irch bark covers
this, and then with a crane's wing the snow is brushed over both trap
and chain so that no sign remains. Then in addition to the mixed bait,
he plants about the spot food bait, such as bits of rotten fish or duck.

Most hunters have a regular system for setting their traps so that they
may know exactly where and how they are placed. Usually he sets them
east and west, then cutting a notch on a branch--about a foot from the
butt--he measures that distance from the trap, and thrusts the branch
into the snow in an upright position, as though it were growing
naturally. The stick serves not only to mark the trap, but in an open
space to furnish the same attraction for a fox as a tree does for a
dog; besides, when the hunter is going his rounds, at the sight of the
branch he will remember where and how his trap is set, and can read all
the signs without going too near. The object of laying the sheet of
birch bark over the trap is that when any part of the bark is touched
the trap may go off; besides, it forms a hollow space beneath, and thus
allows the animal's foot to sink deeper into the trap, to be caught
farther up, and to be held more securely.

The foregoing is the usual way of setting a fox trap, yet the Wood
Crees and the Swampy Crees set their fox traps on mounds of snow about
the size of muskrat houses. For that purpose they bank the snow into a
mound about eighteen inches high, bury the drag-pole at the bottom, set
the trap exactly in the crest of the mound, and, covering up all traces
of trap and chain with powdered snow, sprinkle food bait and mixed bait
around the bottom of the mound. The approaching fox, catching scent of
the mixed bait, follows it up and then eats some of the food bait,
which presently gives him the desire to go and sit upon the
mound--which is the habit of foxes in such a condition--and thus he is
caught.

A curious thing once happened to a Dog-rib Indian at Great Slave Lake.
One day he found a wolf caught in one of his traps and foolishly
allowed his hunting-dog to rush at it. The wolf leaped about so
furiously that it broke the trap chain, and ran out upon the lake, too
far for the hunter's gun. In pursuit of the wolf, the dog drew too
near and was seized and overpowered by the wolf. In order to save his
dog the hunter rushed out upon the lake; and when within fair range,
dropped upon one knee and fired. Unluckily, the ball struck the trap,
smashed it, and set