MINOE FUR INDUSTRIES. 107 



erable quantities of furs are brought down to Tanana from that region 

 as well as from Fort Yukon and Rampart. Still greater quantities 

 come in from the Tozitna and upper Melozitna Rivers. The total 

 quantity of iurs brought to Tanana in 1911-12 was greater than in the 

 previous year. The high prices paid induced more trappers to go out 

 and to trap more energetically. 



There are at Tanana three principal buyers of furs. The business 

 is increasmg and good prices are paid, but almost invariably in trade. 



A large proportion of all the fur animals of the interior of Alaska 

 are represented among the furs brought in to Tanana. The most 

 abundant is the muskrat; the most important are mink and marten, 

 most of the latter bcnig pale in color and not so valuable as the darker- 

 colored individuals, a few of which are seen. Even a few white fox 

 were brought in from the upper Melozitna. Beaver are found in the 

 small streams and ponds. The law protecting them until 1918 is gen- 

 erally observed. Reports were current that one or more companies 

 had bought some beaver, but they could not be verified. It is prob- 

 able, however, that a few are killed by the Indians for food. A few 

 fox and lynx are brought in from the Yukon hills. 



The number of furs of each kind bought in 1910-11 and 1911-12 by 

 one principal company at Tanana was as follows: Muskrat, 1,500 to 

 2,500; marten, 500 to 700; mink, 300 to 400; ermine, 100; lynx, 10 to 

 15; black bear, 11; cross fox, 10; red fox, 25; land otter, 10; white 

 fox, 2. 



RAMPART. 



Rampart has recently become a fur-buying post of some importance. 

 It shares with Tanana and Fort Yukon the catch from the Porcupine 

 and the Chandlar Rivers. It is in a good mink region. Considerable 

 mining is carried on, and as the country is not old enough to have 

 been thoroughly trapped out, the prospectors and miners are able to 

 obtain a good many furs during their idle winter months. 



FORT YUKON DISTRICT. 



Fort Yukon is an important trading point for the large settlement 

 of Indians located there and on the Porcupine and Chandlar Rivers. 

 There is an Episcopal mission at Fort Yukon and the Hudson Bay 

 Co. formerly had a post there. 



The principal local trader reports that the quantity of furs handled 

 there now is about as great as at any time in the past. The most 

 important species are mink and marten; those coming from the 

 Porcupine and Chandlar Rivers are said to be the largest, darkest, 

 and most heavily furred to be found any^vhcre in Alaska. Lynx 

 formerly constituted a very large part of the catch; a large number 

 are still obtained, though it is claimed tliat a few years ago the lynx 



