112 ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1945. 
It will readily be seen that a fox exhibiting one of these phases 
might be differently classified by different persons, and it should be 
borne in mind that the classifications of animals in this report have 
been furnished by various persons. 
The Bureau regrets that many people have gone into the business 
of fox farming without much knowledge of its requirements, no 
facilities for caring for their stock, and apparently with no serious 
intention to pursue the business to any end. Dry-goods boxes, 
chicken pens, and old cabins do not make suitable retaining pens or 
breeding inclosures. The lack of a proper supply of water and the 
use of improper food further insure failure. A fox corral in the 
eastern part of the Territory, which was visited by a warden, con- 
sisted of an inclosure, 20 feet by 35 feet, made from logs set on end. 
No shelter of any kind was provided for the seven foxes on hand. 
The only seclusion which the foxes had was the holes which they 
themselves dug. No utensils for holding food or water were visible. 
Dried whitefish was the sole food supplied. The warden noticed 
that one fox was tied, asked for the reason, and was informed that it 
was sick. It is difficult to see how the owner, if he had any sincere 
intention of engaging in fox farming, could expect any degree of 
success. In some instances it is realized that a pretense of fox 
farming is made for the purpose of concealing illegitimate operations 
which could not well be carried on otherwise. 
KODIAK-AFOGNAK REGION. 
KODIAK FOX FARM 
In 1914 the Kodiak Fox Farm, a copartnership, was organized at 
Kodiak for the purpose of propagating foxes. It was realized that 
fox farming in Alaska was largely undeveloped, and the organizers 
‘were fully prepared to conduct such experiments in the way of 
breeding, feeding, and caring for foxes as would assist in developing 
the industry in Alaska. 
The copartnership consisted of Karl Armstrong, W. J. Erskine, N. 
Gray, and P. D. Blodgett. Mr. Erskine in behalf of the organiza- 
tion has furnished the department with an exhaustive account of their 
plans and work, and in the interest of the industry it is deemed 
desirable to reproduce the report in part, as follows: 
SELECTION OF LOCATION.—The selection of a proper location for a fur farm is, of 
course, a matter that should be given the most careful consideration by one who con- 
templates undertaking this business. While a well-situated island, of the right size, 
and having the necessary natural facilities for economically conducting a ranch— 
ot which there are many unoccupied along the coast of Alaska—is by far the better 
sort of a location for a fur farm; still there are thousands upon thousands of acres on the 
mainland of Alaska that are well adapted for this purpose and that probably could 
not be utilized for any other business. Where a ranch is located on the mainland the 
