REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OP FISHERIES. 99 



For some years the Post Office Department has aided the Depart- 

 ment of Commerce in obtaining statistics of the furs ship'ped from 

 Alaska by mail. An order of the Postmaster General dated May 4, 

 1917, pubUshed in the Postal Guide for June, reaffirmed the policy 

 of cooperation and made certain changes in instructions to post- 

 masters which will undoubtedly result in an improved service. The 

 new order became effective October 1, 1917. 



FURS SHIPPED FROM ALASKA. 



Statistics compiled by the Bureau indicate that during the period 

 from November 16, 1915, to November 15, 1916, the value of the 

 furs shipped from Alaska was $911,244, exclusive of the fur-seal and 

 fox skins from the Pribilof Islands, as against $400,532 in the pre- 

 ceding similar period. The leading fur bearers of the Territory are 

 foxes, lynxes, minks, muskrats, and land otters. In 1916 there was 

 a noteworthy increase in the number and value of most of the im- 

 portant pelts shipped to market. The number of lynx pelts was 

 21,608 against 9,374 in 1915, and the average price advanced from 

 $8 to $12. The number of red-fox skins increased from 11,770 to 

 15,711, and the average price increased from $8 to $12. Over 101,000 

 muskrat skins came out in 1916 against less than 33,000 in the pre- 

 vious year. The shipment of mink skins feU off slightly but the 

 average value advanced 100 per cent. 



FUR FARMING IN AI.ASKA. 



Although Alaska is well known as a producer of furs, it is not 

 believed that its possibilities for fur farming, particularly the breed- 

 ing of foxes, have been generally appreciated or recognized. There 

 are various sections where it has been demonstrated that such oper- 

 ations may be conducted successfully. For several years past there 

 have been a number of fur farms in operation on the Tanana and 

 Yukon Rivers. The Copper River district is another section where 

 fur farming has been prosecuted with a considerable measure of 

 success. Still another region which has proved suitable is the Chilkat 

 Valley in southeastern Alaska. Fur farming has also been conducted 

 for many years on islands, particularly in the Afognak-Kodiak region, 

 and islands to the westward, including the Shumagin Group. 



In southeastern Alaska a number of islands have been devoted to 

 fur farming, but except in one or two instances operations have not 

 been successful. As in the case of other islands elsewhere in Alaska, 

 this appears to have been due to the impression that it was only 

 necessary to release a few pairs of foxes upon an island and in due 

 time reap an easy harvest of pelts. In some cases even this indiffer- 

 ent method was moderately successful, but real success in the propa- 

 gation of foxes on islands in Alaska has occurred only where intelli- 

 gent supervision has been given. There has been a notable improve- 

 ment along this line in recent years. It is now the custom on some 

 of the islands and in all cases of fur farms on the mainland to con- 

 struct carefully designed wire inclosures, or corrals, where the animals 

 are subject to that attention which experience has demonstrated to 

 be essential to success. There appears to be no reason why Alaska 



