56 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



nianeut, national organization, representatives of the fur trade, the 

 fur farms, the game wardens and commissioners, and the government 

 experts could be called together. 



POLAR OR ARCTIC FOX 



(Vulpes lag opus) 



The polar fox is found in the high latitudes. It is of two 

 colour phases — white, and the so-called blue, which is really a slate- 

 coloured gray. The white fox is brown in summer with the under parts 

 lighter or drab. The wliite winter coat has a pure white long over- 

 fur with an underwool of a darker colour. The blue phase is of a gray- 

 slate colour all the year round and is found more abundantly in the 

 southern portion of the range of these foxes. It is said to exist in 

 Greenland and Iceland. The number of blue fox pelts sold annually 

 is about one-tenth of the number of white fox, and they sell for sev- 

 eral times as much, bringing, at present market prices, from $30 to 

 $75 each, and even higher for choice pelts. 



A considerable number of blue foxes were imported into Canada 

 during the season of 1912. Possibly a hundred or more were brought 

 into the Maritime Provinces from Alaska, where feeding is now dif- 

 ficult because the killing of seals is not permitted. One consignment 

 numbered thirty-two and arrived in very fair condition. They were 

 sold to ranchers at about $800 a pair. No information was obtained 

 to show whether the experiments in breeding these animals in their new 

 environment had been successful or not. 



The following account of blue fox farming is taken from 

 Fa"rming'^ " Fur Farming for Profit," published by the Fur News 

 Publishing Co., of New York: 

 " For some years past the blue fox has been successfully raised 

 in rather large numbers on several small islands off the coast of Alaska, 

 and for a shorter period on the mainland. The blue fox thrives and 

 multiplies in captivity, and can be raised with rather more satisfaction 

 than the other members of the fox family, as it is more tractable and 

 easily managed. An island makes an excellent blue fox farm for var- 

 ious reasons; there is no large outlay in cash for fencing; as the is- 

 lands are surrounded by the sea, the water does not freeze over in 

 winter and the foxes cannot leave the fann ; no danger is to be appre- 

 hended from the intrusion of other animals; a considerable supply of 

 food may be obtained from the sea, which is to a considerable extent 

 self -supplied ; crabs are found along the shore, fish are washed up on 



