ld taper slightly down to within 8 inches of the end for
fox and then rounded up to a point. The mink boards should be rounded
at 4 or 5 inches from this point. You will vary the shape of the
board in proportion to the width. Stretching boards should not be
more than 3/8 inch thick. A belly strip the length, or nearly the
length, of the boards 1 1/4 inches at the wide end, tapering to a
point at the other end and about 1/4 to 3/8 inch thick. Have the
boards smooth and even on the edges. Other stretching boards should
be made in proportion to the size and shape of the animal whose skin
is to be stretched.

You should not fail to remove all the fat and flesh from the skin
immediately after the skin is on the board. If a skin is quite wet
when taken from the animal it should be drawn lightly on the board
until the fur is quite dry. Then turn the skin flesh side out and
stretch.

It is always best if you can go into the country where you intend to
trap. This is especially important if the ground is a new field to
you. During the summer or early fall, acquaint yourself with the
streams and the general surroundings, and prepare some of your best
sets for the mink and the fox.

If you have a dog of good intelligence take him along, though he may
not be broken to the business of trapping. It is many a fox and coon
that my dog has saved for me when they have escaped from footing or a
broken chain. If the dog is of much intelligence, and you use care in
training him, you will soon find that a dog will learn more about
trapping than you supposed possible. If you have long lines of traps
your dog will inform you more than once that you have passed a trap
that chanced to be a little off the main line.

* * *

Brother bear trappers, how do you like this style of bear trap (see
frontispiece) for toting through the woods three or four miles from
camp and at the same time tote a couple of sheep heads or the head of
a beef for bait? In times gone by I have carried two or three
Newhouse bear traps and bait to bait them with from one to five miles
in the woods to pinch old Bruin's toes. Such is a pleasure to any red
blooded man, who was born a real lover of the open and the
stimulating effect of obtaining that $30 or $40, which the hide and
meat of the bear brought, had on the trapper, was nearly equal to the
desire to be out in the tall timber.

Now brother bear trappers, these traps that you see on my shoulder
are of my own make