Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-01-07
A MUsKRATs pERILs.
Trapping the Little Animal Along the New
Jersey Marshes


~ Is not necessary to 90 70 the north
ern latitude to learn to trap successful
~. Jersey will do for beginners
80 spoke an old indigenous New Jer-
sey fisherman as he sat on sugar
hogshead which rested on South street
pier and tapped its head melrily with
his big split-leather boots. His scraggy
whiskers and weather bronzed, pleasant
countenance, says the New York Times
showed that he was one of those happy
persons who had passed the period Of
lie when youthful ambitions and aspi-
rations never TO be obtained had passed
away, and peace and contentment were
now accompaniments OF frugal life.
On his head was perched cap OF black
hlr. and gloves of similar material
peeped from deep pockets Of the old tar
stained coat
What started the old man was the
presence OF a pile Of steel traps, which
glistened in the sunlight Of warm fall
day. He eyed them furtively and heav-
ed sigh. The traps did not look at
all formidable as they lay in a tangled
heap, with the four-foot chains spread
out in every direction. They were Of
the latest pattern, light, but of strong,
stiff springs. though not differing in
any essential particular from the 0rdi.
nary rat-trap that many a mindAbecloud.
ed tenant at a late hour has put his foot
into while cropping in the coal-cellar.
AT the end Of the chains were little
round rings, which would be used TO
Hasten them TO stakes.
Il suppose" continued the Young
man. ''those fellows will be sent north
to be used in mink trappin'. Ell only
had 'eni III tho meadows near my place
| would make the muskrats howl.
They're thick down there, and mean
to make it hot for few of 'em myself
this winter"
"Tell me something about trapping"
asked a listener.
"Waal. replied the old fisherman.
you looks as though YOU needed lit
tie of it to spread them shoulders of
yourn and harden them muscles" and
he pinched the thin. soft biceps of the
young weaklings arm There is moth
ing better TO strengthen young fellows
and build 'em up than trappin' and
trampin' over the meadows and through
the woods There amt any money in
1t to speak of, but some fun, | should
say"
Take the salt marshes on the Jersey
coast and they are full Of muskrats,
while the streams further inland CON-
tain but n few. The muskrat Is re-
spectacle animal TO trap. He is wary
and on his guard in the more populous
districts. In value his pelt is not worth
much. The prices paid for them vary
from Is to 30 cents apiece, according to
the condition of the fur, and also the
condition of the market. Some wears
they bring much more money than in
others The pelts are used in making
hats. Sometimes they are done up into
furs and sent into the country to be
sold under the name of river mink. OF
course, as to pecuniary return, there
is not much to attract young man or
boy in this small trapping. but in it he
will learn much about the mysteries of
the brooks and the secrets of animal
life, while the exercise he gets is brac-
ing. The cost of axes, boots and traps
will amount to as much as he gets for
the skins.
WAL" continued the old man.
there amt much play in trappin', and
its mostly hard work, too You
want TO be well prepared for il. In the
first place you must have warm cloth
ing, for you will be out in most all
kinds of weather, and nights, too. And
in the mornin', when You get up early
to go look at your traps. it's cold and
raw. You must carry an AK or big
Ratchet with you TO drive in the stakes
to which the chains of the steel traps
are to be attached. They must be driven
in tight, too, or the animal will pull
them out and away he will go, trap and
all. Then you want big bag to fetch
EN- home in when you get any. These
things, with a good set Of steel traps,
will do to commence with. and then the
trapper may put in box traps and de-
wise means of alluring tho beasts. Some
people use little bait in the shape Of
a piece of turnip or apple to allure EN-.
A piece of sweet apple is awfuny good
bait for muskrat and he will try hard
TO get it. A drop or so of anisc-seed on
the pan of the trap is also quite an at
traction for 'em. As a rule, however,
these allurements are not necessary, and
care TO cover up the trap will be suffi-
Gent The muskrat is wary animal
and won't step square into trap when
he sees it. He's KNOWN, and If it amt
well hid he will step around it, But
there's other things TO catch besides
mudzrats. Ye see that capP" and the
old man took his headgear Off "Ye
see that capp That's made out Of cat
cts Eha,s Ill,
was worth 10 cents apiece, but they
an worth nothin' now. In a seasons
work you will probably run against one
orstwo mink, too. Real mink, too. Yes,
and in New Jersey I've caught quite p
lot of 'em first and last"
Catching muskrats is common win
ter pursuit for fishermen and others in
New Jersey, and large quantities of them
are caught The money got for them
helps keep the poor coastmen in to-
bacco.
The nuskrst docs not come cut OF his
lair In the daytime, except ON rare oc-
casions. Sometimes, on very dark,
cloudy days, he may be seen swimming
across the pond or down the river with
MS neau just ABOVE tDe water. lie IL
an ugly-looking animal, of brown fur,
black, webbed feet, with white claws,
and long. white teeth. He is fast
swimmer, and his powers for staying
under the water are enduring. At night
they come out to feed, and wander
miles over the fields in search of food
They travel over the same roads on
these occasions and make little paths.
which in trapping parlance are called
runs. The steel traps are often set in
these runs, and are carefully covered
over with light material. dried leaves,
and grass. The unsuspecting rat, as he
travels along, will probably get caught
1t is always better, if possible, to catch
the lively little animal in the water,
where he viii drown. If ON dry ground
and the jaws of the trap have caught