MINOR FUR INDUSTRIES. 



By Harry J. Christoffers, Warden. 



and 



Lee R. Dice, Deputy Warden^ 



SCOPE OF FIELD INVESTIGATIONS. 



In order for the warden and deputy wardens to perform their duties 

 intelligently it was necessary for them to make a study not only of 

 trapping and trading methods and conditions, but of the general 

 natural history of the regions visited, giving particular attention to 

 the distribution, abundance, habits, enemies, and food of the various 

 species of fur animals, and the relations to them of the birds and 

 other animals found in the same regions. 



Headquarters were maintained at Fairbanks and at Tanana, with a 

 camp for a short time also on the Chena River about 30 miles above 

 Fairbanks. In October, the Circle trail and the adjacent region was 

 patrolled, as was also the Valdez trail, and a trip was made into the 

 Mount Hayes-Delta country in November. 



In the latter part of December and early January the early catch 

 of foxes was brought into Fairbanks by traders and trappers of the 

 surrounding region. During this time the warden gave most of his 

 time to inspecting the furs and interviewing the men. An arrange- 

 ment was made with the dealers whereby all persons bringing in furs 

 were reported to the warden, who at once called on them for the pur- 

 pose of inspecting the furs and acquainting them with the law and 

 regulations. A few lots of unprime skins were found, the most im- 

 portant being eight early mink skins brought in by a prospector and 

 trapper from the upper Kantishna. The skins were burned by the 

 fur warden with the assistance of the trapper. As tliis was his first 

 trapping experience, and as he had not been in from the hills for three 

 years, he was let off with this and a warning. He promised not to 

 begin trapping hereafter until the open season. 



In February a trip was made into the region south of the Tanana 

 River, This region proved to be continuous swamp land, a large 

 part of which had been burned over recently. As a result the only 

 fur animals seen were a few rabbits. 



Upon returning to Fairbanks a trip was planned to the headwaters 

 of the Chena, thence across to the Goodpaster River and to Lake 

 Washburn, where it was intended to make extended investigations, 



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