yb) ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1918. 
W. H. Newton, of Healy River, post office Richardson, continued 
operations with two pairs of foxes. One litter of 6 was raised. He 
has retained 4 pairs all reared in captivity, and hopes for better 
success as they are docile and almost domesticated. It was stated 
that he feeds cooked fish and vegetables. Mr. Newton considers’ the 
locality ideal for fur farming, as the food is secured with a minimum 
of effort and will stay frozen all winter without spoiling. He also 
contemplates experimenting with marten. 
F. Berry, Homer (via Seldovia), is undertaking fox farming in 
partnership with Dr. E. F. German of Anchorage. ‘They have 1 pair 
of silver-black foxes and expect to increase the stock and also to 
secure mink. . 
Sholin Bros. & Co., of Homer, report satisfactory progress in fur 
farming. Operations were begun in 1915 with 3 pairs of silver-black 
foxes; there was no increase in 1916, but in 1917 there were two litters 
of 5 each which were raised successfully. Sixteen pups were success- 
fully reared in 1918. Three pairs of young foxes have been sold and 
they retained 12 pairs for breeding purposes. ‘The pens are about 36 
by 40 feet, with log houses and dens inside. Cooked fish mixed with 
corn meal, etc., and rabbits and meat scraps are fed. 
James McPherson, of Ellamar, has blue foxes on Peak and Naked 
Tslands in Prince William Sound. The foxes run wild on the islands, 
the exact number not being known. Fifty-three pelts were taken in 
1918. The principal food is fish of various kinds. 
J. D. Jefferson, of Valdez, reports excellent success with blue foxes 
placed on Bald Head Chris Island in 1917. ‘The foxes run at large on 
the island, but he thinks there are about 15 young. None was killed 
for fur. The principal food is fish, with rice, oatmeal or corn meal, 
cooked, with occasionally a little raw fish or game. ‘The foxes thrived 
and have become extremely tame. Mr. Jefferson reports that they 
eat ravenously except during the season when the fur is prime. The 
cross foxes placed on the Dutch Group have not been successful and 
all but one were lost. Mr. Jefferson intends to place blues on this 
island and have a keeper to look after them. He states that food is 
plentiful and easily obtained. 
John Tashwak, who has been carrying on fox farming on a small 
island near Afognak Island, reported that all of his foxes escaped by 
swimming to the latter island, and that he had none on hand at the 
end of the year. . 
Alex. Friedolin continued operations with blue foxes on Hog Island, 
about 3 miles from Afognak village. He states that many young 
foxes were lost in the spring and only two young were observed durin 
thesummer. The foxes run at large on the island, and on account 0 
crowded conditions in the burrows he has experimented in construct- 
ing artificial burrows of logs with dirt on top and covered with roofs; 
these are dry and warm, but the foxes have not made use of them. 
In December, 1918, 6 male foxes were killed, and the remaining 3 
females and 2 males were liberated for breeding stock. Two addi- 
tional male foxes were procured and turned loose on the island. 
Three blue fox pelts sold early in 1919 brought $91 each. 
Joseph Filardeau, who maintains a fox farm at the head of Kache- 
mak Bay, reports considerable difficulty and losses of foxes in 1918 
through fright as the result of strangers cess on the pens, and also 
because of a shortage of proper food. Mr. Filardeau does not con- 
sider foxes any harder to raise than other animals with the right loca- 
