94 ALASKA FISHEEIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1919. 



minimum limits but it is possible that the a\'erage may again draw upward in a few 

 years as a result of the practice. If at any time the average weights are found to be 

 too near the minimum it \vill be a simple matter to revert to the former rule and noth- 

 ing can be lost by the experiment. When the average weight of all male foxes ia 

 more than 13 pounds and the a^•erage weight of all female foxes is over 10 pounds, 

 the minimum lijnits of 11 and S\ pounds are but proper. 



Breeding reserve. — The recommendation that the breeding reserve be increased to 

 225 pairs was made in the belief that such a change was the most certain manner in 

 which the number of foxes on the island could be positively increased and, in view of 

 the large number of foxes handled, the change could be well afforded tliis year. The 

 release of 225 pairs this season should be followed (as food and other factors allow) by 

 further small increases each season. 



As in previous years, the breeding animals were selected with great care. Weight 

 and general \-igor, age, condition of fur, and depth of color in the fur were the principal 

 points upon which an animal's fitness was decided. No old or crippled animals were 

 released even though the fur was of the best. 



Prospect for coming seaso7i. — There is no reason known at this time why the catch 

 of foxes during the winter 1920-21 should not exceed the number taken this season 

 by at least 200 animals. Ideal conditions attending, a catch of 1,000 skins plus 500 

 breeding animals is more than a remote possibility. 



Feeding of foxes. — Feeding of the foxes was begun on October 13, 1919, is being con- 

 tinued at this time, and will not be stopped until late April. The food was put out 

 in the usual manner in the neighborhood of the trap, the amount being gauged by the 

 appetite of the animals. It was always the intention to place more food on the feed- 

 ing ground than the foxes could consume in a single night. The largest amount con- 

 sumed in a single night was approximately 1,600 pounds. 



Referring to the possibility of needing whale meat for fox food during the coming 

 winter, it is no longer felt that such a step will be necessary. After the experience of 

 the past winter it is believed that if all seal meat not used as natives' food is carefully 

 preserved as fox food and the accumulation judiciously fed during the necessary 

 period that no shortage will be encountered. There should be, however, vigorous 

 trapping in the early winter for the purpose of reducing the number of feeding animals. 



N o efforts will be spared toward making the supply of fox food as large as will be 

 possible with the number and sizes of seals which will be available for killing. 



Lack of facilities. — There is great and urgent need of better facilities for caring for 

 the fox skins. Owing to the lack of room in the crowded shoi), it is very difficult to 

 handle more than 125 skins at one time. TMs not only gives poorer results but is 

 important when we consider that a catch of 200 skins on the opening night of the season 

 may be expected in the near future. 



The proposed new shop will do much to relieve the lack of space and will provide 

 a place for the storage of the skins while they are awaiting shipment. 



PARASITES. 



Informal discussion of the value to fox-farming operations of more 

 information in regard to parasitism among foxes led to a request 

 from the Biological Survey in 191S that a collection of viscera of 

 foxes and of other material for examination be made at the Pribilofs. 

 The making of the collection was begun on St. George Island in De- 

 cember, 1918, and continued into 1919. Material was secured from 

 18 foxes, and in addition specimens of fox food were preserved. 



Dr. B. H. Ransom, Chief, Zoological Division, Bureau of Animal 

 Industry, rendered a report in February, 1920, based on a study of 

 the collection, as follows: 



The intestines and other Aascera from 18 blue foxes from St. George Island of the 

 Pribilof Islands, killed or d>ing during the season of 1918-19, have been examined 

 for para.«ite8 and the following findings noted: 



Ten of the foxes had tapeworms in the small intestine, the tapeworms being a species 

 of the ^enus Mesocestoides, and apparently a new species, although this material is 

 Btill being studied. These tapeworms were present as a rule in large nimibers. The 

 life history of the worms is not known, but from the distribution of the parasite it is 

 surmised that the intermediate hosts are fishes. One of the foxes had one tapeworm 

 head, the worm apparently belonging to the genus Taenia, but having only a part of 

 ©ne circle of hooka remaining on the head; this worm has not been identified, and 



