The Wrangell sentinel., 1921-10-06

E. c. Howard of Ketchikan is perhaps the only fur farmer in Alaska who has undertaken to stock a farm with marten. Re- gently MT. Howard wrote an in- teresting account of his experi- ence in starting the breeding of marten on one of the numerous small islands off the coast of Southeastern Alaska. The article was published in the Black Fox Magazine, and reads as follows:
 1 am a subscriber of your maga- zine and note that you are desirous of such information that is obtain able on the raising of marten.
 1 leased from the government about two years ago a small island in Alaska tor the purpose Of raising marten and was somewhat delayed in getting the necessary permit from the Biological Department granting me the privilege of catch ing the necessary stock for breed CTS, as owing to the fact that the law prohibited the catching ot mar ten for a term of five years, they were very reluctant i'll giving me this permit for the reason that there was a chance for the privilege to be abused. This stand was we'll taken but after being assured that 1t was a legitimate enterprise and that there would be no undue advantage taken of their confidence, they granted me the privilege of catch ing 25 pair, and are now willing and ready to assist me in every way they can to make the enterprise success, which is very much ap- preCiated.
 Since l have started getting my foundation stock (which l am very particular in securing getting noth- ing but darks, 1 have been very successful and have obtained up to date , as fine specimens as l have ever seen, and 1 have men out now getting more and expect to have my ranch we'll stocked in the course of the next year.
 The island has an acreage of about GAO acres with high hills and heavy timber, and l turn the mar ten loose or it. Up to date they are certainly doing fine, some of them are quite tame and come 10 the house tc get tbeir food, but there is an abundance of food on the island for the number 1 now have, and 1 find the most serious mistake that can be made is to over feed them. It is necessary to make them rustic for their living, and compel them to live in their natural state as much as possible.
 In order to make 1t interesting for them it is we'll to catch squirrels and mice and put them on the island alive. These the marten will catch, which ] assure you they are capable of doing. They are very fond oi cabbage and carrots cooked with a little bacon grease, which is given them occasionally. During the berry season they feed almost ex- clusively on this diet, and 1t agrees with them. They eat most any. thing in the sea food line, including seal meat, porpoise, etc.
 do not think these little animals can be raised in captivity success fully, for they are constantly trying to get out ot their enclosures. and eventually worry themselves to death. I can understand how one can be made pet and raised, but when you breed them commercially it IS quite different matter, and l am of the impression that the only way there can be any big money made out of the raising of marten is on the island m their native country, where they can be turned loose and live Tn their natural state. l look for a great many of the is- lands along the Alaska coast to be used tor this purpose, and l sim cerely believe that whoever under takes the raising of marten Tn this manner, and is willing 10 give the business the necessary attention will meet with decided success.
 Marten we'll cared for are not hard 10 raise, and the work is very interesting, for they soon learn to know you and are not afraid that you will harm them.
 They will average about five each year. I have had some of the old timers here tell me that they have two filters each year, but l cannot say that this is right, bat will know more about 1t later on.