The Nome nugget., 1930-03-22
TALKS ON FUR FARMS

the Arctic Alaska Fur Corporation
 while attending a meeting of the Northwestern Alaska Chamber of
 Commerce, was called upon for some remarks on fur farming. He
 entered into very detailed and
 interesting discourse on the featur-
 es of fur farming as he had en- countered himself. while conduct ing such an enterprise at Shish-
 maref Following are many of his remarks, the essence of which should prove interesting to any cne at all concerned with the dew elopment Of Alaska:
 The beginning of the fox and
 fur farming industry on Seward
 Peninsula was initiated under permit issued by the Biological
 Survey at Washington. D. C.. to
 George K. Goshaw in 1922. Wild
 white fox were captured by na- tives and placed in pens construct
 ed at Shishmaref, located on the Arctic slope of this peninsula. Two breeding seasons passed before there was any increase. In June of 1924, the first white fox pups were born. At that time three pairs of wild stock were confined
 to the pens. Fifty pairs of island
 aised blue foxes were brought to the Shishmaref Ranch from lscutheastern Alaska.
 In 1929 two mink ranches were
 established in Nome. At this time there are over fifteen fox and mink ranches in the, Second Division. The live animals numbering well over six hundred, all of which are being used as breeders during this season. Fox, mink and other fur bearing animals are prolific
 producers. About 400 belts have
 been shipped from these ranches todate The fur farming indust- ry should become big produc- CT of various furs and of breed ing stock, as climatic and food conditions are far better here than
 in most sections Of Alaska. The industry should increase every year, here and elsewhere over the Territory and will become one of
 the largest producers on this con tinent. The industry should be encouraged by all commercial bod ies and the Legislature. Toward
 this end, this Cha mber should ur- ge the establishing of an experi-
 mental station at the Territorial College located at Fairbanks. Such "a station would afford the ranch CTS information pertaining to var ious problems that confront any infant industry and would be of
 much benefit to beginners and others interested in the industry. As the problems of the ranches
 located in the First Division are
 entirely dinenent than those of the other three divisions, an ex- |kerimental station should be esta-
 blished in the Fourth Division.
 The college is located centrally and as buildings and certain equip
 ment are available, it would not require 2 great amount of money
 to carry on this work. It is need ed and every effort should be tak- en to have station established. Alter listening to the many problems which have at this meet ing come before the Chamber and
 being sincerely interested in this |commandty and the veatare of the Division. am tahng the liberty q . guest by suggesting that the chamber organize among the school children and students os the high
 sehool. Junior Chamber of Com merce and have them function
 with. the regular body on all pro-
 blems pertaining to the welfare
 cf the city. Later on they in turn
 will be taking up ths work as
 active members and then. they
 will be well grounded in the fun
 damentals of civic and business
 duties of good citizens. think
 that in all publications issued here
 -ome space should be devoted to
 the imports and exports and oth-
 TT business conditions from this
 -ection. The kind, the amount,
 end the value thereof is always