ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAI, IISTDUSTRIES, 1920. 89 



with strong planks and a small doorway, closed by means of flashboards, is 

 placed near the center of the base of the bulkhead. This door serves both as a 

 drain for the effluent water and oil and as a port from which the meat may be 

 drawn as needed. 



As the meat is thrown into the pit it must be spread about evenly and 

 sprinkled witli a small amount of lialf-ground salt. Salt which has already 

 served a part of its usefulness in the sealskin kenches is entirely satisfactory 

 for salting fox food. It is of great importance to have the meat spread in 

 such a manner as to leave as little air space as possible; tlie principle is pri- 

 marily that of ensiling rather than salting. It is surprising how well the meat 

 will be preserved with but very little salt if the air is properly excluded. 



After the suumier's sealing has been completed the silo is covered with a 

 sectional hatch, which rests on the edges of the pit. It is not of advantage to 

 store the seal meat resulting from the fall killings, as the natives take large 

 quantities for salting and freezing and the foxes will consume the fresh re- 

 mains in a .short time. 



Before the feeding of the reserve food begins it should be freshened by the 

 pa.ssage of fresh water through the pit. Tliis is done by laying a pipe line to 

 a siphon, which draws the water from a lake near by. The water should run 

 at lea.st two weeks steadily, but must nut be turne<l on until the time for 

 feeding draws near, else the food will begin to decomiX)se unnecessarily. 



Fcvdiny. — Having decided that feeding should begin, a supply of the pre- 

 pared meat is reniove<l from the silo to the fofnl kenches in the trapping house, 

 where it nray be drawn upon with ease as required. The native foreman is 

 then instructed to put out a small experimental amount in the neighborhood of 

 the building and to report the following morning as to the quantity consumed. 

 Upon receiving this report the agent will know how to proceed the following 

 evening. It is a commendable practice to provide for a remainder of food 

 each morning, except <luring the active trapping season, when the animals 

 must not become satiated. The foreman details a single workman to the 

 work of setting out the food for a wi^ek at a time, after which that man is 

 relieved by some one who does the work for a similar period. 



The feeding is continued in the neighborhood of the trapping building until 

 two weeks or more before it is expected to begin trapping, at which time it is 

 placed within the cage. Much smaller quantities of food are then put out, and 

 it niay be well, in the case of a mild season, to su.spend feeding for a day or 

 two, putting out only enough food to attract the animals to that vicinity. This 

 must be decided and gaugetl by the manner in which the foxes have been feed- 

 ing during the interval immediately preceding, and it is largely a matter of 

 judgment. 



When the beginning of trapping lias been decided upon all waste bits of meat 

 and bone are gathered together anil store<l in barrels in an inaccessible place, 

 where they will not draw the foxes from the lure within the cage. After trap- 

 ping has startetl, food is placed only within the cage and the accumulation of 

 bones therein is cleaned out from time to time and disposed of as stated above. 

 Bits of food which have been dragged outside the cage must not be allowed to 

 accumulate, as the more timid foxes will feed on them in preference to enter- 

 ing the cage. 



Trapping. 



Spaxnn. — The season for trapping prime-furred foxes varies in direct relation 

 to the degree and duration of cold weather. Ordinarily the best of the pelts 

 will be seciire<l between r>ecemher 1 and February 1, though prime furs may be 

 taken on either side of these extremes. 



Toward the latter part of November a few foxes may be caught and the fur 

 examined as to its iuarketable condition. The extent of growth of the guard 

 or crown hairs is a very good guide, as when these hairs have reached a length 

 extending well beyond the heavier fur the pelt takes on its well-knovt'n silkiness 

 and luster so highly valued by the trade. The guard hairs are seldom, if ever, 

 fully extended before the fur beneath has become prime. Many skins vary as 

 to fur ; some have a heavy growth of dark fur, while others may have compara- 

 tively thin coats of light color, but tlie priniene.ss consists in a uniform growth 

 of whatever class of fur the animal hapi)ens to have, accompanied by the full 

 growth f>f guard hairs. Animals are occasionally seen with no visible growth 

 of guard h;iirs, hut these are presumed to be diseased and are so few in num- 

 ber as to be negligible. 



