The Cordova daily times., 1921-05-27
SILVER FOXES
 TAKEN SOUTH FROM KODIAK

Portland, Ore, May 27.-Although he went to Alaska during the gold rush of 1897, z. T. Halferty, typical Alaskan "sourdough,' has been trans into rancher He has a farm of 50,OOO acres on the island of Ugak, six miles off Kodiak island in the Pocific ocean, and his sole" crop" consists of silver gray foxes.
 With the bronze of Alaska snows and sun upon his wiry face and hands MT Halferty arrived in Portland last week from Kodiak with the first cargo of silver gray fox pelts from his Ugak ranch. He will leave the fur here with fur broker for con- signment to the east, and return shortly to Alaska.
 Although MT. Halferty and his as sociate, Gus Olsen, started their fox ranch seven years ago, this is the first year they have been able to trap these beautiful fur-bearing ami mals. They trapped 16 animals last winter, but within two years they expect to trap 50 each winter.
 We bought Ugak island seven years ago to start our fox farm," said MT Halferty. "We stocked the island with three pairs of silver gray foxes. We now have 60 pairs on the island.
 My partner, Gus Olsen, lives on the island year in and year out. He was washed ashore from Ghipwreck near Kodiak island in 1898 and never has left the north since he landed there on a bit of driftwood.
 During the winter we hire two native trappers to trap the animals. We pay them $50 a month and $5 a pelt, in addition to their board. Thus far we have not been compelled to the fish drift in to the shore with the feed the foxes as the island is we'll stocked with small wild game, and cross currents. With large whale ashore it will supply food for the foxes for at least six months.
 Our main trouble is with eagles, which sWoop down and carry away the fox pups when they are too young and small to protect themselves. Olsen devotcs most of his time in the spring and early summer to kill ling these eagles. This spring shipped 65 pairs of eagle claws to Juneau, for which I received 50 cents each in bounty. Olsen devotes the rest of his time to patrolling the is. land against native hunters who at, tempt to land and trap the an- 1mals me are farming"
 MT. Halferty said his ranch is one of the only two silver gray fox farms M Alaska, the other being on Mid dleton Island, near Valdez. He has hopes that his farm will, in the next few years, equal the Middleton Is- land farm.
 Included in the pelts brought to the states by MT. Halferty were a dozen mixed red and silver gray hides. Before they placed their or lglnal three pairs of silver grays on the island they made every effort to rid the island of the red foxes, but the result of their first winters trap ping showed that some of the red fOYea still rap,aipod There Is no harbor on the island to land," MT. Halferty said. "Myi partner is the only human inhabi. taHt of the fox farm during 10 months favorable winds before we are able and we are compelled to wait for of the year, but it is life he loves."
 At present market quotations a l pair of young silver gray foxes cost l S150O, MT. Halferty said Native Indian trappers procure the fox pups and raise them from spring until fall, at which time they are old enough to sell and place on a farm. The animals mate during February and tue young are born in May.
 MT. Halferty is United States com missioner at Kodiak His wife dur ing the last year has been suDsti tute teacher in the Portland public schools. She will return to Ko- dlak at the close of the school term and will remain there permanently