92 ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1919. 



should that be the case a change in the trapping methods here might then be seriously 

 considered. 



All the skins secured here were dried as slowly as conditions at the various stations 

 would permit, and it is believed that the objectionable "papery" condition of the 

 skin is less noticeable than before. Special attention was given to this phase of the 

 work. All the skins have been cased fur side in, in accordance with the instructions 

 received from the Bureau. 



On St. George Island fox trapping for the season of 1919-20 was 

 carried on in the months of November and December, 1919, and 

 January, 1920. Seven hundred forty-six blue-fox pelts, includmg 1 

 from an animal found dead, and 4 white-fox pelts, a total of 750, were 

 taken. Two hundred twenty-nine male foxes and 225 females were 

 released to insure the maintenance of a suitable breeding stock. It 

 appears that the take of skins was the largest in 27 years. It should 

 be noted that the number of animals released represents the least pos- 

 sible number of animals available at the time as a breeding stock. 

 It is a moral certainty that not all the foxes on the island enter the 

 traps during the season, and the reserved breeding stock is augmented 

 by just the number which does not enter. Foxes released for breeders 

 are marked so that if retaken the same season they will not be killed 

 or charged a second time to the breedmg stock if released. 



In August, 1919, a small wire cage fox trap was constructed at 

 Zapadni on St. George Island. It was used in the season of 1919-20 

 and was a complete success. It, of course, only supplements the 

 fox-trapping house at the village. In 1919 arrangements were made 

 for biu-ying m the future the carcasses of foxes killed at the village. 

 The plan adopted will remove all possibility of foxes having access 

 to the carcasses and feeding on them with possible injurious results. 



In the summer season of 1919 a supply of seal meat was preserved 

 on St. George for use for fox food in the coming winter season. 



In connection with the taking of fox pelts on St. George Island 

 in the season of 1919-20 the following report has been submitted by 

 Agent Crompton: 



Summary of season. — Cold weather during the latter part of November made it 

 advisable to open the season during that month as the foxes were visiting the feeding 

 place in great numbers. Accordingly, trapping was begun the night of November 24, 

 when 183 animals were handled in five hours, of which number 151 were killed. More 

 foxes might have been taken on the opening night had proper facilities for handling 

 the skins been available. 



It was a fortunate thing that work was begun on November 24, as the following day 

 brought warm winds and rain and for three weeks thereafter the thermometer did not 

 register below 35° F. This very unfavorable situation forced the recommendation 

 that the release of the breeding reserve be postponed until at least three-fourths of the 

 expected catch of skins had been secured. Upon adopting this policy very few 

 animals were released until after a total of 450 skins had been obtained. 



Warm weather, with the consequent necessity for securing the skins before un- 

 primeness developed, brought about the practice of all-night trapping. On these 

 occasions the trap was opened about 7 o'clock in the evening and kept in operation 

 until 6 or 7 o'clock the following morning. The foxes which had been caught before 

 12 midnight were disposed of at that hour; the remainder were attended to in the 

 morning. After the first few nights of such work a system of operation was worked 

 out by means of which it could be conducted without interfering with the regular 

 duties of the following day. 



All-night trapping was a decided success and the practice will be made a regular 

 feature in future operations. Its advantages are (1) that more foxes may be handled 

 during a given period, (2) that fewer nights of trapping are required, and (3) the 

 animals are thus given more nights for undisturbed feeding. The work has the single 

 danger of being too zealously conducted, in which case the foxes would be deprived 

 of food for too long a period, if not permanently frightened off. During the season 

 just past it was the practice to trap three or four, and on rare occasions five, nights 



