FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY. 103 
Recorp or Foxes TRAPPED ON St, GEORGE ISLAND, ALASKA, SEASON 1917-18— 












Continued. 
Marked and 
Serial Blue. | White. rod released as 
num- : breeders. @ 
ber of | Date. Where taken. af Bai 
kill- | 
ing. Fe- Fe- Fe- 
8 Male. | wale. | Male-| mate. | Male. | Male. | ato, 
1917 
Sb che Parr OGn ECAP ACUI ccm cies clciels cicSasisidececeaa|e=ecm 
y Lees Gane §27F |e 5's. OSE, Fok ERR Ss 
(2 Ae eal = TRS SEE oe ee ee 
Gee FRE OD) | SFL e OO ee ome oor accents oe es 
ayy ae tees ans ©S0s| Village traps) s--0ee estes <3 
Ue AR Sb eee Deer ise cee cuemena aawamese re 
ns SL} Villacel(strinm trap)sica-ascess =e o<> 022 
7 Si wiapadinih ees sees os eo: oo i | 
Village trap Aa 2h 
Village (string trap) ......-- . 
Mila eG trap ce jee coe wicca ciciaurs =~ 
SHOUS Sere ee. Sey Beet ea Tet 
Village (string trap)..........-.-- 
Nallese tap ob Seat Sa Se Pe 
sae ORAS a eee ae See b 
aaa COs et ses ee Shoes ee 
Willagéitraps -fiiearstst ox see corel oss Lees 3 
Village (shot) el Setecialssesees 
Village trap....... 8 
Wiklse once Sn as 










a All blue. 
b One additional male was killed, body devoid of hair; skin publicly burned in shop stove. 
St. Paul Island.—The foxes on St. Paul Island run wild and are 
captured in steel traps. No selection can thus be made for a breeding 
reserve and the dangers of overtrapping are obvious. For some rea- 
son not adequately explained this island has never been the equal of 
St. George for foxes, although it is larger, has more extensive beach 
areas, and about seven times as large a seal herd. 
At the present time fox life seems to be at alow ebb. In 1917-18 
10 days’ trapping under excellent weather conditions and with about’ 
300 more traps in use than for several years previous resulted in a 
catch of only 104 animals, whereas, in the winter of 1914-15 over 200 
pelts were secured in this time. It is entirely possible to practically 
exterminate the animals here if very close supervision is not given. 
It is planned to make a thorough attempt to institute the Judge sys- 
tem of feeding and selection at an early date. If it can be made a 
success on St. Paul Island, the dangers of overtrapping will disap- 
pear and will, it is hoped, bring the St. Paul herd to a high state of 
excellence. 
PAYMENTS TO NATIVES. 
The natives are paid $5 from the proceeds of the sales for each fox 
skin secured. Since this is in return for labor performed, no dis- 
tinction is made between the white and blue pelts. The work 
required is the same on each. On St. Paul Island the pelts brought 
in by each native are credited to him. This plan can not be followed 
on St. George Island because of the manner of taking and killing. 
