ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES 169 
in November 1939. One of these animals died en route, and the 
remaining five were delivered to a representative of the Game Com- 
mission at Petersburg. This transfer was made with the understand- 
ing that the Pribilof foxes would be replaced with others in due time 
and thus improve the stock at the Islands. 
TRAPPING SEASON OF 1939-40 
In the 1939-40 season there were taken 1,258 fox pelts, of which 
1,246 were blue and 12 white. Three hundred and- seventy-seven 
blue and 8 white pelts were taken on St. Paul Island and 868 blue 
and 4 white pelts on St. George Island. 
There were trapped, marked, and released for breeding stock 47 
male and 44 female foxes on St. Paul Island and 24 males and 32 
females on St. George Island. The breeding reserve includes also a 
considerable number of animals that were not captured during the 
season. 
REINDEER 
St. Paul Island.—Upon the basis of observations made during three 
drives of the entire herd it was estimated that the total number of 
reindeer on St. Paul Island as of October 14 was 1,800, of which 450 
were the young of the season. During the year, 105 animals had 
been killed, of which 4 were found to be unfit for food. The remain- 
ing 101 deer were used for food in white, native, and Aleut messes. 
It is believed that the estimate of the size of the herd this year is 
more accurate than heretofore. Two natives were detailed to the 
work of herding the reindeer during most of the period from April 1 to 
November 18, and for a time a third man was so employed. 
In the early part of September a reindeer corral was constructed 
in accordance with specifications prepared in 1937 by a unit manager 
of the reindeer service of the Cffice of Indian Affairs. Upon com- 
pletion of this enclosure, successive roundups and drives were made 
on September 16, September 30, October 14, and November 14. As 
a result of the first of these, 36 bucks and 111 does entered the corral. 
They were held for three days and accepted both water and food. 
On the next two drives no deer could be induced to enter the compound. 
Because of the increasing wariness of the deer, the corral’s wings 
were extended, and additional enclosures were added, doubling its 
holding capacity from an original 2,500 to 5,000. Long strips of 
burlap were prepared, to be carried by the drivers, thus effecting a 
continuous, moving and conspicuous barrier behind the deer. A 
large crew made the final drive, using the long burlap strips, and 
almost the entire herd was brought around the north and east sides 
of Little Polovma Mountain, but when near the corral the deer 
stampeded, bands of varying sizes charging in different directions, 
and only 6 bucks and 3 does were herded into the corral. 
St. George Island.—A count of the reindeer on St. George Island 
on September 30 showed 42 animals, of which 9 were this year’s 
fawns. The herd appeared to be in good condition. 
