Douglas Island news., 1921-05-13
FOX FARMING
 BEING BOOSTED
Forest Service Bulletin Tells of the Many Fox Islands on Aals-
 kan Coast

NN NNIN NNHINNf WNNN NNN"l N'.AN"." |" mros seldom going below zero and summer ones not often above SO de- rrees. is ideal for fur production. The extreme winters of Che Arctic regions aro said to produce fur longer but much coarser chan that Of Che coast country while n Che re- eIons of excessive summer heat the fur does not reach Che prime condi- uon. even In winter chat it does in a cooler and more constant cline
 Iu Che Prince William Sound dis trict of Che Chugach national forest there are about 20 islands. ranging i'm size from less than 16O acres Go about 10000 acres. under permit for Che propagation of foxes At least two of these islands have been occu- pied for that purpose since before Che dawn of Che present century and orc suu being operated by Che orig iual locators. and at a goodly profit too. ii one may judge by Che recent expansion ot their business
 Operations In this region arc lime ited almost exclusively to Che blue fox. which is an abnormal color phase Of Che white fox of Che Arctic. according Go scientists who have dolved into Che matter
 Tho foxes are liberated upon Che islands and run practically In Che wild state. Where there is good line they live to some extent upon clans. musoIs. and tho various forms Of marine ife which drift ashore. They are also extremely fond of birds and eggs and arc rec lcntlca hunters for these deicacios during Che nesting scoason Of water fowl
 Iu addition to Che natural feed which he foxes secure for them selves. they consume between 300 and 900 pounds of fish or other food a year. which Che operator must pro- vide Thus much Of Che umo Of Che operator is consumed In fishing The waters Of Che North Pacific abound m Ash. more than 2J0 species having been classified.
 The fish arc cured by salt.ng and drying mostly the former Before being fed to Che foxes it must be thoroughly frcshened for not less chan 60 hours This is accomplished by having two largo wooden tanks holding a bout a weeks supply Of fish each. While using out of one tank which has previously been ireshencd. water is allowed to run through Che other tank. Thus when Che first tank .s empty Che second one is ready for use.
 Feeding Is done iu log feed houses built about Che island. usually along thc beaches and from a quarter Go holf mile apart These are cone structed of log8 and are about six feet square. They are built with a trap door that can Doe set during thc trapping season December and Jan- uary- s1 that Che foxes can enter but cannot leave. The operator Is enabled iu tbis manner to retain thc choicest individuals for breeding
 After shuuing Che hides must be thoroughly cleaned and cured. Great skin Is required in this work. A skin carolcssly removed or cleaned, or im- properly cured or stretched. is likely Co be classed as a poor fur where otherwise it might have brought top price.
 For one who is not appalled, by the terrifying loneliness of such a life. there is great fascination in it. The smaller islands are an ouc-mon propositions Tho larger islands are usually operated by two or more men on a partnership basis. A few Of Che lucky ones have wives who are content with this manner of living And tho strange thing about it is that Of the half dozen or SO women living on fox islands abso- utoly isolated receiving visitors only ot rare intervals, leaving Che islands not more than two or three times year, and getting mail not ofeuor than once in two or three months. none of them is discontentcd with thc life.
 Properly conducted. with a due amount of judgment and foresight and am immense amount of hard work. and constant application to business. excellent yields may be ox- pocted. Tho fox is very prolific. the filters consisting of from Ave to eleven pups. The mortality among pups Ia heavy sometimes as great as 70 per cont But tho raw furs bring as much as S25O each, al- though Che average is. Of course. much lower. Breeding stock brings ft00 to S650 a pair.
 During Che last four years prices haov touched level never before