102 ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1918. 
fox raising in some part of the Aleutians, The new foxes were permanently marked 
by clipping the top of the right ear and slitting the left. They were kept under 
treatment until the wounds healed and were then released. They immediately took 
up their residence under the boardwalk leading to the radio station, where they have 
since lived. They are frequently seen and are in excellent condition. 
The physical and numerical strength of the herd warrants a take of skins materially 
in excess of that of last year, and it is not unlikely that approximately 900 skins may 
be secured. A greater number would not weaken the herd, and it is my opinion, 
based upon my own observations and reliable reports from others, that a take of 1,000 
would not represent the year’s increment. 
Aside from the number of foxes, the weather during trapping time is a material 
factor which must be considered. Cold, clear nights when the tide is high, are the 
best, and on such nights good catches are to be expected. 
The production of animals with the best grade of pelts is one of the objects we are 
aiming at, but it is a question whether the finest pelts can be produced so long as the 
herd is forced to subsist largely upon carrion. The commercial value of the herd is 
great enough to warrant serious consideration being given to the erection of a cold- 
storage plant in which 2,000 or more seal carcasses could be preserved in a frozen state 
to be fed fresh to the foxes during the winter. While sucha number of carcasses would 
in itself be insufficient to subsist the herd, its prophylactic value would be great when 
used to vary the diet. 
From an economic point of view no better way of disposing of seal carcasses can be 
found than that of converting them into food for the blue-fox herd. Many years will 
pass before the number of seals killed on St. George will exceed the combined needs 
of the natives and the fox herd. 
The experience of last season demonstrated that the fox herd has outgrown the 
limits of our present shop and that a much larger building is required for drying and 
stretching the pelts unless the take of skins is to be kept within the limit of the present 
small building. During the coming trapping season it is proposed to utilize the least- 
finished native dwelling for drying skins, but that building will be available for the 
one season only. 
RecorD or Foxes TRAPPED ON ST. GEORGE ISLAND, ALASKA, SEASON 1917-18. 
Marked and 
. Found 
arial Blue. White. released as 
Aerial dead.| ‘breeders.a 
ber of | Date. Where taken. 
kill- : a 
ing. Fe- Fe- e- 
Male. prinies Male. ainihey Male. | Male. malo, 
1917. 
SHeae INOV.26 | Villages hs. Se oa ee eee ee Blaet eee: Seeee  emeemeaes T [2 nee eee 
BS ee INGV es 27 132 -dO5 3228 0s Nee es ba |e ce es eae ee [ae teclee |S ae tee 1 |. See2 2 See 
Met Se Dees19'i Village trap! ee ae Pe 114 83 |). OSes AI ee 3 4 
1a Soe Dec. 27 |..... GOs! £60 2 Se Bs eee ache 73 59 L [= aechie eh tz 8 11 
1918, 
S.tissty Jan. 12) |' Village'trapl.. 22S ees. 5 2 8 9 Sceedea dle hea eS 6 9 
aifese Maz 243) 2 25: Go2ey. Baad. ees Se eee acne 5 LOW es cnn deh 8 2 1 
Dreeece ane 4. lesoee Che SRE Cae ed: 5S eS 8 Dl eee «| eaoade’ [see eeee 7 6 
Greek Wane | iO) eo-ce DO saat notte. see seened 2. oa 16 a Ul papa nA lat Aetag |B oS 2 an 12 14 
Eee Jane aT ite Goel ter se ee) fe ee i ees aos Pres seme Sores!) Teese 
8 FAR Lape se Gol gey eros tere. Seeeeacl < 9 9) |ree ze se eeiere| te zeee: 1 4 
Casas SUES OL eA | PRG ete RS Ses a ee ee 17 i ie eee PP oe 2 ee i 9 
1 Ui ek as Jat 20) | ee One ene aes ee aee oe rn ate 20 ys. See eee ne | aeeee oe 8 11 
1) ee JANG» Qly 2. oe (10 eA EE IEE ote Ds rst ers 8 Ds nicfe cee i See eaee 9 9 
phase JAD 22 | s: Go: Seerepetiee sisht. 3.4 = 4 3 1S See S| ee 6 14 
pe eR 2 3 Re (Bap SAE a = SE ae a 5 RS a es | 22 21 
bi: toes Jane 25} see ORE ae eo eae 2 B Al eS seca hee hae | aes ae 15 13 
Lee Jan. ‘/27,) Village (Shot) .5. 222th Vif, Pie e kL US cede! TO, Be 
152. 342 Jan. 28] Villagetrap..ois.3-2 2:2) -.2-i2b-- 2 Mjl32 Lesa] SS) otra Ss Be 1 
Th. 42 Jan. 2Oaiss..6 Ghai Se. 5 Se sid l 1S ERS 3 CoE ARR teh 2 S| a | 2 3 
Beha 0. (30) |! Village; (SHotyee. tice cee SCS a) a A es | =» 
eters Jan. '+ 24° | Zapadni. ates tess Ole aE SES ULE EE ee oT NESE 
Pere §an..725)) 2.2. doche state Meee! tc, seh oes Se Jes alos ~ ates es eee 1 1 
a All blue. 
b> An animal entirely devoid of hair or fur was shot; skin publicly burned in shop stove. 
¢ This animal weighed 24 pounds. 
