The trapper's guide; a manual of instructions for capturing all kinds of fur-bearing animals, and curing their skins; with observations on the fur-trade, hints on life in the woods, and narratives of trapping and hunting excursions

Front matter

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

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Introduction

Connection of Trapping with other Trades, 8. Observations on the Fur Trade, 9. Season for Trapping, 10. Statistics of the Fur Trade, 11.

THE TRAPPER'S ART.

PAGE 13—94.

I. Preliminaries, 13—20. The Dead-fall, 13. Poisoning, 14. Shooting, 14. Steel Traps, 15. Requisites of a good Trap, 15. The Spring-pole, 17. The Sliding-pole, 18. The Clog, 18. Rule for Baiting, 19. Proper Outfit of Traps, 20. Profits of Trapping, 20.

II. Capture op Animals, 21—78. The Muskrat, 21. The Mink, 23. The Marten, 25. The Sable, 26. The Ermine, 28. The Fisher, 30. The Fox, 32. The Otter, 35. The Sea Otter, 41. The Beaver, 42. The Wolf, 47. The Bear, 48. The Raccoon, 50. The Badger, 51. The Wild Cat or Bay Lynx, 53. The Lynx, 56. The Cougar, 58. The Jaguar, 59. The Lion, 61. The Tiger, 62. The Wolverine, 66. The Opossum, 67. The Skunk, 67. The Coypu Rat, 70. The Chinchilla, 71. The Squirrel, 71 The Woodchuck or Marmot, 72. The Gopher, 72. The Rat, 74. The Deer, 74. The Moose, 77.

III. Coring Skins, 79—83. General Rules, 79. Stretching Skins, 80. Board Stretcher, 80. Muskrat Stretcher, 81. Bow Stretcher, 82. Hoop Stretcher, 82.

IV. Life in the Woods, 84 — 94. Outfit for a Campaign on Foot, 84. Outfit for an Excursion by Wagon or Boat, 86. Tent, 87. Stove and Furniture, 87. Bed and Bedding, 88. Camp Chest, 89. Cooking, 89. Jerked Meat, 91. Preparations against Insects, 91. Shanty, 92. Trapping Lines, 92. Conclusion, 93.

THE TRAPPER'S FOOD.

The Deer, 95. The Buffalo, 96. The Rocky Mountain Sheep or Big-horn, 98. The Argali, 99. The Prong-horn Antelope, 100. Squirrel Hunting, 101. The Ruffled Grouse, 101. Pinnated Grouse, 102. Sharptail Grouse, 103. Cock of the Plains, 103. Dusky Grouse, 104. Canada sr Spruce Grouse, 104 White-tailed Ptarmigan, 105. Willow Ptarmigan, 105. European Grouse, 107. Water Fowl, 107.

4 CONTENTS.

FISHING IN AUTUMN AND WINTER

Spearing Fish, 108. Fishing through the Ice, 109. Net-fishing in Winter, 109.

Notes on Trapping and Wood-Craft. By F. R., p. Ill — 121.

Plan of a Trapping Campaign. By Peter M. Gunter, p. 122 — 125

EOAT-BUILDING, p. 126—129.

Snow-Shoes, p. 130.

Oil for Fire- Arms, p. 130.

NAERATIVES.

An Evening with an Old Trappeu, 131—137. A Young Trapper's Experience, 138—142. The Deer Hunt, 143 — 145. Muskrat Hunt- [NG, 140 — 158. An Amateur in the North Woods, 159 — 174. Trav ELLiNG IN a Circle, 175—180. An Expedition to the Laurentian Hills, p. 181—205.

Appendix

History of the Newhouse Trap, 206-212 Description of the Newhouse Trap, 213—215. Conclusion. 216.

FULL PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS.

Portrait of S. Newhouse, Froutispiece.

The Muskrat opposite page 21

Tlie Mink, " " 23

The Marten, " " 25

The Sable, " " 26

The Fisher, " " 30

The Red Fox, " " 33

The Otter, " " 35

The Beaver, " " 42

The Wolf, " " 47

The Grizzly Bear, " " 48

The Eaccoon, " " 50

The Badger, " '• 52

The Wild Cat, " " 54

The Lynx, " " 56

The Cougar, " " 58

The Opossum, " " 67

The Skunk, " " '58

The Coypu Rat, " - 70

The Chinchilla, " " 71

The Woodchuck, " " 72

The Rat, " " 74

Family of Deer, " " 76

Ml ose Yard, " " 78

Ml. Newhoiise's Tent and Stove, " " 84

Log Shanty, " " 93

Deer Breaking Cover, " " 95

The Ruflfed Grouse " " 101

The Wild Goose, " " 107

Canoes, " " 126

Snow-Shoes and mode of wearing them, " " 130

Community Works, Willow Place, Oneida, N. Y.. " " 206

ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT.

The Otter Slide, page 37. The Claw Trap, 37. The Deer Trap, 7«. Board Stretcher, 80. Muskrat Stretcher, 81. Shelter Tent, 85 Various rizes of the Newhouse Trap, 213-215.