The Alaska daily empire., 1922-08-16
Wll|HE|LPLEy WILL
LEASE ISLAND
.lNLYN|N Canal n 1
Westward Fox Rancher SAYS
Southeastern Alaska Best
for Raising Blue Foxes.

G. E. Whelpley, fox ranchcr. who
arrived hore recently from the West
ward. will engage in the fox farming
business in this district, according to
statement made by him today. He
expects TO complete a~rlngemeHt for
leasing an isbaHd in Lynn Canal
within She next week or 10 days and
will stock the island next month.
Mr.. Whclpley is an cid-time Alas
/ KAN having livod in this country the
past % years. He has been engaged
in the fox farming industry the past
/ 10 years having been located frs.
er Care Elizabeth. Cooks Inlet, and
i for the past IL ve1s on the western
/ islands He has disposed of his
tlue fox farms on two islands OF the
Shuma2in erg@o. near Unga. The
fox i'and in lynn Canal will be
stocked with blue fox from Seldovia.
Southern District Best
raising blue fox in this district
| is more successful because the ami
mails are rot prolific and it is pos
etble 10 raise more breeders" sail
Mr.. Whelpley. "The death rate of
foxos RAISED on the Westward islands
! is 80 rer cont This is because little
care is given to them there. The
farms are located on ocean Islands
and the animals are able to pick up
| a good part of their food The ami
mails raised on the interior islands
| P,,I1
FOR and watched over. The farmers
IN the West ward arc beginning to
realize Gihn receeleiity Of care to the
foxes and ere giving thom more care
full attention.
Fur farming is no longer an ex-
rcl'iment II is an industry and a
a'ious business problem. The ad-
vanccmcEt Of civilization to the
frontiers causing the rapid depe.
ton of fur bearing animals is bring
| ing on tlrn necessity Of The raising
of the animals. Siberia and Alaska
are the only fur producing countries
4odav. SibaH;a has "a vast richness
in furs and whom the country IS
opcred ii wiz cause a big furry for
n short while. but Alaska need have
no fear OF the competition.
Fur Farming to Be Increased
THE advancement of civilization
will slowly come on until it will be
necessary to farm land otter, mar
'en. mink and all Other fur bearing
animals. on demand in the markets.
During abe past eight years there has
been two thirds dc0letion in the
smprfv Of rcd foxes. on the Alaska
Peninsula vest CT Cold Bay.
THE demand cn the market for
blue foxes heavy at the present
'ine. ] have 70 Ger thu it will be
ow~rs' ockcd within the next 10 years.
However. tho industry is not a get
rich quick r.opontion. A number
of the people who have gone into
the business arey building air castles.
They over-estinetc tlsa number OF
foxes on the farms and look ito The
r"ev ftsbnre without considering the
cold business between.
81 considc~ eight pair OF foxes .
fair starter. and Il that Number be
increased the revenue will increase
per ratio after the second year.
Economical Management
! at is necessary TO realize th9t IL
/ Vfe''ng blue foxes tho wild animal
| is taken and semi domcstieated. To
! successfully hf.ng about this change
! in the life of the animal unlimited
study. initio'ive and patience is i'm
| perative Tire fox farm must be
under effic'H ard economical man.
ae'"ment If Il IS properly handled
with stric' eccnoTg and the. over
head expense kert down.'H is COOL
for from 20 TO % per cent OF the
carital invested
I'm nv opinion. only oneihTh ~
! the reonlo en@agcd in the fox farm
ing industry along the coast of Al
sska will be successful. Two-thirds
will be compelled to drop out. There
are AZ farms in actual operation
Inn ID