60 ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1917. 



meal, bone meal, crackers or rice, and fresh meat when obtainable. 

 This farm is situated about 500 feet from the Tanana River on a 

 sandy knoll, wcU-sheltored from wind. 



In addition to his fox-farming operations, Mr. Vachon is also 

 interested in the pro])agation and rearing of martens. The work 

 was taken up at Tolovana, Alaska, in 1914. Presumably the experi- 

 ments have been carried on with one pair of animals as a breeding 

 stock, but definite information on this point is lacking. At any 

 rate no young were born in 1915 or 1916. On April 29, 1917, a htter 

 of four was born, two males and two females. It is said that these 

 young were without hair at birth and that it was 29 days before they 

 opened their eyes. The parents were separated some time before the 

 young were born. The mother continually carried the young martens 

 from one place to another until they were about two mojiths old. 

 All were reared to maturity, since which one has died. The food 

 used is dried and fresh fish, scraps of meat, and birds. 



L. G. Michael, Franklin, secured in 1917 from 4 pairs of foxes three 

 litters, 2 of five and 1 of four. Starting in 1915 with 1 pair of 

 foxes, Mr. Michael has raised 25 young foxes in three years. In 

 November, 1917, he had a stock of 26 animals; 1 silver, 6 reds, and 

 19 crosses. He expected, however, to retain only 5 or 6 pairs. He 

 had six corrals, 40 feet by 40 feet, with double compartment coops 

 and artificial burrows in each, and planned to build three more. In 

 regard to feeding foxes, the following is taken from Mr. Michael's 

 report: 



I feed wild game principally, mostly rabbits, some fish, and wild berries, with an 

 occasional ration of cooked food. Boiled meat scraps with stock thickened with rolled 

 oats makes a food which they relish very much. Any bones, such as caribou and 

 moose heads and legs, give them something to gnaw at. Two or three weeks l)efore 

 they are expected to whelp, I give the females about a pint of milk a day aside from 

 their regular ration. I give them milk until the young are weaned. As soon as the 

 young are big enough to come out of the coops, I give them a little milk three times a 

 day. and a very little solid food at first, although I see that they have heavy bones with 

 but little meat on to gnaw at. 



W. H. Newton, of Healy River (Richardson post office), has con- 

 tinued experimental work but without a great deal of success. 

 However, in 1917, he built some new pens and expected to continue 

 the work. 



Joseph Voelkl, 18 Mile Post, Haines. From a report made by 

 Mr. Voelkl in October, 1917, it appeared that he had a stock of eight 

 foxes (one black silver, five crosses, and two reds) and nine mink, 

 six of which were young. 



A. C. Smith, Porcupine, Chilkat Valley, Mr. Smith commenced 

 fox-farming operations with Pete Duncan at Wells in 1914, The 

 partnership was subsequently dissolved and Mr. Smith moved the 

 two animals on hand to Porcupine. Additional animals were secured 

 by purchase and capture. The record at hand does not indicate that 

 any young have been reared. The foxes are fed fish, vegetables, 

 table scraps, corn meal, and meat. 



E. Hillenbrand, Pleasant Camp, Chilkat Valley, began operations 

 in July, 1915, with four foxes, one cross and one red male, and one 

 black and one cross female, secured by purchase and capture. While 

 the operations have been continued, it is not known that any young 

 born on the farm have been reared. 



