could say Jack Robinson. Investiga- 
tion disclosed a small round hole in 
the ice where a muskrat had _ been 
working stuff through to make a feed 
house. Poor fellow, Mr. Lynx hap- 
pened along at an unfortunate mo- 
ment. 
As old Indian method of trapping 
the ’rat was to get out on a lake 
just after the ice had formed solidly 
enough to hold one, and with a good 
spear travel along until a ’rat was 
started from its den. Its course was 
easily marked through the clear ice 
and when the animal stopped to get 
its breath or “bubble,” the trapper 
would be there to spear it or at least 
drive it away. In a short time the 
muskrat succumbed to a clever spear 
thrust or else suffocated from lack of 
fresh air. 
The tyro will surely have trouble 
in trapping the muskrat if only for 
one reason—its tendency to wring off 
when caught in a steel trap. If the 
trap is staked solidly and the ’rat gets 
into it with a forefoot, it is only a 
matter of a very short time until he 
will be free, leaving the dismembered 
foot in the trap. This is very annoy- 
ing and something that must be taken 
into consideration right from the start. 
E prefer a number 1% trap for 
the muskrat, for while a num- 
ber 1 will hold the animal all right, 
the larger spread causes the trap to 
grab up higher on the leg and thus 
minimize the danger of wringing off. 
The weight of the larger trap is also 
sufficient to drown the catch if the wa- 
ter is more than a foot or so deep, 
and this does away with the trou- 
ble of making drowning sets, with 
weights, sliding pole or stakes. Of 
the latter methods, that wherein the 
stakes are used is perhaps the best. 
The stakes are inserted in the mud far 
enough out for the struggling animal 
to become entangled in them via the 
chain or the trap itself. 
Unless you have a drowning wire 
or other contrivance leading to deep 
water, never make a muskrat set 
where the water is but a few inches 
deep or where the animal can become 
caught on a stub or brush and give 
him a chance to wring off. It is ad- 
visable, whenever possible, to arrange 
your sets so the muskrat will get into 
the trap with his hind foot. Remem- 
ber the animal swims with his fore- 
feet doubled back against the breast, 
this fact should act as a guide in plac- 
ing traps. 
F course, when the animal starts 
to leave the water he puts out his 
front feet to feel the ground and natu- 
rally enough if a trap is resting there 
he will get caught in it. Floating log 
sets are easy to make and perhaps as 

rs iy | 
+4 











































































































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