FOXES ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS 361 



breeding of foxes, are leased from the United States for 

 this purpose and much interest is being taken by Govern- 

 ment officials in the results of the experiments. The 

 natives of Alaska also are beginning to realize the possi- 

 bility of preserving at least a few of the fur-bearing animals 

 and now four of the islands devoted to blue foxes are 

 owned wholly or in part by natives who have become 

 interested in the industry through the reports of their 

 friends and relatives employed in caring for the animals 

 on other islands. The natives by nature and experience 

 make first-class keepers and through these positions obtain 

 a good living for themselves, while rendering excellent 

 service to their employers. 



In addition to the localities referred to above, fox raising 

 may be said to be in operation on at least one of the Pri- 

 bilof Islands, which furnished the original parent stock. 

 For many years the natives of these two islands, St. Paul 

 and St. George, which compose the group, trapped the foxes 

 during the winter season irrespective of sex, and sold the 

 skins so obtained for a nominal price to the company 

 holding the sealing lease. In recent years, however, the 

 work has been carried on in a more systematic manner 

 and yields much larger returns. At the present time the 

 corporation leasing the islands, The North American Com- 

 mercial Company, also leases the right from the United 

 States to purchase all blue fox skins obtained, at the rate 

 of $5.00 per skin, which income is devoted as a community 

 fund to the support of the natives and is disbursed to them 

 under the direction of the Treasury Department. This 

 became necessary by reason of the great decrease in the 

 seal herd with its resulting diminution of revenue to the 

 natives. The amount so contributed is somewhere be- 

 tween $3,000 and $4,000 per annum. The Company, 

 under the lease, takes entire charge of the fox business 

 just as it does of the taking of sealskins. 



