FOX FARMING 365 



yards in the park and it is expected that as a result .of the 

 investigations now going on not only will the beautiful blue 

 foxes be preserved, but the domestication of many other 

 fine fur-bearing animals that must otherwise soon become 

 extinct will be attempted. It is believed that the time is 

 not far distant when hundreds of the now useless islands 

 of Alaska will be utilized in the propagation of fur-bear- 

 ing animals, and that many of the farmers of the northern 

 states will have wire-fenced enclosures of an acre or two 

 devoted to this industry, from which they will reap a far 

 greater return than from all the rest of their live stock. 

 Furs, being luxuries, are the most variable of all com- 



O 7 



modities in their market values. The skins of the blue 

 fox furnish no exception. Again, their value is largely 

 dependent on quality, and the variation in quality among 

 skins is very great. They may be said to range in value 

 from $5 to $50 these two prices being the extremes; 

 the latter is only paid for skins of unsurpassed excellence. 



NOTE. On July 16, 1899, Mr. M. L. Washburn, author of this 

 article and one of the founders and principal owners of the Semidi 

 Propagating Co., conducted a party consisting of Mr. and Mrs. E. H. 

 Harriman and other members of the Expedition, from Kadiak village 

 to the fox farm on Long Island about an hour's sail in the naphtha 

 launches. The buildings and grounds were inspected and a few old 

 foxes were seen on the beach, and a number of young about one of the 

 barns. ED. 



