The Nome nugget., 1923-11-10
IN UNS<RATCHED FIELD
 -FOX FARMING IN
 NORTHWESTERN ALASKA
(Contributed.)

of silver fox farming. Miraculous leaps from obscurity to fame. from rroverty to wealth were promised the investor who would buy shares of gilt edged stock in this or that company. Because of this specula. tive element controlling 1t fox farm ing nearly died in it's infancy. It waned and fiickered and nearly pass e6 out, but the idea was good one at the bottom and gradually as the right kind of men prevailed it grad ually grew stronger and stronger until today fox farming is recogniz- ed as one of the soundest, most le- continent.
 From Prince Edward Island and New York in the East to British Columbia and Southeastern Alaska ir the West. fox ranches have been springing up like mushrooms dur ing the past four or five years. It is hard to say where they will stop for the demand for this beautiful fur is far ahead of the supply. Last year at the fur sales. Island and ranch raised blues and silvers brot as much or more than animals trap ped in the wilds. No longer is clever craftsmanship required of the fox farmer-the market Is waiting to compete for his product.
 The islands of southeastern Alas ka are being taken up at a lively rate by blue fox farmers. But in northwestern Alaska nothing at all has been done except q puny. half hearted attempt or two which were foredoomed to failure because of the men at their head.
 Silver foxes seem to be the best bet for this Seward Peninsula sec ton. They bring more morev than the blues and are considered a trife more hardy. Silver fox do best where there is scattering of timber along with plenty of wind driven. dry snow and clear cold weather Of hand I can recall sev- eral spots around Seward Peninsula that would just about fll the bill. For instance take that section be- tween Golovin and Council-there's no better in America. Golovin Bay is there to supply an abundance of herring. salmon. white whale and seal for feeding. In cases of emer- gency there are the reindeer herds. in fact silver fox farm might well atilize the slaughter house remains which would otherwise 20 to waste.
 Back of Unalakleet there is that same scattering timber and plenty of fish food in the Unalakleet River ard the sea. Kotzebue Sound sec tions. Kobuk and Noatak Rivers offer equal opportunities. The field is vast-and as yet. unscratched.
 The Biological Survey of the De- pa rtment of Agriculture stands ready to give assistance to those who care to go into this thing. Ex- pertinent Stations are being conduct ed and the results of their study may be had thru application to the Biological Survey here in Nome or by applying direct to Washington. r. c. Several pamphlets have been issued and they have been generally recognized as the best authority in the matter of proper housing. treat ment of diseases, corrects feeding, etc.
 Gold mining is transient at best. It cannot last forever. In North western Alaska there is little to be promised in the way of agricultural | possibilities, but the raising of fur bearing animals and particularly silver foxes offers a new and promis- ing field for him who dares to be the pioneer We stand ready tc help.
 FRANK DUFRESNE. Fur Warden, Biological Survey Department of Agriculture.