100 ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1918. 
St. George Island.—The following extract from the report of Agent 
A. H. Proctor on foxing operations on St. George Island for the 
season 1917-18 was written on October 31, 1918, and gives interesting 
details of the work. 
The presence of the U.S. F. 8. Roosevelt at the islands discharging cargo delayed 
trapping operations until the night of December 19, 1917. The Roosevelt made her 
final departure December 17, and two nights later trapping for skins began, and con- 
tinued at suitable intervals until the night of February 8, 1918, when operations were 
suspended for the season. The trap at the village was operated, in all, 24 nights, 
that at Zapadni 11 nights, and string traps were used in the village proper three 
afternoons, Trapping at the village trap and at Zapadni was concurrent. 
As noted in the accompanying record, two mangy males whose bodies were entirely 
denuded of hair or fur were shot in the village, and as their skins were worthless they 
were publicly burned. These animals were killed to prevent them from spreading 
the mange. 
During the trapping season there were killed for skins 320 blue males and 279 blue 
females, 2 white males, and 3 white females; a total of 604 skins. To that total were 
added the skins of three blue males which were found dead, bringing the total number 
of skins for shipment to 607. The entire shipment was forwarded on the Roosevelt 
June 21, 1918. 
Including the 3 found dead, 1,017 foxes were handled during the season. Of that 
number 200 males and 208 females were branded and released for breeders. Following 
the established practice, all animals unfit for breeders that entered the trap were 
killed, but in order to produce present revenue, and for the better reason that the 
herd could well afford it, a proper percentage of animals bearing a higher grade of 
pelt were also killed. 
The breeders, 200 blue males and 208 blue females, consisted of the finest speci- 
mens that passed through the trap, and considered as a whole they were very high 
grade in every respect. Those released for breeders received a, mark that identified 
them and secured them immunity from killing at a later period in the season. Males 
were branded or marked by clipping a broad ring from the fur near the end of the 
tail; females were similarly marked, but the band was clipped near the base of the 
tail. These marks remained until the coat was shed the following summer. No 
male that weighed less than 104 pounds nor a female that weighed less than 74 pounds 
were reserved for breeding. All were in such fine condition that none were released 
that even approximated those weights. 
The season of 1917-18 was in every respect the most successful one for 25 years. 
The most recent season that approaches it was that of 1905-6, when 1,062 foxes were 
handled, but in that year only 481 were killed. In point of number of skins secured 
the past season was exceeded only by that of 1892-93, when 928 skins were secured. 
The large take of 1917-18 followed immediately after the large catch of the previous 
season, and clearly demonstrates the wonderful increase that has taken place within 
the past few years. This is further demonstrated by the ease with which the catch 
was secured, as is shown by the accompanying record. 
After the close of trapping operations reliable persons report having seen large 
numbers of unbranded foxes at large at various points on the island, and many were 
also observed in the vicinity of the village and at the feeding ground. No reliable 
estimate can be made of the number of foxes alive at the close of trapping, but it is 
more than safe to say that the 200 pairs released for breeders represented far less than 
one-half of the number. The presence of unbranded foxes after the close of trapping 
operations shows conclusively that all do not resort to the village to feed, at least 
during the hours when the trap is in operation. This is, of course, not true of them 
all, as some branded animals have been seen at the most remote points. Zapadni 
appears to have a colony that rarely visits the village, and the same appears to be 
true of Garden Cove. Recognizing that, it has been customary to preserve food at 
Zapadni for winter’s use, and this season 200 seal carcasses were preserved there, and 
at this writing something less than one-half of it has been consumed. 
The first night of trapping invariably is the best, and the number then handled ~ 
may be accepted as a good indication (weather conditions remaining favorable) of 
what the final take may be. On the first night of 1917-18 we killed 197 foxes, and then 
had to suspend operations early and while they were coming to the trap in increasing 
numbers, because our shoproom was too small to permit us to stretch and dry a greater 
number. The same lack of shoproom made it impracticable for us to resume. trapping 
before December 27, eight days after the first night. On the second night we killed 
133. These two nights, it is believed, exceed any similar record since the present 
trapping method was established in 1897, 
