124 ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1915. 
Such birds as sea ducks, cormorants, magpies, crows, etc., are very plentiful along 
the coast of Alaska, and when given to the foxes they are always devoured raven- 
ously. The keeper, in order to secure these birds, is supplied with a shotgun and 
ammunition, * 
As a further source of food supply, and in order to furnish still more variety in the 
regular diet, we have propagated Belgian hares on Long Island. These are very pro- 
lific breeders, are cheaply and easily raised, and make excellent food for the foxes. 
We make it a point, when a beef is slaughtered at Kodiak, to secure the scraps, 
legs, head, etc., and send them to the ranch for the foxes. While the animals all 
seem to prefer the fish, still they will eat the beef scraps and gnaw at the bones. The 
bones are very good for the young teething foxes. 
A few cases of Spratt’s Patent Fox Cakes are kept on hand. These cakes, similar 
to the dog cakes manufactured by Spratt’s Patent (Ltd.), have been extensively fed 
by some of the Canadian fox ranchers, and from reports we have received are consid- 
ered a very satisfactory food. We feed these occasionally with very good results. 
The fox is also very fond of fruit, and we see to it that he has his regular ration of 
fresh apples, stewed dried peaches, figs, ete. During the summer, when wild berries 
are plentiful, these go to make up a part of the daily ration. 
The fox is a dainty animal in his feeding and at times rather erratic. The same diet 
will not always do for every animal, and for this reason the keeper must study their 
individual tastes. Occasionally a fox will become sulky and refuse to eat, so it then 
becomes necessary to endeavor to tempt his appetite. For this purpose the table 
scraps from the keeper’s house, such as meat, bones, potatoes, rice, mush, etc., are 
saved and offered to those foxes that do not take readily to the regular diet. In at 
least two cases we have had foxes actually starve themselves to death. 
The quantity of food given must also be regulated in accordance with the particular 
needs of each animal, and in this the keeper must be a keen observer and exercise 
good judgment. The fox should be fed once a day, in the evening, and given just 
enough food to keep him in good condition, neither too fat nor too poor. With a little 
care, and by intelligent observation, one can soon learn from experience the peculiari- 
ties of the foxes, and govern his method of handling and feeding them thereby. Often, 
when there are two foxes in a corral, one will endeavor to secure the lion’s share of the 
food, so the keeper must be watchful in order to see that each gets its share. 
During the period of gestation, and while the females are nursing their young, they 
are fed very liberally. In fact, their appetites are tempted with such delicacies as 
eggs, milk, bread dipped in soup stock or gravy, etc. A good milch cow would be a 
valuable adjunct to any fox ranch, but where this is impracticable a supply of canned 
evaporated milk will answer, but it should not be fed without first reducing it with 
water to the consistency of cow’s milk. Asa rule our foxes took to milk readily and 
relished it; but in one instance a female fox that was expected to whelp, and for that 
reason we were very anxious that she should receive the very best food, positively 
refused to touch milk that was put before her in a pan. As it happened, however, 
this animal was particularly fond of clams which had been fed to her in the shells. 
Our keeper finally hit upon the idea of putting milk in clam shells, and in this way he 
was able to induce her to drink all the milk that was offered. 
The young pups, when about 2 months old, are taken away from the mothers and, 
of course, must be fed very carefully for several months. Food should be given them 
several times a day in small quantities, but one should be sure that while growing 
they get all they want to eat. A liberal supply of milk is very necessary, especially 
when the pups are first weaned; but in a short time they can be fed about the same 
variety of food that is given the mature animals. It is best to leave the pups with 
the mother as long as she will properly care for them; but as soon as she shows signs of 
annoyance the young should be taken away. A pamphlet on the care of puppies, 
issued by Spratt’s Patent (Ltd.), contains some very good advice and suggestions 
that would apply to young foxes as well as dogs. 
