The Protection of Furbearing Animals

Although, at any time, the rich trap manufacturers, by putting their mechanical engineers to work upon the problem, could have produced non-injuring traps, no effort seems to have been made, so long as the cruelty could be hidden. The first voice raised against the atrocity was that of a retired naval officer of distinguished bravery in two wars-Lt. Commander Edward Breck, who, seeing about his camp in the North Woods dreadful instances, in 1925 founded the Anti-Steel-Trap League. He began offering money rewards for the invention of humane traps, and informing the women of the nation, particularly the thinking club women, how their furs were taken. He asked them to work for state laws against the steel-trap.

The General Federation of Women's Clubs was the first important body to approve and take up the work, at its 1927 Convention. Modified laws were passed in South Carolina in 1928. in Georgia in 1929, and in Massachusetts in 1930, and a more complete law in Kentucky in 1938. The death of Commander Breck in 1930 was a severe blow to the cause, although his widow carried on the League until broken health compelled her to discontinue it in 1943. Daughter Associations for the Protection of Furbearing Animals have been formed in Canada and the United States to continue the work of the League.

Scores of good humane traps have been invented-wire-cage, wire-net in purse shape, instant-killers, chain-loop legholds, rubber-jaw legholds, some of them being in continual use by state conservation departments. As most, however, cost more than the old trap made by the millions, and some are more difficult to set, the trapper will usually have none of them, and the laws passed are never well enforced. It is only a few years since the invention of a trap, looking at first glance like the old steel trap, but making use of an entirely new principle. In this the animal is taken and held without any pain until it begins to pull and struggle. When the full force of the spring is released, there is suffering as long as there is struggle.

In consequence, the animal soon lies quietly in the trap, and there are no wring-offs, or torn limbs, and when the trapper comes and shoots the animal in the forehead, the capture and death are entirely humane. Not only that, trapping with this device may be selective. Unwanted or too young furbearers may be released to grow up, and dogs, of which thousands are now ruined and tortured in steel traps every year, can be liberated unhurt.