Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-26

Islands Devoted to Raising
Fur-Benring Animals for Profit.


From the Boston Evening Transcript.
Uncle sam has considerable reputation
as landlord but few persons know that
part of his rent roll income is derived from
leasing islands for the culture of foxes
This is the case. however, on the coast of
Alaska. where such an island commands an
annual rental of 500. For this the govern
ment gives the tenant written contract
securing him in the exclusive occupancy
of his island for this particular purpose. To
the farmer who has found it necessary
TO exercise all his ingenuity in order to get
rid of the foxes d pest the idea of de-
iberately breeding them, and even maintain
ing farm for their comfort, seems almost
preposterous- The fox in those places where
his presence Is most deplored seems to
nave no difficulty In making living with
out human aid But the experience of
breeders in Alaska has shown that the fur
foxes must be handed with the utmost care
in order not to wreck the fortunes of the
investor. for II takes not little capital to
go into the business on large scale. On
the finest fox farm in Alaska every pair of
breeding animals used at the start cost
$50 to 500. The work has been in progress
for fifteen years or more. yet practically
the first dollar of profit has yet to show
itself. Good money has been poured after
bad, running well up into the thousands,
and this expenditure is still going on, for
the shareholders believe they have money
making idea If they can only wait long
enough.
At first the plan was to propagate the
silver-Eray fox, of which the fur is four
or five times as valuable as that of the
blue fox. 1t proved impracticable, how
ever. mainly on account of the ferOcious
character Of the animal which refused to
be domesticatad. The silver-gray fox is
really more Of a wolf than fox in in
stincts and disposition. One of its pleasant
traits is Il habit of fighting its companions
and destroying its own young. The culture
Of the silver-gray has now so generally
been given up that on only one island can
IL be found in any considerable numbers.
IL is on the Atu and Pribilof Islands that
the blue fox was first found. but the sup
ply is now nearly exhausted. As the Pribi-
lofs a government reservation, no live
animals can BE- taken away without d spe-
cial permit and all the skins which the
natives obtain there they are Obliged to sell
to the North American Commercial Com
pany- The price paid is 50 n pelt. The first
systematic experiment in blue fox breeding
was made with twenty-five foxes taken
from the PriEilOf Islands and landed on
North Semidi Island a barren and
unknown waste. Although no one knew
the habits of the foxes and everything had
to be done tentatively. including the finding
OF ARTIFICIAL means of feeding them, still,
from the progeny of these pioneer foxes
nearly twenty other Islands have been
stocked Some of the barren islands of
Alaska, indeed. show no sign Of being good
for any other use. The method of caring
10Y Tho foxes is substantially the same
everywhere. Each island has a keeper and
on or TWO native assistants. They put up
the food for the animals during the sum
rner. consisting Of unInarketable fish, blub-
ber and oil and corumeaI. The foxes come
at a regular hour every day to be fed like
ordinary domestic animals and soon learn
10 know their caretakers. but continue sus-
picipUs and wild in the presence of
strangers.
one Of the first problems which had to be
mastered was how To catch the foxes with
out harming their skins. as it would not
DO To- shoot than or use any kind Of sharp
instruments in their capture. Another con-
Si!rrJtlpn IS the necessity Of leaving those
animals uninjUred which are to be con-
are therefore used. But the chief virtue of
these has IT'S drawbacks. for all the foxes
come INTO the traps, attracted by the bait.
and when those which are to be kept for
breeding find that no harm comes to them
they become not only fearless but greedy,
and hurry to run in and spring the traps
aS soon as set. to the great ANNOYANCE of
the breeder and The hindrance of the prop
ct business. The foxes set apart for breed
ing are marked by clipping the hair at the
tips of their tails, so as to prevent con-
fusion with others reCOuntirg.
1t Is considered pruba BILE that the dornes-
ucat5"u Of the fox will set vogue for the
dom"stication Of other fur-bearing animals
ard thus build up a very valuable and per
maG-nt industry. The Russian sabte is one
Of he animals talked of in connection with
this idea one enthusiast has already evOly-
ed the notion that an island set apart for
raising bears would be a good thing. He
has launched his experiment and has al
ready a dozen or more bears. but the mar
ket seems still too well stocked To make
much Of a demand for his special product.