The leader., 1897-11-10


v hich is il possible for Mr. Bear 10 pass
without making a try for
Wooden traps. ar JehdfaIIs. are made
IN the same shape as the welI-known fc-
ure-,f.iour trap for martcn and other
small animals, only many times larger,
and the crushing weight or load as
much os two strong men could lift.
The bait is tied on to a loop of twisted
roots, aud the latter is caught over the
wooden trigger that supports the load
ed cross bar, and then on the peg a back
o: trap. The bear, after drawing in
strong whiffs of the tempting morsel
from the entrance. ventures boldly in.
The depth of the trap is almost equal to
the length of his body, so when he tugs
at the bait the middle of his body is
directly under the cross bar. The loop
slips off the peg and the weight of the
logs and stones crash Town on poor old
Mus-Kws,
The Indian prefers using the steel
| trep, as il is more certain, and the bear
keeping alive for several days, the hunt
er is not required 10 visit his traps so
often.
During the hot spring days bear in
deadfall very soon becomes fly blown
and rotten, and the meat useless, and
very frequently the skin also.
1t is in the spring of the year Wa-Sa-
Kejic takes his 20-pound new house
trap and makes his way to small con-
Meeting stream between two lakes. 1t is
the spawning ground of carp. Here
along the bank is n well trodden bear
path. Fishing bears have frequented
this trial for years. Here he builds an
| obstruction on two stiles out from the
trunk of II large spruce for a distance
of four feet; the opening in front is
about 20 inches wide. A tempting bait
Is placed on forked stick at the back
of the inclosure near the base of the
tree. lie next cuts a sound, young birch
seven or eight feet long, diameter al
small end five inches, and six or seven M
the thickest end. The weight of such
a stick in the sap is about IS pounds
About one-third up this drag the ring OF
the chain is firmly wedged, and the i'm.
mense jaws of the trap are opened. A
hollow in the entrance of the house i.
made, so that when the trap is placed
the hole is nearly on level with the
ground. A bent root of a small tree OF
shrub about as thick as the little finger
is placed under the palate to make the
trap harder to set off This is done Sc
that small animals, such as marten, foN
or fisher, cannot spring the trap SHOULD
they be drawn to the bait.
A layer of white moss or that from
about Il decayed stump is then PLACED
in one sheet carefully over the whol,
trap and pulveriZed rotten wood ol
earth is then sprinkled over the moss tc
take away the newness, and the trap i!
ready. Four or five days have passed
during which time WaSa-Kejic has
been busy setting other traps at diff
ferent points, and now, according tt
the signs, it is time he visits the traI
we saw him set.
He energies from the forest on a small
bill overlooking the traphouse. One
look, he sees the drag log is off. Torn
up ground and bitten twigs ant
branches mark clearly the way the
beast has gone. Wa-Sa-Kejic rams ;
bullet into his gun and follows the
signs. With a 20-pound trap and ;
drag log almost as heavy as a man cal
carry, it is a marvel how far bear wi!
travel after being caught. But in thi
case bruin is not far off; an obstruction
of some considerable strength ha
caught the drag, and as he hears th'
approach of the hunter he rattles hi
chain and let's out defiant growl.
Wa-Sa-Kejic draws nearer and see
he is well caught. e., high up the fore
leg. He is unable to do the trapper any
harm, and the latter calmly looks on th'
great beast for moment or two before
giving him his quietus.
Indians can carry immense weights
Suspended by leather thong from the
forehead, bears weighing up to 20t
pounds they can carry in this way
across a portage of half mile withou'
resting.
But a-Kejic had one now ever
heavier than that, so he opened him III
and removed the paunch and entrails tc
tighten his load. The trap was reset
and the successful hunter made his way
to the canoe and then to his camp tC
bring smiles and laughter to his wife
and family.
Some of the poorer Indians who dc
not possess steel traps and are too lazy
TO make deadfalls, sometimes set snare:
in the bear roads, but this mode o.
hunting is not successful as rule
N. Y. Ledger.