102 ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1918. 
fox raising in some part of the Aleutians. The new foxes were permanently marked 
by clipping the top of the right ear and slitting the left. They were kept under 
treatment until the wounds healed and were then released. They immediately took 
up their residence under the boardwalk leading to the radio station, where they have 
since lived. They are frequently seen and are in excellent condition. 
The physical and numerical strength of the herd warrants a take of skins materially 
in excess of that of last year, and it is not unlikely that approximately 900 skins may 
be secured. A greater number would not weaken the herd, and it is my opinion, 
based upon my own observations and reliable reports from others, that a take of 1,000 
would not represent the year’s increment. 
Aside from the number of foxes, the weather during trapping time is a material 
factor which must be considered. Cold, clear nights when the tide is high, are the 
best, and on such nights good catches are to be expected. 
The production of animals with the best grade of pelts is one of the objects we are 
aiming at, but it is a question whether the finest pelts can be produced so long as the 
herd is forced to subsist largely upon carrion. ‘The commercial value of the herd is 
great enough to warrant serious consideration being given to the erection of a cold- 
storage plant in which 2,000 or more seal carcasses could be preserved in a frozen state 
to be fed fresh to the foxes during the winter. While sucha number of carcasses would 
in itself be insufficient to subsist the herd, its prophylactic value would be great when 
used to vary the diet. 
From an economic point of view no better way of disposing of seal carcasses can be 
found than that of converting them into food for the blue-fox herd. Many years will 
pass before the number of seals killed on St. George will exceed the combined needs 
of the natives and the fox herd. 
The experience of last season demonstrated that the fox herd has outgrown the 
limits of our present shop and that a much larger building is required for drying and 
stretching the pelts unless the take of skins is to be kept within the limit of the present 
small building. During the coming trapping season it is proposed to utilize the least- 
finished native dwelling for drying skins, but that building will be available for the 
one season only. 
Recorp or Foxes TRAPPED ON St. GEORGE ISLAND, ALASKA, SEASON 1917-18. 
















| 
Marked and 
Serial Blue. White. ound released as 
pum- : breeders.@ 
ber of} Date. Where taken. 
kill- 
nue: Male ee Male Ss Male. | Male. aa 
1917. 
merase ¢ INOVe02011| VALIA GO be scene ete Sets a ele ee Seem eee 55 cee 1 coc el eee 
ee ae ase IN OW oS Gall nes 1 O axe yore Ec emnate Mone epee etal cite on | eae ere | eel cena 1 aes one 
ese ae Dees 19 vallseotrap. s-cassnss ocgseces See 114 8 Gees ee tetera 3 4 
QE. Deer Qialkzock GOLSMLUMGA Gite JE a eas 73 59 1 eeee ses ease | 8 ll 
1918 
sep ete an. 2 | Village trap 9 Ct Seas Meee nsec 6 9 
Ree Janie Siile seer do 5 LOWS OSS Re IeE SS es 2 1 
bs AMS, Asie Sats do 8 Bul = 22.1. eioememte ects cere 7 6 
6. ete. athe Olenee oe do 16 2 (gl |S Se ee (re Bee ee Bee 12 14 
iigaaoan esa ls Le ee GO ce Aer we ie one ete | eer Meee Se | Pe eee Ee eee 
SA see aris, LAN Sce do 9 Qi | Sees. ee see | Se ae 1 4 
eee tI es LG ioe os do 17 3 1 De ene pee See ae ee 7 9 
LO seca AES 970) Baas do 20 De oRe| aseciepic lecnmeee 8 ll 
AS Jane oieseee do 8 ba Seca Lileeeeece 9 9 
ZS. Janja22 O22 3. do 4 3 Jlitk sao SE ee 6 14 
Ieee! JAN S523) |< do 5 4 ewamas [ho eed lene eee 22 21 
i ee Jab once do 2 S loaee wen ltot ce el eemoees 15 13 
eae Jan, 27 | Village (Shot) 2. co cee ceceeee clas DAS SESS PSE Sag co ee eee Be ee eee 
phat Sees Janie 28) iVillazéitrap..2: 255 2M te Tas 2 WANS Gero |taseuee | eseees saee ee 1 
165.37 2 Jan, 20s G63 afed3ot a ance bcc are 3 CE Eres in | ey ceateeae | ltr 2 3 
by RN Jan, «<30;|" Village (Shot)ist.cc. 44. sce eee ere LO men anemia enon s |e eens tee ame reran| ees 
iG eis Jarl 24 Zepeda s hese ra Sel ea SS ee era ee eer | ek et a eae ere eter CyL eee 
2itsees Vans 255). 2255 GOSS HES SS aR hee Ss Ves Sabe Sse) a eee) ERE es 1 1 
a All blue. 
b An animal entirely devoid of hair or fur was shot; skin publicly burned in shop stove. 
e This animal weighed 24 pounds. 
