The Cordova daily times., 1920-08-09
INTERESTING DESCRIPTION OF
 TRIP 10 ALASKA FOX RANCH

 the trees. Up flight of steps to a sort of upper story, the men carried and dumped out on the floor several bucketfuls of fish-heads. l was amused to notice the actions of the two or three foxes we discovered run ming along the beach wherever we stopped-some boldly expectant others loping behind cover, but al ways sticking sharp inquisitive nose out from behind bush or stump and eyes our every movement till the sound of the gasboat had died away. I dare say they are able to count the four days from one feeding time to the next, and know when to listen for the boat. During the meantime they rus tie" for themselves worms, mussels, etc., along the beach.
 'I don't see how they can crack those thick shells" I remarked to Miss Liljegren.
 "Oh, they're smart enough to find a way" she replied. "They carry the shell-fsh up above the tide line and let them lie in the sun and die, when they open of themselves"
 In December, when the harvest of pelts is to be gathered, section of the upper floor of each feed house is set with trigger arrangement which drops the fox down into a lower en- closure entered from the outside through a door. Sometimes the foxes will almost starve before they will enter the feed house at this time.
 Do they ever show fight when you go in after them?" I asked Mr. Lille gren.
 'No. They are very quiet and fright ened, and pile up in corner, maybe @ dozen or so of them, some on the others"
 By means of a pair of long handled wooden tongs, curved to fit around the fox's neck, he picks out of the huddling crowd any fox he chooses. Then talk ing the creature by the nape of the neck, he drops it into a gunny sack and ties it up. A boat load of these squirming sacks is then taken back to by hanging, so as not to injure their skins. The belts are stretched, fur side in, over wooden frames, and set out to dry. Every day they must be scraped carefully until all blood and grease are removed.
 MT. Liljegren and his partner, MT. Wagner, who has been with him for the past few years, sell the pelts direct to great fur house in London. There they are graded into lots which bring different prices. Last season some of the belts sold for over $20O apiece.
 At the head of most picturesque lagoon on Peak island stands the log home of Mr. and Mrs. AppIeby, and ad- joining it that of young Mrs. Alice Southworth, whose father, MT. Nc Pherson, now living on Vashon island, Puget sound, started the fox raising on Peak island. Numerous books, a piano and a victrola furnish amuse- ment and occupation for leisure hours MT. and Mrs. Appleby joined in the stampede to the Shushanna strike sev- eral years ago, and can tell many in- teresting stories of the hardships of that memorable fasco. It was their wedding journey. Before her marriage Mrs. Appleby lived in Tacoma. She and her husband came about two years ago to Anchorage to take over the fox island in partnership with Mrs. South worth, who knows the business from A to z.
 At the door of her cabin, made the acquaintance of her favorite foxes, George and Mary, named in honor of their Brittanic majesties. Mrs. Apple by gave me a piece of meat for one of her pets, Mrs. Ding" After sizing me up dubiously out of her small vel low eyes, Mrs. Ding at length sidled bashfully up and accepted the offer- ing from my hand.
 Don't you ever get lonesome for the movies and the electric lights? ?" I inquired of Mrs. App1eby.
 Really, I can't say that I do," she answered. Whenever I make trip to town I'm always glad to get back orr afyY1