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found it hard to air. Inside the quilt I 
put my old steamer blanket, this same 
blanket I have owned almost eleven 
years. It is sewed bag shape open at 
the ends, like Nessmuk’s. 
I find the best way to get the bedding 
inside of canvas case is to start rolling 
the bedding up in a role from the foot 
end. Now turn the corner of case down 
at the line in diagam, lay the role on 
bottom half and unroll it down inside. 
Jim Ferguson. 
rams 
A QUICK, EFFECTIVE 
PATCH FOR CANOES 
have all felt more or less that 
the time necessary for patching 
up the canoe, where a sharp rock or 
snag had cut through, could be spent 
to better advantage in seeking those 
gamey fighters of the swift waters and 
the quiet pools or in doing any one of 
the many things we had come out to 
the quiet places to do. 
The next time you make up your 
pack include a package of chewing- 
gum. In case of a tear or a puncture, 
chew a stick or two while the sun dries 
the canvas for a few minutes, then 
pull the tear together and apply your 
gum. 
You can then put your canoe in the 
water at once and be on your way, the 
entire operation taking only three or 
four minutes. 
Your patch is absolutely water-proof 
and the action of the water polishes it 
to a glass-like smoothness. 
Where the tear is not of gigantic 
proportions you will find your five- 
cent package of chewing gum a great 
time saver. 
Robert G. Brackett. 
SKELETON AXE SHEATH 
DOUBLE Bit (Michigan) Axe, is 
an implement not only for a 
master workman, but also for an ex¬ 
pert with “file and stone,” as it is con¬ 
tinually being knocked over, “nicked” 
or in some manner “nudged,” upon 
one or the other of its edges unless 
well protected. A sheath for such an 
axe, which not only saves in added 
weight, but also in expensive leather, 
is easily constructed by refering to the 
accompanying diagrams. The center 
piece is of leather, folded in one piece 
to form the two sides, with an eye cut 
in the bottom thru which the helve of 
the axe passes. The strap is of %-inch 
web (army stock) and the buckle is of 
traps for rats 
X. 
Shwfh -for 
double,- biT 
a-xe,. 
irwm- 
WATCH YOUR HOOK 
POINTS 
^HARP hook points are essential to 
the angler’s success. Carry a hook 
stone or small file with you. In lieu of 
this, a small flat pebble, picked up from 
the stream, makes a good substitute. 
A few seconds’ work may enable you 
to hook the “big fish” of the season. 
Rube Wood. 
Page Ml 
the patent eyeless type. The guards 
for the blades are also of 1-inch 
leather, sewn and riveted, with web 
straps at tops and %-inch buckles. 
The cross-webbing is of the %-inch 
stock. The top cross-webs are left just 
a trifle slack to allow free release of 
the axe. This slack is taken up by 
tightening the center strap. The ends 
of the strap webs are button-hole 
stitched to prevent unraveling. 
Harry Irwin. 
T H E barrel-trap device possesses 
great advantages in its capabilities 
for securing an almost unlimted num¬ 
ber of the vermin in quick succession. 
It also takes care of itself, requiring 
no rebating or setting after once put 
in working order, and is sure death to 
its prisoners. A water-tight barrel is 
the first thing required. Into this pour 
water to the depth of a foot. Next 
dampen a piece of very thick paper 
and stretch it over the top of the barrel 
(like a drum-head), tying it securely 
below the upper hoops. When the pa¬ 
per dries it will become thoroughly dry 
and tightened. Its surface should then 
be strewn with bits of cheese, etc., and 
the barrel so placed that the rats may 
jump upon it from neighboring surface. 
As soon as the bait is gone a fresh sup¬ 
ply should be spread on the paper, and 
the same operation repeated for several 
days, until the rats get accustomed to 
visit the place for their regular rations, 
fearlessly and without suspicion. This 
is half the battle, and the capture of 
the greedy victims of misplaced confi¬ 
dence is now an easy matter. The bait 
should again be spread as before, and 
a few pieces of cheese should be at¬ 
tached to the paper with gum. It is 
a good plan to smear part of the paper 
with gum Arabic, sprinkling the bait 
upon it. When dry cut a cross in the 
middle of the paper, and leave the bar¬ 
rel to take care of itself and rats. The 
first one comes along, spies the tempt¬ 
ing moisels, and with his accustomed 
confidence jumps upon the paper. He 
suddenly finds himself in the water at 
the bottom of the barrel, and the paper 
is closed and ready for the next comer. 
There is not long to wait. A second 
victim soon tumbles in to keep com¬ 
pany with the first. A third and fourth 
soon follow, and a dozen or more are 
sometimes thus entrapped in a very 
short space of time— Gibson. 
WATERPROOFING CANVAS BOATS 
Boil 6 ounces hard yellow soap in 
V 2 pint of water. Add % pound patent 
dryer and 5 pounds boiled linseed oil, 
and apply with a brush. 
