FUR ANIMALS 





Since the dawn of history, Alas- 

 kans have lived by trapping. 

 Twenty-odd varieties of land fur 

 animals are the basis for most of 

 the income of hundreds of In- 

 dians, Eskimos, Aleuts, and other 

 trappers. 



The bulk of the furs brought into 

 various trading posts each year is 

 bought up by professional fur 

 buyers, who travel regular routes 

 over Alaska in the interest of the 

 big eastern fur houses. Neither 

 the tourist nor any other newcomer 

 to Alaska should expect to buy pelts 

 at bargain prices. Usually, pelts 

 left after the buyers have made 

 their choice will be "irregulars." 



Alaskan fur revenues make the 

 business third among industries 

 based on natural resources — only 

 fishing and mining exceed it. 

 During the 83 years of Russian oc- 

 cupancy (l784r-1867), furs worth 

 $45,000,000 were shipped to the 

 mother country. Since its purchase 

 by the United States, Alaska has 

 exported furs valued at more than 



$145,000,000, exclusive of the Pribi- 

 lof fur-seal pelts with a raw value 

 of about $90,000,000. 



Probably 15,000 natives depend 

 on the fur industry and share in 

 the average annual return of about 

 $2,500,000 from the sale of pelts. 

 Large quantities of furs are used 

 also for garments and bedding. 



Mink — ^The value of the annual 

 harvest of mink pelts exceeds that 

 of any other fur animal. The mink 

 is widely distributed south of the 

 Brooks Range, in areas having 

 plenty of fish and shellfish. It is 

 found both in wooded and tundra 

 areas, and is semiaquatic, living 

 along the margins of streams and 

 lakes. It is especially numerous in 

 southeastern Alaska, but thins out 

 inland where the weather is colder 

 and the food scarcer. 



MINK 



Wild mink vary in color from 

 light brown to deep blackish brown. 

 The best prices are paid for the 

 larger and darker pelts. Away 

 from the coast the fur is of high 

 quality, color, and durability, but 

 on the coastal islands it is more var- 

 iable. Mink trapping is a vital 

 part of the economy of inland 



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