Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-02-03
WOMAN TRAPPtR At WORK
Has to Overcome Dangers Fear
ed by Many Men.
Animals scent Traps Mt Unusual Dis
tnnccs--Battic of Wits to Get
Thcm--Iurs Yield Living for
Mother nnd Family.

~ fail to see where my business is
any more unusual than that of plumb
irg, blacksmthing or being policc
woman" said Mrs. Eleanor Thompson.
who earns livelihood by trappiug fur
hearing animals. when one is left
alone to care for her family, it is some
times necessary to do many unusual and
unexpected things. And why shouldn't
/ be woman trapper If that is the
thing | know best? rurs are used by
people in all walks of life and. while
the season is short, I generally have
suffcicnt returns to carry mo through
until the next season.
u am independent. and the only thing
necessary for mo to understand is the
habits of the different animals. | can
do the work any time | choose and not
cause any trouble or discomfort for any
one else. True. | have To live ont in the
open most of the season hut that, like
all other things. becomes q constant JOY
to one who is fond of nature and the
eNhilaration Of the sharp winter air.
like my work better than anything else
! know Of
Along the brooks which trcl,lc through
the Ramapo valley in New Jersey and
along the hillsidcs just beyond oak
land is a famous locality for this kind
VI WoTk' Many dozens or valuable pelts
are taken each winter in this vicinity,
and here in some of the most out of the
way Businesses of the hills one can
find Mrs. Thompson doing her work.
"Iou ask how it was | became a
traprer. We'll. it Is the same old story
ne" was Ho""S'r my husband was
,'i'S''" j" '"PPi'N io' PaS'ifle'
w 't" 1t ,e'"iIe necessary LOT me TO
Wv So''o'''HE ! '"oN 1t up olteh |
N"ui" :" WIN nm ana assist nm to set
''' '''' '''"' "-"'l' Wheh storm
'''" We ''I"''S' Nouid start out ana
"''' "''' -"'''i inc spoil
NEED or CONSU INNATE ART
"My work is Interesting For ono roa-
son. must match my v.its AGAINST tho
Eccucst animal intelligence. Tho serso
of smell in all of these onir,als i.
eXtraordinarilv devo1onod II ,.o,, ha,-
die YOUR steel tran with hare hands vo,,
cannot 90, one or Thorn moan :, min
1t has been buried for so,ne limo I,vo,,
sak. driven into Tho ground +, tboir
paths will cause Them 20 dcto,,r of,o,
for 4 crcat distance II 10 o,,i,. b.
practicing the most coneunn,a,o art ~
concealncuf that II &c no.sibIo 70 dacoivo
them.
IF a tran is loft uncovered tho ami
mails will scent long beforo thcv raoch
II, ana some of them Will sit down and
IooN IT IT, or walk very dalhtllN around
anu 'A"'l'i'e IL ciIticallN ana even
'l'"s" II IL pa''ed WIN something OF
winch '''S are cSieciallN iona, Will pass
OH ana 'aNo II Tor the less wary one.
II se'l"S sometimes as 'houGH tleN act
u"I4N s'llle as lhey Shlff the scent of a
mana upon H.
!" preparing lor trapping nave al
ways 4ou"o II a'\'S"p!o TO go over what
'V'"'S " ne i"Nor"p!' ground before
inc '"'" Nc"'Her STARTS. Mlhks ana
""9Nia'S are Always louhd near the
"''''' 'i''NH usually s'"E "IohG brooks
vi N''"' ""'e' l'"us where 'i'oH can
'"'''N j." tue "d'NS ana "u'u th'lr
~ 90 '' "'"'' '"' '''' VI '''e ""'cI'
at - i'"''u III i'u'h 'ne same
l" ''
"' az N''i' can "lS'i"Eu iSh
'"N INV" INC ""''oN' VI
mann, anu ''."NN'''' OS"''S 'ne
",'.' S''"'"' INA" ''o