January, 1918 
F ORES T AND STREAM 
37 
ed by the United States Army; 
his canoe has been preserved 
in Smithsonian Institution; 
and we hope that all good 
woodsmen will contribute 
their Hints and Kinks and 
trail-tested contrivances. For 
the best idea sent in next 
month will be given a copy of 
Nessmuk’s classic book Wood¬ 
craft that is now in press. 
To Tell Directions in the Woods 
1 AM bringing ,1 log for Nessmuk’s 
Campfire and trust it is of such a texture 
that its bright flames will guide some lost 
wanderer to the warming beams and the 
hospitality of some outer’s camp. 
There is nothing more important to the 
woodspun than to have an infallible meth¬ 
od of telling directions—points of the com¬ 
pass—when the woods. When the sun is 
shining, no one should have any difficulty 
in getting his directions, especially if he has 
his watch. If the sun is not shining, it 
takes the most dense clouds to prevent the 
casting of a shadow of a small knife blade, 
if held point on the thumb nail upright 
and slowly rotated until the thinnest 
shadow is cast on the nail. This will give 
thfe direction of the sun at any time of 
day, except on rarest occasions. 
It is of these rarest of occasions I would 
write. We have all heard of telling the 
north point by noting the moss on the 
trees; but if anyone were to attempt this 
by inspecting any single tree, as most 
would do, he would soon be hopelessly be¬ 
wildered. So to determine the points of 
the compass by the moss, seek a place 
where the wood seem to be of equal 
density in all directions. Then extend the 
arms at right angles from the shoulders 
and slowly turn around, looking out into 
the woods. It will soon be noticed that in 
one direction the woods look light and in 
the opposite direction they look dark. Try 
this several times until you are certain they 
look the darkest, and stop. You will be 
facing the south because moss is darker 
than the bark of the trees and it is densest 
on the average on the north side of the 
trees. Hence your right hand will be point¬ 
ing to the west, yonr back to the north and 
your left hand to the east. 
This will certainly' give your directions 
closer than one can walk a line indicated 
by an ordinary pocket compass. This is 
especially valuable in monotonously level 
country where there are no high points for 
observation. I have never seen this method 
in print and know of no one using it except 
myself and a few of my friends, and we 
rely on it absolutely. 
Dr. D. A. Pei.ton, Arkansas. 
An Extra Strong Stitch 
HERE are some who prefer to make 
and sew their own tents, but who have 
had trouble in making the seams tight. It 
is hard to beat machine work, but some¬ 
times a machine is not available, and then 
there is the same feeling about a tent made 
by hand, if it is one’s own hand, that there 
is about anything else that is rare and 
hand-made. A tent must comfortably pro¬ 
tect the camper and his necessaries, but all 
extra inches over the required dimensions 
should be discarded. 
Many moments of pleasure can be en- 
EDGE SEAM 
joyed in laying the foundation of a camp¬ 
ing trip. One time of pleasure is that 
spent in making just exactly the tent you 
need, according to dimensions which you 
have evolved and tested on trails—one of 
correct dimensions and weight, that will 
withstand all of Nature’s elements and the 
maker’s egotism in telling about it. 
Here is a stitch that will stand the test 
of wear, either on a flat seam or on an 
edge. For the flat seam let one edge slip 
by the other about one-half inch, hold the 
needle at right angles to the seam and in¬ 
sert, taking in a raw edge and making a 
short stitch on the other side, as shown; 
draw thread up through the knot for first 
stitch, but when succeeding stitches are 
taken draw thread over and under the 
thread that lies parallel to the seam. Study 
the diagram and you will catch the trick. 
On an edge seam the two edges are placed 
evenly together and the stitch taken over 
both edges instead of through to the back. 
Tools needed are knife, darning needle, or 
triangular sailmaker’s needle, ball of 3-cord 
flax, piece shoemaker’s wax and beeswax. 
Jim Ferguson, New York. 
A Deadfall for Fox or Coon 
HE best method of capturing fur 
bearing animals is by the deadfall. 
Many trappers do not agree with me in 
this, but I believe that is because they do 
not build one correctly. To be a success', 
a deadfall should be constructed in the 
summer; by fall it will have a weather¬ 
beaten appearance and will be more likely 
to deceive the animals. Of course, in some 
cases this is not imperative, but I have 
found that it is better to do so. 
To construct the deadfall which I have 
drawn, drive stakes in the ground on each 
side of a log, these stakes acting, as guides 
for the fall of the upper log which is bal¬ 
anced on a stake poised on the bait stick. 
A pen of stakes is driven closely around 
the bait—be sure and build the pen strong, 
or the animal may get away with the bait. 
I consider that the deadfall has many ad¬ 
vantages over the steel trap; you do not 
have to carry it into the woods and over 
the lines, it kills quickly and does not 
mutilate the fur in any way; it costs noth¬ 
ing to make, consequently you are not out 
of pocket if it is washed away or de¬ 
stroyed by any accident. 
L. Jackson, Maine. 
