The Cordova daily times., 1923-02-13
FOX FARMS | DOT COAST
 OF ALASKA

| over 3OU islands III AlaSKa, III uiS- | trict reaching from Ketchikan on the south to Attu on the west, were now leased from the Government for fox | farming, with other applications pend- | ing. A prominent fox farmer alleged recently that these islands would aV- craze from 80 to 100 animals per island some having but a few pairs while others would have hundreds. ] Fox farming, while in it's infancy, practically speaking, has become one of the largest industries in the Ter ritory, and in a few more years when marten, skunk and coon are added to the industry, the proceeds from fur sales will outrank that of fish by many dollars. The initial investment i is small, compared to the fishing in dustry, and returns are certain, from | 20 to 40 per cent on the investment being realized after the third year Breeding animals are in great de- mand and bring better price to the fur farmer than if killed for the pelts.
 To raise foxes successfully salmon is a prime requisite for food To secure this salmon the fox farmer must fish how and when he can. His boat is generally small one, and not fitted for long trips in rough waters, therefore he must fish close to home.
 With the salmon large quantities of cereals such as cornmeal, oat- meal, rice etc, are fed. The fish are thrown into a large kettle and boiled until the flesh comes from the bones, and then the cereals are added and stirred in with the salmon until the mess is thoroughly cooked. The foxes are fed at certain places each day, and when the fur becomes prime, 1 these feeding pens are converted into traps, allowing the farmers to eX- anime the condition of the anlma]S without killing them. The foxes It in good condition, are killed by means of a wire moose or by pressing the thumb against the heart, and the skins then removed placed on stretchers and after drying for g time in a cool place, are turned ana dried again.
 A lease or license to use these ls- lands is secured from the Govern ment Here is a strange effect or bureaucratic red tape. By leasing ls- lands under control of the Forestry Department rental of but $25 must be paid. If the island is under con- trol of other departments, extending from agriculture to birth control, a rental of $500 must be paid. A ter" ritorial license must be secured, and on top of this the rancher is charged a tax of $150 per pelt, making the cost of doing business pretty h!gh for men of limited means. These islands are absolutely useless for any other purpose than fur farming, and it would seem that they could be homesteaded as other lands could be, but the mild form of graft otfered is too tempting to be overlooked by the lawmakers or department heads.
 To start in the fur business one must first lease an island, wooded and if possible with a harbor ana fresh water. It should not be too large, nor yet too small, and must be sufficiently rough to provide shelter to the animals, and protection from eagles and predatory animals which prey on the young. The ranch CT must have a boat. the larger the better, and must have money enough for A house and at least two years supply of provisions He must have at least four pairs of foxes, the more the quicker the returns. His boat will cost him from $500 to $5,OOO; his house from $2O0 up; his supplies at least $500, and his breeding ami 
 mals S250 per pair. He must have warm clothing, and several tons Of cereals Quickest returns are made where the farmer has plenty of cap ital, say $5OOO, as he can then stock with more animals and sell breeding stock quicker.
 In the southeastern part of Alaska and at most points in southwestern Alaska blue fox farming has been found to be more profitable than rais- ing either blacks or silvers. The lat ter are harder to tame, and are not so rapid breeders as the blues, altho their pelts bring several times more money. Around Cook Inlet and tribu- tary points silver foxes are raised | aytnn siya1y Black foxes were tried