Adventure Magazine, December 10, 1924 — page 207: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Ask Adventure away, only to find the paper had been misled by its informant. The men were as angry as an over- turned hive of bees. They rushed the paper office with rifles and gats, and for the moment the situa- tion was very ugly. But the local sergeant of police—that fine [Irish Australian, Sergeant McKenna—threw oil on the troubled waters and made the mob disperse without arresting anything more threatening than “a pail of suds.” Alack! How things have changed since then! Coolgardie is dead as J. Caesar, and its buildings are dismantled and sold at war prices, whilst Kalgoorlie has settled down into a thriving center of thrifty workers and prospectors. With the ex- traction of the rich deposits of gold in the upper levels and the exhaustion of glittering deposits of tellurids, mining has become a purely commercial industry. When gold ore falls below ten dollars per ton, science steps in to economize the costs of production to the last farthing. But the joyous, optimistic, fair-dealing prospector and wage-earner remains to carry on the splendid traditions of the pioneers of the field. But then every group of gold-diggers under the Southern Cross bears the same estimable character. The search for gold purges the dross and leaves be- hind a clean, husky and hefty Anglo-Saxon, as brave as a pebble and as hospitable as any homo on this fascinating speck of mud. I trust you will not think this screed interminable. Some of it is of deep interest, for it is the first time that I have transmitted my glorious experiences on the best Australian gold-fields on paper. Free service, but don’t ask us to pay the postage to get it to you. Taking the Human Smell off Traps Af EW bits of the lore of trapping and hunting: . Question:—“On seeing your name as the Ad- venture Magazine representative, I decided that this was my opportunity to get some information that I have been after for some time. What is the best way of taking the human smell off traps before setting? What do you consider the best set to catch mink, and how made? What is a good bait for mink? What is the best bait and set for coyotes? Could you advise me where I could get a book on trapping and hunting? On shooting ducks on the wing: Where would you aim on a duck coming direct toward you at an average speed? Where would you aim on a duck flying sidewise to you? How much difference do you allow for geese? What do you consider the best big-game rifle?” — P. MEEK, Watson., Sask., Canada. . Answer, by Mr. Moore:—Best trap for mink is the No. 1 H. & N. steel trap or the No. 1 Newhouse, procurable at any hardware store carrying this type of goods. Some trappers swear by the efficacy of cat’s ex- creta as a scent for mink, and although I believe there are various preparations put up I don’t know anything to beat it. Best way to take the human scent off traps is-to 185 boil them when new and afterward handle them only when wearing mitts. The coyote is just about the most cunning animal to trap that exists. He will eat anything, however, and a little poison in a piece of meat of any sort is about the most effective way of getting him. Am afraid I can not recall any reliable book on trapping, but you might write Field and Stream or one of the other publications of this type. In any event I don’t think that trapping learned from books is worth a The best way is to tie up with an experienced trapper and by putting up the grubstake induce him to form a partnership and teach you what he knows of the game. No doubt there are lots of theories as to the point at which to aim at a flying duck; but every one seems to have a different idea, and most of the good shots I know say it is a matter of instinct, and depends entirely on the type of duck, speed at which it is flying, etc. There are many different varieties of duck and all have different habits and speed of flight. In the circumstances I don’t think it would be wise to advance my own opinions as it might only start some controversy. Best way is to try it out and stick to the method which proves most successful. If you don’t want an answer enough to enclose full return postage to carry it, you don’t want it. Getting into the Forest Service OW the Civil Service examinations are held: Question: —“Am thinking very strongly of taking up a Civil Service exam to be a forest ranger and thought maybe you could give me a general idea of it. Enclosed find stamp and addressed en- velop.” —STANLEY JEROME WISE, Dayton, O. Answer, by Mr. Ernest Shaw:—A Civil Service examination for the position of forest ranger is usually held each year in the latter part of October at all headquarter towns for the various national forests and at a few other cities throughout the country. Of late years this examination has con- sisted entirely of written work, the so-called ‘‘field examination”’ having been abandoned. For the past three or four years the questions have been submitted to the class on two and some- times three sheets with a varying number to the sheet. Only one sheet is given out at a time, and the additional sheets are handed out as the former one is completed. The rules for holding these examinations provide that no applicant may take to the classroom any paper with written or printed matter upon it, nor may he communicate in any way with the other members of the class. Neither may he leave the room for any purpose prior to the completion of any one paper or set of questions. If necessary so to leave the room his incomplete paper is taken up and he is not permitted to complete it. The first thing for you to do is to write the U. S. Civil Service Commission, Washington, D. C., re- questing that an application blank be sent you. With the blank will be found enclosed a circular re- garding the coming examination and a list of the COmicloo 5}