Theisen-How to Trap

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    How to Trap

    TheBoy Trappers of Beaver Bend

    OrBig Money From Furs

    Also secrets which professional pelt hunters usein taking game. How to make baits and scents,capture skunk and civet without odor, pack skinsfor shipment, when to trap the prime hides, howto mark and care for steel traps, etc., etc.

    Edited By GEORGE J. THIESSENthe well-known authority and writer on the sub-ject of traps and trapping. The reading of thisbook will bring dollars into the hands of everyamateur pelt hunter.

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    How to Trap 3European War Helps American Trappers!Trapping has long been a favorite pin-money pastime among the boys

    and young men of America.Now, through changed conditions wrought by war, the center of the Furindustry has been transferred from overseas to America, and trapping has

    become an industry of prime importance.Instead of being a pin-money proposition, it now gives American boys a

    chance to add materially to their income to engage in a money-makingbusiness.

    Before the war, Russia furnished a large proportion of each year's outputof furs. Now the Russian source of supply is cut off. A few years ago thebig fur auctions were held each year in London- American furs were sentthere to be sold. Furs were dyed abroadand part of them were sent backto America to be sold.

    Now the big fur auctions are held in America. St. Louis and New Yorkare battling for supremacy as the leading fur market of the world. Pelts aredyed in America. They are sold in America.

    The automobile has played its part in the gigantic transformation. Furcoats by the tens of thousands are now used by automobilists, for spring,fall and winter driving.

    The rarer sorts of furs are becoming scarceare often unattainable. Asa result, the skins of common animals - skunks, weasles, raccoons, etc.are becoming correspondingly valuable. These animals can be found andtrapped right around home. Their pelts not only bring the farmer and thefarmer boy a quick profit, but they rid the farm, in many cases, of nasty pestswhich prey upon poultry, and, in a multitude of ways, render themselvesobnoxious.

    The conditions above outlined have resulted in a demand for furs suchas was never known before in any country.

    The boys and young men of America can profit by this demand. Tohelp them to do it, COMFORT has prepared this book. It is written bymen who know how to trap. If you do not know how it will teach youandif you do, it will show you how to trap more successfully.

    We have published this book for your benefit and have given it to youfree, or without cost even of postage. We have done this to help you to getyour share of the millions that will be paid this year to American trappers;and to do our part toward securing America's permanent hold on theleadership of the fur business of the world.W. H. GANNETT, Publisher of COMFORT..

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    How to TrapThe Boy Trappers of Beaver Bend

    Getting StartedJACK Wallace and I had decided to trap

    !

    along. Nothing more rewarded us. Yet we wereA touch of winter was in the air ; the happy, and with the help of our hired hand, wedry leaves were heaped in piles and gave soon had the skin on a board and hanging inforth a rustle when stirred by the wind, the barn.Fur was beginning to prime and in the Six more pelts were captured that week. Wepast few weeks my partner and I had ex- worried, however, over the traps that had beenplored the small streams in search of dens and sprung but which had nothing in them. Thatsigns. With tracks a-plenty there were prospects Sunda.v, however. Jack came running over withof a good catch, but since we never had made a an article he found in a magazine, showing howset, we were somewhat puzzled as to the best to take the various animals and market theirmethods to employ. furs to advantage. "It's just what we need," heJack was a neighbor boy, just sixteen. I was said, "for it tells the reason why so many of ouryounger. The Wallace farm adjoined ours. On traps are empty. In the first place, all muskratthese we were going to test our skill with skunk, sets ought to be in about three inches of water somink, raccoon, muskrat and the various fur as to catch by the hind legs. They are strongerbearers. find longer than the front ones. Further, it gives

    "I got three traps," my companion announced, a list of baits for each animal. It sa.vs hereexhibiting them. "Could you get some?" that for muskrat decoys we ought to use apples,"A few," was the reply. "Father found seven carrots and turnips. You can bet I am gladIn the shed. They are rusty"Let's get some ofthe rust off so tliey willwork."With a piece of brickand kerosene we soonhad our outfit workingas well as could be ex-pected. Two of the trapswould not work, buthaving no money, wehad to make the best ofthings. In fact we feltsure we would get somefur and then later buywhat we needed.About mid-October wemade our first sets.They were along a creekat holea in the bankwhere signs were nu-merous."Huh!" Jack grunted,slipping from the bit ofsod upon which he stoodand landing almost tohis waist in water. "I'llbet that scared every-thing in Beaver Bend.Further"and his teethbegan to chatter as heclimbed on shore"when 1 get home "A splash soundednearby and some ani-mal swam up thestream and disappearedin a swirl of mud andscum."What's that?" wechorused.Neither answered. We stood watching. Noth-ing further took place. Then, without speaking, dip the pelt in water you can more readily see.we started toward home, each dreaming of the You will notice," he continued, "that the fur looksmoney he would make by selling furs. almost white and the tips blacka sort of aThe next day we were up before the sun. spotted effect. Other mink show a dark brown,Soon we reached our first set. It had not been as a rule, when tested as I have explained."disturbed. The next was the same. Our hopes Ice had formed on the creek, not thick, but

    fell. Should we catch nothing at all ? strong enough to prevent the animals gettingDown the stream we went. Our third trap into our traps when set at the foot of slides,held something. The animal was tugging at the Again, we obtained information from an old peltchain. A blow dispatched it. "Look," Jack hunter who said we should put a small bag ofyelled, "it's a big rat. What " coarse salt under each set, for this would pre-"I know," was the interruption. "That is just vent freezing unless the weather was very cold,like the muskrat father killed last summer in the When we tried it, the plan worked successfullybarnyard. It's valuable, too !" and we got several more skins."You bet," was the reply. By this time the muskrats became waryorCarrying the fur bearer by the tail we hurried at least they seemed that way to us. With un-

    A';'.ODR THIRD TRAP HELD SOMETHING, THE ANIMAL WAS TUGGING AWAY AT THE CHAIN.

    Aunt Jane subscribes to 'Comfort^ and has theold issues. I will lookthem all up and thenwe are bound to havebetter luck.""You're right," Iagreed. "If we onlyhad these sooner, wewould have caught more

    fur."We also learned thata bit of white paperor cloth would oftendraw the muskrat whenall other lures failed.This is because the ani-mals are inquisitive.The days passed. Thenumber of skins in-creased rapidly.A couple of weeksafter we placed our firsttraps, we took a largemink. We did not un-derstand why this hap-pened, since all our setswere for muskrat. Laterwe learned that minkoften visit the variousdens in search of foodand the one we hadtaken simply blunderedinto the trap. Not longafterward we caught an-other also which the lo-cal dealer pronouncedas "cotton.""What's cotton?" weasked."That," said the buy-er, "is a grade of minkwith the under hair white or nearly so. If you

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    How to TrapWe caught skunk almost every day, with We brought water from a schoolhouse pump mbaited and unbaited sets. In fact, we had no an old tin can, but we couldn't get the pup totrouble whatever im getting them ready for mar- notice it. What to do we had no idea, for ifket without odor. We were about to devote all David knew- , .^ ^ . .,our time to taking this animal when the unex- "Hey ! What you kids doing? , ^ ^pected happened Jones hailed us trom the road. We had notWe got a large Broad Stripe in one of our noticed

    him approach. Wallace and I were in-traps near a small country school,but how to capable of speecn until we saw the amused gringet him out was the problem. That skunk was on his face.a terror and the air certainly was scented.This experience was new to us. We had han-dled our first sets with ease and did not knowwhat to make of this last animal. Afterwards, ^ , ,^ +, ^ . ^- ,we learned that some boys had teased the fur now and don t go nearer that 'stink cat'bearerthrew rocks your folks won't

    "Trappin'," I stammered.Jack nodded."So I seeor rather smell," he remarked.'And with my dog, too. Well, you hike homeand clubs at it. Ifthis had not been done,most of the odor couldhave been eliminated.Thus we discoveredsomething new aboutcatching skunk.Closer than a hundredfeet we dared not ven-ture. The animal staredat us defiantly. Thething must be killed,but how?"Let's get Towser?"my companion sug-gested, referring to adog that David Jones,another neighbor, owned.

    I agreedand yet du-biously. I knew Joneswas particular aboutthis half-grown pup."You go," I suggested."Naw !" Jack rebelled."Anyway, you canwhistle louder. Justsneak behind his corncrib and call the dog."So I started off whilemy partner watched theskunk.Luck came my way.A couple of hundredyards from the Jones'place the pup was in-dustriously barking anddigging at a hole. Ittook some persuasionupon my part to getTowser to leave, butafter I fastened a stringaround his neck, hecame trotting along.The dog needed nofurther urging. As soonas he saw the skunk hegave one jerk andwas free. Straighttoward the fur bearer

    nC'^O*

    WE GOT A BROAD STRIPE IN ODE TRAPS NEAE ASMALL COUNTRY SCHOOL.

    evenlet you sleep in thebarn. The dog can comehome when he getsreadyand I hope itwon't be before nextweek. He's sick all rightbut nothing serious.Glad you got that 'cat,'for it will save me a lotof chickens. And say

    ain't the pup a gameone?"Once more atour ease,we sauntered off, neversuspecting that therewas the slightest odoron our clothes. Thehired man told us aswe walked into the barnat our place."Suffer'n cats !" heejaculated. "You'll catchit now. Whew !"My partner and I bothsniffed.We could detect nosmell whatever. Fur-ther, we had not beennear the skunk, so howcould there be?"You're fooling us,"Jack retorted hopefully."You think ""Nothing of the sort.The air has carriedthe smell into yourclothes. Now you twokids go out into thecorn crib and takesome gasoline. Soaka cloth in it and thengo over your duds.After that, walk downto the further meadowand drive up the cows.The fumes will beevaporated by that timehope all theand Ihe flew. The trapped smell. And say," he added, "be sure you haveanimal was readyand waiting. no matches in your pocket."Everything happened at once. The air was Wallace and I followed directions. Whem we"blue." Towser sneezed ; gave the skunk a final returned, the hired man pronounced us allshake ; walked a few feet and regretted it. right.

    Lessons in Mink TrappingOUR catch of furs graduallv accumu-lated. With the aid of Jim Welch,the man who worked for father, welearned many things which were ofvalue to us on the trap line. For onething, he showed ns how to skin skunkwithout puncturing the scent bag which lies atthe root of the tail. "You kids," he said, "oughtto cut around these glands, leaving a small patchof fur. This does not affect the value of the hidein the least.We could hardly believe itbut then sinceJim had trapped for years, we were forced to do

    soand it was true.Another trickif we might call it that^waskilling these fur bearers without odor. Jim toldus to shoot the skunk just back of the head sothat the bullet cut the spine. This paralyzedthe asimal and kept it from throwing its fluid.Welch had a long-barreled pistol which he saidhe would let us use provided we took good careof it. He told us that any short-barreled weaponwas dangerous.Welch also pointed out that care must be takennot to excite the animal, and he told us to havethe bullet come out in the neck so the skin was

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    10 How to TrapBaits and Scents

    to Use TrappingTHERE are many patent baits and a few clays and the attractor is ready for use.scents upon the market todav, some of Beaver castors may be obtained from almostwhich are pood, others fairly good any large fur house, drug store, etc Only aand some absoutely worthless. The very little is necessary to produce results,competition for furs makes a lure al- hoivTnto rmixture'T-ilcohof'^lni'^e oTandfn,.. th."""'^ a necessity, but it should not Sfu.i^to^a^ m^ixtme^^of akoh^^^^force the novice to buy a bait simply because excellent also. When after the opossum, fewthe manufacturer recommends it highly. On the jj^its are better than ordinary sardines put upother hand, the beginner in most cases does not j,j ^ilneed bait to catch fur bearers as much as he Never put the bait on the trap. This hasneeds a knowledge of where and how to place a tendency to scare away the fur bearers byhis traps. calling their attention to the sets. While I sayWe admit, however, that attractors are almost never to do this, there is one exception I shoulda necessity. While there are several I should mention perhaps and that is this : A bright ob-not hesitate to recommend among those offered .iect such as tin or piece of looking glass fixedfor sale, space does not permit me to enumerate to the pan. provided the laws are hidden, will.iust which they are. Nevertheless, in order not cause the raccoon to investigate. This it doesto disappoint my reader, I will show him how with a paw. trying to scoop the bright objectto make his own decoy, as effective as much out of the water. If the set haj! been madeof it is sold at fancy prices. Even if this lure is properly, of course the animal is caught,not the best, at the same time it will attract Fresh, bloody meat is good, as a rule, for allthe animals into sets, and that is what we want, small fur bearers with the exception of the musk-Most beginners are located in rural districts rat. During cold weather, frozen flesh loses somewhere the houses are not far apart. It is evi- of its power to attract. On the other hand, whendent that manv of the fur bearers get an abun- it is warm, meat does not always give the bestdance of food from the farms. For this reason, results either. To use bait successfully, the peltour bait must be something different from meat hunter must keep constantly ex))erimenting. Whator vegetables such as the animals get, as a rule, is excellent one place may prove worthless, orin abundance. nearlv so. in another. Again, a lure that civesGenerally speaking, the smaller fur bearers results for an animal one place does not alwaysmay be divided into two classesthose that eat a short distance away. That is why one trapperflesh and those that do not. Of course, the will state that muskrat flesh is best for minkraccoon will eat both, -so we will discuss it while some other, just as successful perhaps,separately later. prefers rabbit, fish or small birds.The skunk, civet cat. mink, opossum and weasel Most beginners use too much bait and ineat meat. For bait make an oil by chopping places where it is unnecessary. As a rule, Iup fish fine and letting it rot in an open-mouthed should not advise the employment of a decoyjar. A few drops of this will invariably draw unless the .set could not be made in any otherthe fur bearers mentioned. way. If meat is used for any of the smallerFor muskratsand most professionals do not animals, a little will go a great ways. And souse much attractor for catching them, since it it is with the scent. A few drops is enough,it unnecessarybeaver castors and alcohol are Too much often causes the fur bearers to becomegood. Chop up the castor fine and pour on the suspicious and leave when otherwise they wouldliquid until covered. Let it stand tightly corked have been taken.

    How to Prepare forThe Fur SeasonMILLIONS will be paid in the next As to the number of traps to set, one must de-few months for raw furs. A large cide largely for himself. No more sets ought toper cent of this money will go di- be made than can be attended to properly. Forrectly into the hands of those who the beginner who has but a limited time at histake the smaller animals. These trap- disposal each day, probably a dozen or two trapspers for the most part are farmer will be enough. " Of course' if the trapper is afterboys and those who live in the rural communities, muskrats. a greater number of sets can generallyThe first thing the pelt hunter should do IS to ^e looked after than if the pelt hunter mustlocate his grounds pis ought to be done ^^.^ ; .^j ^^ ,i^ ^ ^ j raccoon.By p annfng'the 'S "%nf can ^locnte 'the ''vt The fact that the "line" is near or far fromriL.s dens and runwayk and know aw^^^ home must alw.ays be taken into considerationhow many traps to employ. along with the character of the ground ; whether

    Pelt hunters do not realize how great their hard to travel or easy. ......loss by taking the skins before thev are of good ^ The genuine Newhouse is the best trap manu-quality. Some states have laws prohibiting trap- factured. However, there are some cheaperping until after the first of Octoberand some brands on the market which will answer everyeven later. Generally speaking, pelts secured purpose for smaller animals. Among these arebefore the first of November any place in the the Victor, a choice of an army of pelt hunters ;United States are not of good quality. the High Grip, so built that it catches high onJust before the first cold weather is probably the legs and lessens the chances of the fur bearersthe best time to study the actions of the fur bear- to pull out, etc., etc. All of these are of theers. for at this time they are especially bus.y Newhouse style. Then there are the popularstoring up food and preparing their winter quar- Jump, Leap and Kangaroo traps. These actuallyters. leap when sprung, insuring a good hold on the

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    12 How to TrapHow to Trap Skunk, Civet,

    Raccoon and OpossumTHE skunk and civet cat are easy to When shooting fur bearers, remember thattake. They seem to have no fear of holes in the peltback or bellyaffect the valuesspringing a bright new trap that is of the skins. If possible, shoot so the bulletsnot concealed. While, therefore, it is range from the back of the head downward, outnot necessary to conceal traps for this the neck.animal, I would advise doing so, as Should a skin be "stunk up" or some of theone can thus often take a wandering minJi or odor get on the clothes, it may be removed byraccoon. thoroughly washing, one or more times, in gasd-To conceal land sets, one should scoop out a line. Do this outdoors and be sure to let thehole large enough so that the jaws are just below vapor evaporate thoroughly before taking it in-the surface. If fine material is employed, such doors, otherwise there is danger from fire.as dirt and rotten wood, it is best to place awad of cotton or wool under the pan so nothing The raccoon and opossum are much harder totake than either the skunk or civet cat, as theircan get under it and interfere with the action animal instinct is better developed. Unless thewhen sprung. Always use a covering natural novice makes his sets in water, he is liable toto the place.that is, dead leaves when sets are have some difficulty in taking many pelts,made in dead leaves ; green grass when sets are The raccoon is very strong, considering itsmade on green grass, etc. In cold weather, line size. I should recommend nothing smaller than athe excavation with dry material such as leaves, Number 1% trap. Further, fasten all traps inetc., before arranging the set, to prevent the trap deep water when able to do it and avoid the usefrom freezing to the ground. Traps so placed of small stakes also. The 'coon frequently whenmust he examined from time to time and the caught will gnaw its way loose. My method ofbed of dry material changed. fastening traps for this fur bearer is to wireThere are usually several skunks or civet cats them to rocks, etc., weighing from twenty toin each den. While sets may be arranged at twenty-five pounds each, which cannot be draggedthe mouths of burrows, I prefer to use baited off. For the opossum, however, it is optionalwhether one employstraps placed in the immediate vicinity of theburrows. One may thustake several skunks andcivets in a single nightfrom a single burrow.

    Built small V-shapedpens in the vicinity ofthe burrows. Use bloodymeat for a decoy, cov-ered with a small quan-tity of grass so thatit is hidden from crowsand hawks. Guard thelure with one or moretraps.

    I have found thatgood results may be ob-tained when small exca-vations are dug and aKangaroo or Jump trapis concealed on top of apiece of meat. Theanimals in diggingfor the decoy will becaught.

    LAND SET. CONCEALS THE TRAP WITH A COVER-ING NATURAL TO THE PLACE.

    the Number 1 or !%When tracks of the'coon are foundeventhe beginner cannot mis-take them, for they re-sem))le very closely theimprint of a baby's footbuild a small three-sided pen of rocks orsticks in shallow waternot too far from shore.In the back part of thisplace a bait, guardingit with one or moreconcealed traps. Whenmaking sets of thiskind it is best toleave as few signs aspossible.The raccoon is the on-ly one of the smaller furbearers which will eatboth flesh and vegetablesseemingly with littlepreference. Like its lar-W'arm, moonlight nights are best for taking the ger brother, the bear, it always appears hungry, sotwo fur bearers mentioned. They are more active a good bait is almost a necessity. Among thoseat this time, and den up, generally speaking, which I have employed successfully are : corn,when the weather gets real cold. fresh fish, clams, honey and canned salmon. ISome who are starting to trap for the first might also add that a patent lure will oftentime will have trouble in locating occupied dens: prove of value.you can learn to tell them by the general appear- If a large hollow log is found partly sub-anceif the entrance seems used, if there are merged along a stream, place traps at each en-tracks about and droppings,but a surer method trance-way. If the water is too deep, scoop out anis to reach into the den as far as possible and excavation for the traps ; if too shallow, generallytake up a handful or two of dirt. In this dirt, a foundation for the sets mav be made of rocks,if the den is used by the skunk or civet, will sticks, mud, etc. I aim to have my sets coveredgenprall.Y be found long black, black and white, or with from three to four inches of water and con-white hair. cealed with soaked grass, leaves or moss. Em-When employing meat for bait, remember it ploy no lure of anv kind with the set I have justwill attract dogs and cats also. Baited sets, given, for the first 'coon passing either up ortherefore, ought not to be made too close to down the stream will attempt to enter the loghuman habitation. and. if the traps are placed properlv, get caught.The beginner, no doubt, will hesitate to trap The log set is emploved quite extensivelv for tak-both the skunk and civet because of the odor, ing the mink also. Onlv those logs having largeAVith care, however, they may be taken with hollows can be expected to furnish ideal' placeslittle inconvenience. When an animal is taken for taking the raccoon.in a trap and is alive, do not excite it more than Often natural places mav be discovered along

    is necessary. A small caliber rifle or pistol is the edae of a stream or lake where there arebest to employ for killing. Shoot the animals signs of the fur bearers. When you find such ajust back of the head so that the bullets cut the place, simply conceal traps there. Sets in run-spine and paralyze it. ways are effective also, provided, of course, the

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    16 How to TrapHow to Prepare Furs for MarketTHE preparation of furs for market is avoid spoiled furs is to ship them as soon asalmost as important as catching them, they are cured. The one who does this generallyEven the most valuable skins may be has more to show for his labor than one who letsruined through ignorance or lack of two or three hides spoil while waiting for an

    attention to details. advance which may never come.Dealers generally prefer the pelts Hang your catch in a cool, shady place whereskinned as follows : Skunk, civet, opossum, mink there is plenty of air. Never dry them in theand muskrat "cased"that is, not cut down the sun or over a fire.bellyand raccoon "open." With the possible Traps for the smaller animals ought to be at-exception of the finer Northern and Northeastern tended to every morning and the skins removedmink, all hides ought to be shipped flesh side as soon as possible.out and dried that way. Some buyers recom- When animals are frozen stiff, they ought to bemend the weasel dried and sent fur side out, so thawed before the pelt is removed. It is best toit will not he necessary to turn the pelt to as- place them in a pail of cold water or in acertain if it is prime. When weasels are sent spring. When this is done, no damage can re-fur side out, along with other skins, it is best to suit. I have known of furs being ruined be-wrap them separately so they will not be soiled cause they were singed over a blaze in thawing,by grease and dirt. While grease and dirt on When shipping, it is best to pack securely intile fur does not affect the value, it has been burlap and ship by express, especially if the lotmy experience that appearance in skins offered weighs more than five or six pounds and the dis-for sale is frequently paid for in real money. tance is greater than a hundred miles. In the in-

    I'se a sharp knife for skinning. Take long side of your shipment, i)lace your name and ad-strokes so that the edges of the skin are not dress, together with the count and kind of furs,ragged. In "cased" pelts, start at the hind legs It is advisable to notify your dealer just whatand work toward the crotch, loosening the hide, you send and give him your instructions by letterNext, split open the tail as far as possible, and just as soon as the package leaves your hands,pull out the bone. After this, pull the hide Some agents will not accept skunk except whendown over the body un-til the front legs arereached. Work these out.Next slip the skindown to the ears, cutbeneath and also aroundthe eyes, then over thenose. The tails of themuskrat and opossumhave no value, so it isnot necessary to skinthem.In giving these in-structions, remember Iam treating only thesmaller animals. Thelynx. bear, etc., must, ifused for mounting pur-poses, be perfect as tofeet and claws.With "cased" skins,employ steel stretchersor boards fashioned tofit. These should, prefer-ably, be mad eof softwood, the edges taperingand not sharp. If boardsare employed, the hidesmay be held in placewith tacks or small nails.Be sure to remove allfat and flesh. Unlessthis is done, the fureare liable to become"grease burned" or"taint." In this condi-tion they are worth verylittle, often nothing.

    START AT THE HIND LEGS AND WORK TOWARDTHE CROTCH, LOOSENING THE HIDE.

    boxed. In this case, onemust follow the instruc-tions and prepare hispackage accordingly.When shipping by ParcelPost it is best to insurethe package. It is per-missible to place yourname and address insidethe parcel post package,together with the num-ber of asking, but the reg-ulations prohibit any let-ter of instructions. This,however, when placed ina sealed envelope carr.v-ing first-class postage,may be attached to theshipment.

    It is absolutely neces-sary that you write yourname and address plain-ly when sending in yourfurs. Every year largebuyers have many ship-ments they cannot payfor, because they do notknow who sent them. Ifyou do not hear fromyour lot within a reason-able length of time, writethe one to whom theywere consigned, askingthe reason. Generally re-turns are made same daypackages are received.

    If you desire yourgoods "held separate"Use no preparation of any kind on furs, unless so that you can know the buyer's offer before theyof course at the beginning of the fur season, when are soldrequest this by letter as soon as thethey are liable to spoil. In this case, salt the shipment is made. If the bid is too low, in vourskins. Salted pelts do not bring as much as estimation, you may ask the return of your" lot.those cured in a natural way, yet more than Remember, if good."? are not ordered "held sepa-tainted and "grease burned" skins. One way to rate," it is impossible to have them sent back.

    {Suggestions for Trappers. Cont.)Warm, rainy nights are best for taking themink. However, the animal travels in the coldestweather, and, unlike the skunk and civet, doesnot den up.Go over your proposed trapping grounds earlyin the season. It will pay you in locating thesigns and runways. Dens are easy to locate also.

    In the spring, sets for skunk must be watchedclosely. If a male is captured and another dis-covers it, they are sure to fight. The caughtanimal is certain to get the worst of it. Guardhairs are cut out and the hide is not pleasantto handle due to the odor.When once an animal is captured, do not pullup the set. Soon another undoubtedly will becaptured.

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    LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

    nil nil I ii