clear and 
accurate as possible, and (2) all data and observations should be included, as 
information which may not appear useful at the time may prove valuable 
later, either in itself or as a clue to a productive approach in future studies. 
It is also essential to record all field notes at the time the observations are 
made. A pocket notebook, preferably with a hard cover, is best for such 
notes. 
The following outline should prove useful as a guide to important 
categories and a method or arrangement. A new page is used for each locality. 
1. Date. Day, month ( always written out, never expressed as a number), 
and year. 
2. Locality. Always record in miles and direction from the nearest 
settlement with a Post Office. 
3. Collector(s). All collectors should be listed. It is customary to place 
the name of the field note compiler first. 
4. Time. Hours and duration of collecting. 
5. Weather. Include both general description and exact temperatures 
(if taken). 
6. Habitat. Describe the topography, elevation, and vegetation (deci- 
duous forest, open fields, etc.). Where plant and other animal 
species are known, list them and their relative abundance. (If 
practicable, collect specimens to be identified later. This can be of 
particular importance where visible animals may be food items that 
may be compared with stomach contents of herptiles collected.) 
If specific identification of plants is not possible, at least the general 
growth type of the dominant plants should be given (e.g., tree, bush, 
grass, for terrestrial plants; and submergent, emergent, floating, for 
aquatic plants) and any general identifications (e.g., spruce, oak, 
cat-tail, water-lily). The extent of the area covered should be 
noted. Always write from the general to the specific. 
7. Species of Herptiles. Include both those collected and those observed 
only. Under each species an estimate of numbers should be made. 
Such terms as ‘abundant/ ‘infrequent/ ‘rare’ may be used, but actual 
counts or estimates of individuals are more meaningful. The 
microhabitat (e.g., pond edge, under spruce log, etc.), and behaviour 
and colour and size variations should also be noted for each species. 
