Seward daily gateway., 1925-12-05

white fox, and appears to thrive best on salt water. Six pairs of blue foxes were taken to interior Alaska a year ago, and reports are that they did not do we'll and that no pups were raised. On the islands the blue foxes run at large and thrive wonderfully. They have on an average much larger filters than do silver foxes.
 Because of the great distances by water many of these island ranchers are far from their neighbors, and are compelled to work out their manya problems single handed and alone, and almost wholly without any help from the many Government bureaus which draw the taxpayers money for the very purpose; not even will it deliver his mail to him. Instead of aiding a growing industry the ranchers have been held up, pestered and nagged by government bureaus. He is denied the right to homestead his island To- cation; denied the right to purchase it; denied any way of protecting his investments and improvements. No two islands are alike, and when the rancher has learned his business on one island, then is forced by higher rentals or some silly whim of de- partment clerk, to move to another island, he must learn his business all over again. If through business re- verses, sickness or some other cause he fails to pay his ever-increasing yearly rentals, he loses his location, his home, his improvements and his ranch. He must have a double-bar- reled license to do business, and his product is taxed as fast as it natures. And now he is forbid by law to catch the fishes that swim in the deep blue sea, to feed his foxes with. But in spite of these pesky regulations, the blue fox ranchers have had two big years business, and the outlook for the future is very bright.
 Many Ranches Coming Into Existence In the Interior of Alaska, silver black fox ranches are coming into ex- istence almost every day, and in les ser numbers mink, marten, beaver and muskrat ranches have been estab- ich nI of xxyh; ;0h low of an experimental nature.
 In this connection there is wonder full work that could be performed by the Alaska Agricultural Experimental Farms in determining the best varie- ties of carrots, peas, rutabagas, sugar beets, parsnips, hay and some other i farm products required by the fur farmer. They could experiment with and determine the best breed of goats for Alaska and for the fur farmer, and not leave all this to the lone rancher, who may not have the time or means to purchase all the different breeds and determine the one best breed.
 Goats Milk Fed to Pups
 Experiments are now being made by the writer with pure-bred Swiss Toggenburg goats. These goats do not have the usual goat odor; nor does the milk taste goaty. Minerals are mixed with their feed and they are hriyyino ;olo@ cent more vitamines than codliver oil.
 It is we'll known that there are cer- tain spots or zones in Alaska, where due to the mineral content of the ground or to some other cause, fur bearing animals that live in these zones have better conformation, are larger and have more beautiful fur than those living in other regions, and often not many miles distant. These zones could be laid off on a map and marked with the kind of fur animal and quality of fur in each zone. This would be a great aid and saving in time and money to prospective fur farmer, and enable him to locate at once in the zone best adapted for the fur that he intends to raise.
 Veterinarian Should Be Handy
 Then a man skilled in the care and treatment of animals should be avail able to suggest best methods of feed ing and housing and sanitation. Give information on breeding to produce a definite strain, which all ranchers are