The Alaska daily empire., 1915-11-06
FUR RAISING TO BE ONE OF ALASkA'S
 GREAT INDUSTRIES


 
 That fur raising is one of the inc dustries that Is destined to be among the leading pursuits in Alaska, that lt is a profitable business and that there is no place In the world 80 la- vorably situated as this Territory for it. is the belief of those who have ln. vesrlgated the matter thoroughly
 That Q report will be issued before long by the United States govern ment which will clearly demonstrate this conclusion, by those officials and experts in the Federal service who have investigated conditions in Alaska in connection with the possi- bnities of developing a great fur rais. ing industry in the country
 Wright Wenrlch, who engaged in the fur raising business in the White horse district for some time and was successful in raising various breeds of foxes. mink, sable and other fur bearing animals but who was com pelled to close out because of lack of capital to carry him over the blow the business received when the crash of war In Europe shattered the fur markets of the world is one of those who believes firmly that the business is destined to become one of the great industries of the North Mir. Wenrich is in Juneau now a guest at the Bergman, and speaking concern. ! ing the matter yesterday said
 While estimating the immense possibilities of Alaska in mining fash. ing, numbering. agricultural and oth- CTS. we should not overlook one for which Alaska is particularly well sit ! uated-the fur breeding business.
 Experience has proven that nearly ! all our land fur animals may be do- mesticated and bred in captivity. Fox of all varieties, marten, mink, fisher skunk, and sable have all been sue cessfully raised. and when one con- aiders that each female of these spec ies will raise from five to ten young ! yearly that these animals are ready ] for market at.nine months of age, and ] that Che cost of food does not amount ! to ten per cent. of their pelt value, 1t is not surprising that fur breeding companies are paying 200 per cent and upward in yearly dividends.
 Contrary to general opinion, exper ] fence shows that ranch bred animals ! are larger and produce longer silken . fur than their wild brothers This l Is brought about by scientific feeding first by feeding the young animal such foods as will produce bone and muscle and later, by feeding food cal- culated to promote the growth of fur
 Cheap food and cold climate are the essential requirements for suc- cessful fur breeding Consequently Alaska with its cold dry interior and Ian almost unlimited supply of fish and game can produce better fur for less money than any other sections of the world, and need never fear outside ] competition in this line. Then. too. most desirable fur bearers arenatives ! most desirable fur bearers are natives business are able to secure animals Tor breeding purposes for less tran half the cost to those who begin fur raising outside. This is no small ad- | vantage when it means that S10o00 ! spent in Alaska is worth as much as s25OOO spent outside.
 Alaska should produce S15,0OOOOo or S20.O000O0 worth of fur annually l This would be not more than her share of the worlds fur consumption l estimated at $25O,OOO,OOO- The Unit ! ed States alone consumes $5O,00OOO0 of fur yearly
 Although the war has caused many ] furs to depreciote in price. they are, holding their own to surprising ex- tent. Some furs are even rising in . market value
 Nearly every one knows that fur bearers are becoming scarcer every ! year and that the yearly consumption has been steadily growing larger. de- spite the price furs are compelled to change"