The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-02-09
VALUABLE MAINE PELTS.
An Island Colony Of Foxes, some Oh
Them With Skins Worth $500.

An Island Colony of Foxes, Some OF
Them With Skins Worth $500.
There is an island off the coast OF
Maine. six miles outside of Boothoay
harbor, where the rarest of one species
of fur-bearing animals are found IN
numbers. They are black and silver
foxes, and it may be said in beginning
that they did not get on the island by
themselves.
"A few years ago Thomas F. Morgan
of Groton, Conn, who was summering
lat Boothbay harbor, conceived the IDEA
of stocking one of the numerous Islands
in that vicinity with black and silver
foxes that are now almost extinct In
the wild state. He looked around for
suitable island and finally hit upon
Outer Heron as possessing all the con-
ditions necessary to the success OF such
"a colony as he desired to plant Outer
Heron is wooded island of one hun
bred acres or so. with considerable ele-
walton and bold, rocky shores. 1t has
plenty of fresh water, and it's dense
growth of spruces, pines and frs breaks
the force of winter gales. There is a
good dwelling house on the island, and
in winter a dozen or more lobster fish
ermen live in shanties around the little
cove that serves as harbor The is
land was owned by Richard H. Elmer
son. veteran, who resided at East
Boothbay. From him Mr.. Morgan oo-
tanned permission, in consideration of
yearly rental, to stock the island with
foxes.
An order was sent by Mr.. Morgan to
a fur company engaged in breeding
black foxes on an island in Alaska, for
a consignment of the animals, and
thirty good specimens We're started
east. The journey took many months,
being made by vessel and steamer to
San Francisco and thence overland
and when the consignment arrived at
Boothbay harbor, only seven of the
foxes were alive.
These were put on Outer Heron about
year ago, and they have thrived and
multiplied, from all indications. A few
months ago company was formed un-
der the laws Of Maine to foster the in
dustry Mr.. Morgan thinks he will make
out Of the foX-raising business or
Outer Heron. Mr.. Knight has the rep
utation of being one of the best fox
with the ways of the red fox, and has
shot as many Of that variety as would
stock two or three islands like Outer
Heron. He is obliged to confess, how
ever, that he knows very little about
the black fox He has set about the
task of studying those on the island
but with slight success as yet, FOR The
valuable denizens of Outer Heron are
very shy, unless hungry, and as this
has been an open winter they have no
suffered for food Mr.. Knight talked
entertainingly about the prospects O.
raising black foxes for market.
"We don't expect to get any return:
right away said he, "but when we sc
the island well stocked we ought to dt
well. Last year there were only seven
teen hundred black and silver fox skis
sold in London, the fur market of thu
world. They nearly ell came from
Alaska, and they were fourteen months
on the way. If we can raise skins her
we can get them to London thirteei
months earlier than they could be sen
from Alaska.
eve intend to breed out all the llgh
strain, or silver foxes, from our stock
IA silver fox is by no means a cheap an
imal-the pelt of a good one Is Wortl