ate trapping, when the fur is
not in a fairly prime condition. I am pleased to see so many of the
trappers in Pennsylvania advocating a closed season on the furbearers
of this state, though I think that they seem to be in favor of a
longer open season than will be to the trapper's advantage.

* * *

Comrades of the trap line, are you awake to the conditions under
which we must work? The dog man has no use for the trapper and his
traps. Now comrades, while I am a lover of the dog, and have used him
on the trap line and trail, I have, nevertheless used the dog for a
different purpose than it is ordinarily used by the average
sportsman. I hope the trappers throughout the country will arouse
themselves to the conditions and not allow the legislation of their
respective states to pass laws to put the trapper in the hole, at the
pleasure of the dog man, as has been done here in Pennsylvania. (This
was written Spring of 1912.)

I believe that the dog man and the trapper, are each entitled to
equal privileges--the dog has no better friend than the writer.
Though we do not blame our brother trapper, who will not put up as
good a scrap in defense of his traps and his sport and occupation, as
does the dog man in defense of his dog, and his way of enjoying an
outdoor life. But comrades, we are all men and sportsmen in our way,
and let us be reasonable in this matter; but brother trappers, let us
not take a back seat because we may not be possessed with as large an
amount of worldly goods as some of the dog men may be.

Express your views upon this matter of the trappers' rights through
the columns of Hunter-Trader-Trapper. Also with our respective
representatives that they may not pass game laws that the trapper is
compelled to ignore, as is the case here in Pennsylvania. Here they
ask for a bounty on noxious animals, yet, the law forbids the setting
of a trap in a manner that would take anything more wary or greater
than the weasel. Was this law enacted wholly for the benefit and
pleasure of the dog man?

Now I wish to speak of another matter that I think is greatly to the
interest of the trapper, and that is, early and late trapping.

No, no, I do not mean morning and evening--I refer to trapping early
and late in the season. And while I do not approve of putting out
traps too early in the season, it is far better that we begin
trapping in October, than it is to continue trapping until into
March, for such animals as mink