62 ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1917. 



It is understood that Andrew Sholin, Homer, via Seldovia, is 

 engaged in silver-fox farming, but details in regard to his work are 

 not at hand. 



Joseph Fihirdeau, of Seldovia, began fox farming in 1915 with one 

 pair of foxes. The results obtained have warranted him in continu- 

 mg his work. In November, 1917, Mr. Filardeau advised that he 

 had entered into partnership with Mr. J. A. Herbert and that they 

 had eight pens in the course of construction and expected to have ten 

 pairs of breeding animals in 1918. In referring to a htter of five 

 silver grays, Mr. Filardeau states: 



These were also raised without getting seriously sick. In July it was noticed that 

 they were not so active as they generally were, which fact caused me considerable 

 anxiety, prompting me to gather herbs of all varieties and give them to the animals 

 in the "hope that they would contain something of benefit to the foxes. No improve- 

 ment was noticed, however, until some bunches of green sod were given, the roots 

 growing therein appeared to be greatly relished and the immediate change that 

 followed was unmistakably for the better. 



Andrew Siewertson, of Latouche, has a fox farm on Perry Island, 

 Prince William Sound. Two pairs of blue foxes were placed on the 

 island in 1915. In October, 1917, the owner reported that breeding 

 operations had not been very successful and that he was putting on 

 his island two additional pairs secured from the Naked island fox 

 farm. 



Stanier & Van placed four pairs of blue foxes on Axel Lind Island, 

 Prince William Sound, in 1916. The animals were secured from fox 

 farmers. In 1917 about six foxes were raised. The o\vners feel that 

 the outlook for handling a large number of foxes is not very encour- 

 aging on account of the difficulties involved in securing supplies of 

 fish for fox food in the face of competition for salmon for cannery use. 

 They suggest the setting aside of a fishing ground for the use of fox 

 farmers. 



Lilzegren & Wagner have a fox farm on Little Naked Island, Prince 

 William Sound. The foxes originally put on the island by them 

 consisted of two pairs of blue foxes placed there in 1913. In 1914 

 about 10 young were raised; in 1915, about 30; in 1916, about 60; 

 and in 1917, about 90. In 1915, 8 foxes were killed for their pelts, 

 and in 1916, 29. Six five animals were sold in 1916. The owners 

 expected to kill, if conditions were favorable, about 35 in 1917. 

 Messrs. Lilzegren & Wagner feel as other farmers in this region that 

 the fjuestion of a future supply of fish being available for use as fox 

 food is one which should receive attention, and recommend that fox 

 farmers pay a reasonable tax and in return have a small fishing 

 ground set aside for their use. 



F. A. Shumaker, of Latouche, and A. Lund operate jointly a fox 

 farm on Long Island, Prince William Sound. Eighteen blue foxes, 

 10 females and 8 males, purchased from A. Grosvold, Sand Point, 

 Alaska, were placed on the island in September, 1913. Forty foxes 

 were raised in 1914, 60 in 1915, 80 in 1916, and 85 in 1917. Mr. 

 Shumaker reported that the foxes in 1917 were too numerous for 



Srolific breeding and that it was planned to take from 75 to 100 pelts, 

 [o pelts were taken in the years from 1913 to 1916, inclusive. One 

 pair of live foxes was sold in 1915 and two pairs in 1916. While at 

 present the facihties for obtaining food for the foxes on this island 

 are satisfactory, Mr. Shumaker stated that it was getting more diffi- 

 cult each year for the fox farmers in the region to secure a proper 



