STEEL TRAPS.
For generations there will be good trapping sections in parts of the
North, West and South, so that the hardy trapper will continue to
reap a harvest of pelts and fur.
Mink are widely distributed over America, and while their numbers, in
some sections, have been reduced by the high prices and close
trapping and hunting, they are found much more frequently in the
settled districts than those who give trapping no attention or
thought.
In the rapid development of the country the steel trap has played a
wonderful part. They have subdued the monster bear and hungry wolf,
as well as caught millions of the smaller fur bearing animals, adding
largely to the annual income of the hardy trapper.
Steel traps have been in use for more than fifty years, but for some
time after they were invented they were so expensive that they were
not generally used. Of recent years they have become cheaper and
their use has become general. Trappers will be found using them in
large numbers whether in the Far North for marten, fox, beaver, etc.,
or in the South and Southwest after coon, otter, and smaller fur
bearing animals. Professional trappers use generally from 50 to 300
steel traps, depending upon what game they are after.
[Illustration: A GOOD FASTENING.]
Steel traps are manufactured in various sizes. The smallest, No. 0,
is used for gophers, rats, etc., while the largest, No. 6, is for
grizzly bear, and will hold him. The No. 1 1/2 is known as the Mink
trap. The spread of jaws is 4 7/8 inches. The No. 1 spread of jaws 4
inches is also adapted for mink.
An old and experienced trapper who has spent many years in the
forests of Northern Canada has used the No. 0 with remarkably good
success. There is no doubt but that the smallest size will hold the
mink in the Newhouse brand, and we are alluding to the Newhouse
manufactured by the Oneida Community, Ltd., Oneida, New York, as it
is acknowledged to be the best trap in the world.
The fastening of traps for any animal has much to do with the
trapper's success. Traps fastened to something solid are not so apt
to hold the game. If only caught by a toe or two and the animal jumps
around the toes are apt to be pulled off. Traps should be fastened
far out in the water, when trapping for mink, if the weather is not
so cold that the water is frozen. In that case the fastening should
be to a "bushy" bush, or at least to something that will give with
every pull and jerk of the animal.
As many mink trappers devote more or less time to trapping other fur
bearing animals, a description of the various Newhouse traps, telling
the animal or animals each size is adapted to, etc., will no doubt be
of interest.
[Illustration: NEWHOUSE NO. 0 TRAP]
Spread of Jaws, 3 1/2 inches. This, the smallest trap made, is used
mostly for catching the gopher, a little animal which is very
troublesome to western farmers, and also rats and other vermin. It
has a sharp grip and will hold larger game, but should not be
overtaxed.
[Illustration: NEWHOUSE NO. 1 TRAP]
Spread of Jaws, 4 inches. This Trap is used for catching muskrats and
other small animals, and sold in greater numbers than any other size.
Its use is well understood by professional trappers and it is the
most serviceable size for catching skunks, weasels, rats and such
other animals as visit poultry houses and barns.
[Illustration: NEWHOUSE NO. 81 TRAP]
Spread of Jaws, 4 inches. Occasionally animals free themselves from
traps by gnawing their legs off just below the trap jaws, where the
flesh is numb from pressure. Various forms of traps have been
experimented with to obviate this difficulty. The Webbed Jaws shown
above have proved very successful in this respect.
Noting the cross-section of the jaws, as illustrated at the left, it
is plain the animal can only gnaw off its leg at a point quite a
distance below the meeting edges. The flesh above the point of
amputation and below the jaws will swell and make it impossible to
pull the leg stump out of the trap.
The No. 81 Trap corresponds in size with the regular No. 1 Newhouse.
[Illustration: NEWHOUSE NO. 91 TRAP]
Spread of Jaws--91, 5 1/4 inches; 91 1/2, 6 1/4 inches. The double
jaws take an easy and firm grip so high up on the muskrat that he can
not twist out. A skunk cannot gnaw out either.
These traps are especially good for Muskrat, Mink, Skunk and Raccoon.
All parts of the No. 91 except the jaws are the same size as the
regular No. 1 Newhouse, while the 91 1/2 corresponds to the regular
No. 1 1/2.
[Illustration: NEWHOUSE NO. 1 1/2 TRAP]
Spread of Jaws, 4 7/8 inches. This size is called the Mink Trap. It
is, however, suitable for catching the Woodchuck, Skunk, etc.
Professional trappers often use it for catching Foxes. It is very
convenient in form and is strong and reliable.
[Illustration: NEWHOUSE NO. 2 TRAP]
Spread of Jaws, 4 7/8 inches. The No. 2 Trap is called the Fox Trap.
Its spread of jaws is the same as the No. 1 1/2 but having two
springs it is, of course, much stronger.
[Illustration: NEWHOUSE NO. 3 TRAP]
Spread of Jaws, 5 1/2 inches. This, the Otter Trap, is very powerful.
It will hold almost any game smaller than a bear.
[Illustration: NEWHOUSE NO. 4 TRAP]
Spread of Jaws, 6 1/2 inches. This is the regular form of Beaver
Trap. It is longer than the No. 3 Trap, and has one inch greater
spread of jaws. It is a favorite with those who trap and hunt for a
living in the Northwest and Canada. It is also extensively used for
trapping the smaller Wolves and Coyotes in the western stock raising
regions.
[Illustration: NEWHOUSE NO. 2 1/2 TRAP]
Spread of Jaws, 6 1/2 inches. In some localities the Otter grows to
an unusual size, with great proportionate strength, so that the
manufacturers have been led to produce an especially large and strong
pattern. All the parts are heavier than the No. 2 1/2, the spread of
jaws greater and the spring stiffer.
[Illustration: NEWHOUSE NO. 3 1/2 TRAP]
Spread of Jaws, 5 inches. The above cut represents a Single Spring
Otter Trap. It is used more especially for catching Otter on their
"slides." For this purpose a thin, raised plate of steel is adjusted
to the pan so that when the trap is set the plate will be a trifle
higher than the teeth on the jaws. The spring is very powerful, being
the same as used on the No. 4 Newhouse Trap. The raised plate can be
readily detached if desired, making the trap one of general utility.
[Illustration: NEWHOUSE NO. 21 1/2 TRAP]
Single Spring. Same as No. 2 1/2 but without Teeth or Raised Plate.
No. 31 1/2 NEWHOUSE TRAP.
Single Spring. Same as No. 3 1/2 but without Teeth or Raised Plate.
Spread of Jaws--No. 21 1/2, 5 1/4 inches; No. 31 1/2, 6 1/2 inches.
These Traps are the largest smooth jaw, single spring sizes that are
made. Professional trappers will find these especially valuable when
on a long trapping line, as they are more compact and easier to
secrete than the large double spring traps. The springs are made
extra heavy.
Note.--The 21 1/2 is practically a single spring No. 3 and the 31 1/2
a single spring No. 4.
[Illustration: NEWHOUSE NO. 14 TRAP]
Spread of Jaws, 6 1/2 inches. This Trap is the same in size as the
No. 4 Beaver, but has heavier and stiffer springs and offset jaws,
which allow the springs to raise higher when the animal's leg is in
the trap, and is furnished with teeth sufficiently close to prevent
the animal from pulling its foot out.
[Illustration: CLUTCH DETACHABLE TRAP]
Clutch Detachable--Trap can be used with or without it.
PATENTED.
Spread of Jaws, No. 23, 5 1/2 inches; No. 24, 6 1/4 inches. The
inventor of this attachment claims to have had wonderful success with
it in taking Beaver. The trap should be set with the clutch end
farthest from shore. The beaver swims with his fore legs folded back
against his body, and when he feels his breast touch the bank he puts
them down. The position of the trap can be so calculated that he will
put his fore legs in the trap, when the clutch will seize him across
the body and hold him securely.
[Illustration: NEWHOUSE NO. 4 1/2 TRAP]
In response to a demand for a new model of the Newhouse Trap
especially adapted to catching wolves, the manufacturers have
perfected a trap which is numbered 4 1/2 and is called the "Newhouse
Wolf Trap."
This trap has eight inches spread of jaw, with other parts in
proportion, and is provided with a pronged "drag," a heavy snap and
an extra heavy steel swivel and chain, five feet long, warranted to
hold 2,000 pounds. The trap complete with chain and "drag" weighs
about nine pounds.
[Illustration: NEWHOUSE NO. 50 TRAP]
Spread of Jaws, 9 inches. This trap is intended for catching small
sized Bears. In design it is exactly like the standard No. 5 Bear
Trap, only that the parts are all somewhat smaller. Weight, 11 1/4
pounds each.
[Illustration: NEWHOUSE NO. 150 TRAP]
Spread of Jaws, 9 inches. This trap is identical with No. 5 excepting
that the jaws are offset, making a space five-eighths inch between
them. This allows the springs to come up higher when the bear's foot
is in the trap, and thus secure a better grip. Also there is less
chance of breaking the bones of the foot. Weight, 11 1/4 pounds each.
[Illustration: NEWHOUSE NO. 5 TRAP]
Spread of Jaws, 11 3/4 inches. This trap weighs nineteen pounds. It
is used for taking the common Black Bear and is furnished with a very
strong chain.
[Illustration: NEWHOUSE NO. 15 TRAP]
Spread of Jaws, 11 3/4 inches. To meet the views of certain hunters
whose judgment is respected, the manufacturers designed a style of
jaw for the No. 5 trap, making an offset of 3/4 of an inch, so as to
allow the springs to come up higher when the bear's leg is in the
trap. This gives the spring a better grip. Those wishing this style
should specify "No. 15."
[Illustration: NEWHOUSE NO. 6 TRAP]
Spread of Jaws, 16 inches. Weight, complete, 42 pounds. This is the
strongest trap made. We have never heard of anything getting out of
it when once caught. It is used to catch lions and tigers, as well as
the great Grizzly Bears of the Rocky Mountains.
[Illustration: BEAR CHAIN CLEVIS AND BOLT]
This cut illustrates Bear Chain Clevis and Bolt, intended as a
substitute for the ring on the end of the trap chain, when desired.
With this clevis a loop can be made around any small log or tree
without the trouble of cutting to fit the ring. The chain is made
five feet long, suitable for any clog, and the prices of bear traps
fitted with it are the same as with the regular short chain and ring.
[Illustration: TRAP SETTING CLAMP]
Every trapper knows how difficult it is to set a large trap alone in
the woods, especially in cold weather, when the fingers are stiff,
and the difficulty is greatly increased when one has to work in a
boat. One of these clamps applied to each spring will, by a few turns
of the thumb-screws, bend the springs to their places, so that the
pan may be adjusted without difficulty. No. 4 Clamp can be used on
any trap smaller than No. 4 1 /2. No. 5 and 6 are strong clamps,
carefully made and especially adapted to setting the large traps Nos.
4 1/2 to 6. They dispense with the inconvenient and dangerous use of
levers. With them one can easily set these powerful traps. These
clamps are also useful about camp for other purposes.
END OF MINK TRAPPING
End of Project Gutenberg's Mink Trapping, by A. R. (Arthur Robert) Harding