Produced by Linda M. Everhart, Blairstown, Missouri
STEEL TRAPS.
[Illustration: NEWHOUSE TRAPS--ALL SIZES.]
STEEL TRAPS.
Describes the Various Makes and Tells How
to Use Them--Also Chapters on
Care of Pelts, Etc.
BY
A. R. HARDING.
PUBLISHED BY
A. R. HARDING PUBLISHING CO.
COLUMBUS, OHIO
Copyright 1907
By A. R. Harding.
CONTENTS.
I. Sewell Newhouse
II. Well Made Traps
III. A Few Failures
IV. Some European Traps
V. Proper Sizes
VI. Newhouse Traps
VII. Double and Webbed Jaw Traps
VIII. Victor and Hawley & Norton Traps
IX. Jump Traps
X. Tree Traps
XI. Stop Thief Traps
XII. Wide Spreading Jaws
XIII. Caring For Traps
XIV. Marking Traps
XV. How to Fasten
XVI. How to Set
XVII. Where to Set
XVIII. Looking at Traps
XIX. Mysteriously Sprung Traps
XX. Good Dens
XXI. The Proper Bait
XXII. Scent and Decoys
XXIII. Human Scent and Sign
XXIV. Hints on Fall Trapping
XXV. Land Trapping
XXVI. Water Trapping
XXVII. When to Trap
XXVIII. Some Deep Water Sets
XXIX. Skinning and Stretching
XXX. Handling and Grading
XXXI. From Animal to Market
XXXII. Miscellaneous Information
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Newhouse Traps--All Sizes
Mr. Sewell Newhouse
The First Shop
Old Newhouse Trap
A Well Made Trap
Limb Growing Thru Jaws
"Bob Tail" Trap
Defective Pan Bearing
The All Steel
The Modified All Steel
Poor Setting Device
Double Jaw Without Dog
The Duplex
The "No Cross"
German Fox Trap
English Rabbit Trap
Awaiting The Trapper
Wisconsin Trapper, Furs and Traps
Mink, Trapped Under An Old Root
No. 0 Newhouse Trap
No. 1 Newhouse Trap
No. 1 1/2 or Mink Trap
No. 2 or Fox Trap
No. 3 or Otter Trap
No. 4 or Wolf Trap
No. 2 1/2 or Otter Trap With Teeth
No. 3 1/2 or Extra Strong Otter Trap
No. 21 1/2 Without Teeth
Offset Jaw Beaver Trap
Detachable Clutch Trap
Newhouse Special Wolf Trap
Small Bear Trap
Small Bear Trap With Offset Jaws
Standard Bear Trap
Regular Bear Trap With Offset Jaws
Grizzly Bear Trap
Bear Trap Chain Clevis
Steel Trap Setting Clamp
No. 81 or Webbed Jaw Trap
No. 91 or Double Jaw Trap
A Morning Catch of Skunk
No. 1 Victor Trap
No. 4 Victor Trap
No. 1 Oneida Jump
No. 4 Oneida Jump
A "Jump" Trap Trapper
The Tree Trap
Tree Trap Set and Animal Approaching
Animal Killed in Tree Trap
Stop Thief Trap
Method of Setting Stop Thief Trap
Trapper's Cabin and Pack Horses
Trapper Making Bear Set
Washing and Greasing Traps
Putting the Traps in Order
Traps and Trapper
Marked and Ready to Set
The Sliding Pole
A Staple Fastening
Shallow Water Set
Hole Set Before Covering
Another Hole Set Before Covering
Hole Set After Covering
Wrong Position Set
The Three Log Set
Marten Shelf Set
Big Game Set
Ring or Loop Fastening
Caught Within the Limits of Chicago
Fox, Wolf or Coyote Trail
Fox, Wolf or Coyote on the Run
Muskrat Tracks
Mink and Opossum Tracks
Wisconsin Trapper--Knows Where to Set
Profitable Day's Catch
Snowshoeing Over the Trapping Line
Once Over the Line--White Weasel
Caught Just Before a Cold Snap
Bait Stealer--Bird
Northern Trapper With Pack Basket
Some Northern Furs
Nebraska Trapper's One Night Catch
Night's Catch by Colorado Trapper
Both Trappers--Father and Daughter
Part of Connecticut Trapper's Catch
Eastern Trapper's Catch
Caught Where Scent Is Much Used
Young Trappers Discussing Scent
Teaching The Boy Art Of Trapping
Trapper's Home In Colorado
A Few Days' Catch
The Inside of Northern Trapper's Cabin
Coyote Trapping on the Cattle Ranches
Eastern Mink--November Caught
Muskrat House
Wolf Caught at "Bank Set"
Lynx Caught in Steel Trap
Marten Caught in Shelf Set
Shelf Set and Fastening
Squirrel Caught on Stump
Raccoon Caught in Oneida Jump
Red Fox Caught at Dry Land Set
Opossum Caught in No. 1 Newhouse
Black Skunk in No. 1 1/2 Victor
Baited and Caught at Cubby Set
There To Stay-In A Newhouse
Mountain Lion Securely Caught
Beaver, Trap and Trapper
Large Otter Caught in No. 3 Newhouse
Muskrat Caught in Double Jaw
A Morning's Catch of Rats
The Black Water Marsh
Just After the Season Opens
Deep Water Set Trap Fastening
Skinning a Bob Cat
Single and Three Board Stretcher
Some Stretching Patterns
Dakota Trapper's Method
Holder For Skinning
Wire Coon Method
Wire and Twig Coon Method
Size of Stretching Boards
Pole Stretchers
Fleshing Board
Stretching Frame
Skin on Stretcher
Hoop Stretcher
The Home Shanty
A Line Shanty
[Illustration: A. R. Harding.]
INTRODUCTION.
To those that have followed the setting of Steel Traps there is a
fascination or "fever" which comes over them every fall about the
time of the first frosts. The only remedy seems to be a few weeks on
the trap line.
While some look upon trapping as an unprofitable business, yet the
number is becoming rapidly less, for more and more people are yearly
deriving pleasure, profit and health from out-door life such as
trapping, hunting, etc. There are thousands of trappers scattered
over America who are reaping a harvest of fur each year from their
Steel Traps valued at hundreds of dollars in addition to the
healthful sport they enjoy.
In some parts of Canada and the Northwest a trapper in a year catches
fur the value of which together with the bounty brings him $1,000.00
to $2,000.00. It is said on pretty good authority that a trapper in
British Columbia a few years ago caught upwards of $6,000 worth of
fur, principally marten, in one season.
There are many thousands of trappers scattered from the Gulf of
Mexico to the Arctic Ocean and from the Pacific to the Atlantic that
make hundreds of dollars each year with Steel Traps.
There is also a vast number who trap only a few weeks each season.
This includes boys and farmers after the busy season.
The actual number engaged in trapping is not known. Neither is the
actual value of the raw fur catch, but it is thought to exceed
$10,000,000 yearly. Is it any wonder then that so many want to know
more about Steel Traps and Trapping?
Considerable of the information herein in regard to traps, scent,
decoy, etc., is gathered from old and experienced trappers from all
parts of America as well as from the great trap manufacturers, Oneida
Community Ltd., so that readers can rely upon the information
imparted in this book as being trustworthy. Some books, purporting to
be of value to hunters and trappers, are written by men who have
never followed a line of traps or been in close touch with trappers.
The author of this work has been engaged for many years in trapping
and collecting furs and has come into close contact with many of the
leading trappers of the country.
Steel Traps are far superior to Snares or Deadfalls from the fact
that they can be used for both land and water trapping while Snares
and Deadfalls are adapted to Land Trapping only.
A. R. Harding.
CHAPTER I.
SEWELL NEWHOUSE.
Mr. Sewell Newhouse, the inventor of the Newhouse Trap grew up
surrounded by the Iroquois Indians of the Oneida Tribe; that tribe
which alone of all the Red men cast in their lot with the Americans
in our great struggle for liberty.
[Illustration: MR. SEWELL NEWHOUSE.]
At an early age he learned the gunsmith's trade. In those days guns
were all made by hand, and in small shops. Mr. Newhouse soon became
very skillful both in making and shooting the rifle. At that time
"Turkey Shoots" were very popular, and Mr. Newhouse was always sure
of his bird at sixty to eighty rods. It was a puzzle to many of the
old hands how he managed to shoot so accurately, even when the wind
was blowing "half a gale" till it was finally discovered that he had
fitted his rifle with an adjustable wind sight. This was one of his
early inventions that has now come into common use in target
shooting.
The Indians were very fond of shooting at a mark both with the rifle
and the bow and arrow, but they would seldom try conclusions with
"Sewell"--as they all called him--for he could always out shoot them
with the rifle, and very few of the tribe were as skillful as he with
the bow and arrow. In wrestling too, a favorite game of the day, Mr.
Newhouse was more than a match for the best men of his time both
white and red.
Some time before the year 1840, Mr. Newhouse undertook the
manufacture of traps and so popular had his traps become that in 1842
they were well known to all the tribes of the state, so that about
this year, when a large part of the Oneidas moved to Green Bay,
Wisconsin Territory, an essential part of this outfit was a stock of
Newhouse's traps. Thus their fame spread to the West.
It is related that a delegation of chiefs from one of the Algonquin
tribes of the Great Lake region once called at Mr. Newhouse's Shop.
They had used some traps from a rival manufacturer but were much
disgusted with them for in the intense cold of their country the
springs would break. "As breaks the pipe of peace in war time." They
looked over his stock of Traps, pressed down the springs with their
moccasined feet, grunted and shook their heads in disapproval. Then
Sewell went out to the frozen creek nearby, the savages watching in
silence. He chopped out a huge piece of ice, and bringing it to the
shop broke it into pieces which he threw into a large tub of water,
then setting half a dozen of the Traps he plunged them into the
water, and in sight of the astonished and pleased Red Men he sprung
them all off.
This severe test was enough for the visitors, and at his own price
Mr. Newhouse sold them his entire stock of traps. The affair greatly
pleased the neighboring Oneidas for well they knew when their
"Sewell" made and tempered a trap spring by his secret and "magical"
process it would stand up to its work under any and all
circumstances.
[Illustration: THE FIRST SHOP.]
Early in the fifties Mr. Newhouse removed from his home at The Oneida
Castle up the Valley to a spot now known as Kenwood. Here close by
the bank of the rushing Oneida he established himself in a little
smithey and began to make his famous traps on a larger scale. He was
soon after assisted by some of the mechanics of the Oneida
Association--as the old Oneida Community was then called--of which
Mr. Newhouse had become a member. In a few years it became evident
from the increasing demand that the business must be enlarged and a
small factory was built for the purpose.
Still the demand continued to increase as the Community began to send
out an agent to solicit orders in the West. The great Hudson Bay
Company sent in some large orders a custom by the way, which they
have continued annually from that early time until the present day.
More shops were erected, water power and special machinery were
introduced but still the demand outgrew the supply, till finally the
Community was obliged to build on a much larger scale at the present
site of its factory, where the waters of Sconondoa Creek furnished
for a long time ample power for the business.
Here Mr. Newhouse for many years after he ceased to work at the bench
and forge, spent his time in perfecting the manufacture and in the
general oversight and inspection of the work. With the eye of a lynx
he was ever alert to see that no trap bearing his name went out of
the factory except in perfect condition. Here before he left this
world for his long, long rest he carefully educated and trained a
number of men to continue the business with the same painstaking
spirit he had so long maintained.
The Trap illustrated here is one of the earliest made by S. Newhouse
after the business was established in the Oneida Community Shops
about the year 1853.
[Illustration: OLD NEWHOUSE TRAP.]
Every piece was hand forged from wrought iron or steel. It was
roughly but strongly made and has endured for over half a century.
This trap belonged to one of the pioneers of Wisconsin who had used
it for many years. It is still in good working order, the spring
being as lively as on the day Mr. Newhouse so carefully and
skillfully forged and tempered it.