FUR-FARMING IN CANADA 69 
“Females were immune from killing during the first six 
Summary years; since then approximately an equal number of males 
and females have been released for breeding purposes, and 
the remainder killed, regardless of sex. It was thought, in the first in- 
stance, that, by saving all females and a small number of males, poly- 
gamy would become general among the foxes as is the case with domestic 
animals. Results not meeting with expectations, the scheme of leaving 
a number of pairs and saving them for breeders was adopted. 
“Evidence of promiscuous sexual intercourse among the foxes is 
confined to a very few cases, none of which appear in the printed re- 
ports of the agents ot the Department of Commerce and Labor. Only 
one case has come under my observation. The different method of 
branding males and females is reported by Mr. Chichester as showing 
that pairs of foxes often seen playing together in the spring are not 
always male and female. He also observed a female fox bring up a 
litter of young alone and unaided. Later on, however, the same gen- 
tleman found the first authentic case of paired foxes jointly engaged 
in feeding and guarding the same litter of young. 
“Tt is possible that some of the females do not mate or become 
impregnated, and there is evidence that others abort; so, on the whole, 
it would seem wise to leave a surplus of healthy vigorous females, in- 
stead of adhering rigidly to the rules now in vogue. 
“ At present the business is carried on under a contract, by which 
the North American Commercial Co. gets all the skins taken, com- 
pensates the natives for their labour, and furnishes a certain amount of 
fox food; but the feeding, trapping and entire conduct of fox affairs is 
in the hands of the government agents. 
“While the regular annual catch ot fox skins on St. George island 
since the present methods were adopted is less than half wnat it was 
from 1870 to 1890, as herein shown, it is evident that the herd, and 
with it the annual catch of skins, can be indefinitely increased. The 
fact that on St .Paul island, where nothing was done to perpetuate 
fox life, the species is about extinct, justifies the opinion that the 
measures taken on St. George island have preserved the foxes thereon. 
Summing it up, it may be stated that the preservation and increase of 
the foxes on St. George island depend, primarily, upon the bountiful 
feeding of proper food tor about eight months every year; and, second- 
arily, upun the careful and methodical selection of the animals reserved 
for breeding purposes.” 
