58 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 
Maj. Gen. A. W. Greely, in his Handbook of Alaska, published in 
1909, writes: 
“Unwise exploitation has very greatly reduced the fur- 
Se aay bearing productivity of the land animals of the Aleutian 
islands, as well as of the interior of Alaska. With the early 
extermination of foxes in prospect, there was organized about 1894 the 
Semidi Propagation Company, to domesticate and raise foxes on un- 
inhabited islands. The original fox farm was stocked from the Pribi- 
lof group and was situated on North Semidi island, whence the in- 
dustry has extended to thirty or more islands to the eastward, far the 
greater number being situated in Prince William sound, though there 
are seven in the Kadiak group. Most of the islands are occupied under 
lease from the United States, and the law excepts from homesteading 
the fox islets. The companies and several individuals have followed 
this industry, which has been only moderately successful from the 
financial standpoint. Considerable investment is necessary, it takes 
at least four years before any revenue is obtained, the life is most 
isolated, and skins are not very productive, usually varying in value 
from $10 to $20, according to quality and demand. In some instances 
natives have become fox breeders and, where private parties are so 
engaged, they have supplemented their fox breeding by fishing, farm- 
ing, or lumbering. 
“The largest fox farm is at Long Island, near Kadiak, where 
there are nearly 1,000 blue foxes. The largest number of skins comes, 
however, from the Pribilof group, where about 700 foxes are annually 
taken by the natives, supplementary to the fur-seal catch. These foxes 
are not domesticated. 
“The very valuable silver-gray fox is too thoroughly savage to 
accept conditions necessary for profitable fox breeding and, in conse- 
quence, fox farming is confined almost entirely to the blue fox. The 
fox is monogamous, and an average of four foxes come to maturity from 
each litter. It is necessary to feed the foxes the greater part of the 
year, and careful supervision is essential to their successful raising. 
“The blue fox thrives wild on the extreme easterly isle of Attu, 
and from that point several of the Shumagin islands, Chernabura, 
Simeonof, etc., have been stocked with moderate success. The ex- 
tension and development of this industry is desirable as one of the much 
needed means to enable the Aleuts the successfully to meet changed con- 
ditions of Alaskan life.” 
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SS Seater oe a ee 
