ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1924 151 



The calf meal (a mixture of several grains) consisted of cracked wheat 

 or groats and rice mixed with seal oil. 



Fox feeding was begun on October 25. A wire cage trap, similar 

 to that used on St. George Island, was constructed adjacent to the 

 village near the by-products plant, but the foxes could not be induced 

 to enter it and feedmg was successful only on the seal-killing fields. 



Thirteen small box traps for feeding and trapping were con- 

 structed — 3 at Tolstoi, 2 at Lukanin, 1 near East Landing, 2 on 

 Village Reef, 2 at Zapadni, 2 at Halfway Point, and 1 at Northeast 

 Point. They were about 4 feet long, 2i/^ feet wide, and 2)4 feet 

 high, provided with a detachable cover and having at one end a 

 small door for the fox to enter. The food was placed in a removable 

 trough. For trapping purposes a catch on the drop door was re- 

 leased by a string running from the catch to a loose board which the 

 fox stepped on while eating the food. The foxes entered these very 

 slowly at first, but in a short time all the food fed was placed in them. 

 The advantage of these traps is that sea gulls do not consume any 

 of the food, as they will not enter the boxes. 



During the fall two new fox houses were constructed — one at 

 Zapadni and one at Halfway Point. They were one-story structures, 

 the main part being 12 by 14 feet, with living quarters for men 

 engaged in winter fox feeding and trapping. 



Fox trapping for the breeding reserve was begun at the village on 

 December 13, and the animals caught were marked by clipping the 

 hair at the base of the tail. Blue foxes were released, but all white 

 foxes caught were killed, as an effort is being made to eliminate the 

 white strain. The usual trapping with steel traps began on December 

 17 and continued to December 24. The places covered were North- 

 east Point, Marunich, Tsammana, and Southwest Point, 29 trappers 

 being engaged. 



The winter was quite mild, and the natural food washed up on the 

 beaches was so much preferred by the animals that the food in the 

 traps and at the feeding places did not tempt them, in consequence 

 of which fewer were caught. It was noted that the foxes traveled 

 widely over the island during the mild weather. At each of the three 

 reserving stations marking was done in a characteristic manner, 

 and quite frequently a fox that had been marked at one place was 

 recaught in one of the other districts. 



ST. GEORGE ISLAND 



On St. George Island both seal carcasses and baked biscuits were 

 used as fox food, the foxes showing a decided preference for the latter. 



On December 29 a 50-foot whale was found 20 feet above the water 

 line, half buried in the sand at Garden Cove. Tracks showed that 

 a large number of foxes were resorting there for food. A trap 10 

 by 12 feet was at once built near by and baited with whale meat, and 

 21 blue skins were secured. 



Weather conditions were not favorable for fox trapping on St. 

 George Island. It was exceptionally mild and at the same time 

 stormy. From December 12 through the end of the month the 

 temperature was not below 38° F., and it rained practically every 

 day. All snow disappeared. 



