342 THE FUE SEALS OP THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



of capture, in some modified form, might attain, the desired end. A certain definite 

 number of animals in pairs from the first foxes caught might be set apart as breeders, 

 which, being marked in some way, could be released if again caught. It may be that 

 a time limit, cut short enough to make it impossible to catch all the foxes, is the only 

 feasible one. The necessary protection to a breeding herd might be afforded by 

 exempting certain tracts of the island from the operations of the trappers. But we 

 ofTer these merely as suggestions. 



It has further been attempted to provide artificial means for feeding the foxes. 

 A successful beginning in this regard was made on St. George Island during the sea- 

 son of 1896 by Mr. James Judge, who salted away iu silos the superfluous seal car- 

 casses on the killing field, freshening the meat in the winter time and giving it out to 

 the animals. It was understood during the past season that the lessees would make 

 experiments on St. Paul Island iu the same direction with artificial food of some sort. 



Here again intention, while good, has clearly outrun adequate knowledge on the 

 subject. The question naturally arises whether it is necessary to thus provide food 

 for the foxes. We may not6 that during the nineteen years of which we have the 

 record given by Petroff the number of foxes taken averaged three and one-half times as 

 great as for the past seven years. We are not aware that any effort was made to 

 feed the foxes then, or that they did not have food enough. The decline in the fur- 

 seal herd has probably had nothing to do with the matter. The presence of the 

 bones and feathers of sea birds about the fox dens, and the broken egg shells along 

 the fox trails in summer when the killing grounds are covered with seal meat, clearly 

 shows that the chief diet of the foxes is not seal meat. In the autumn of 1896 the 

 foxes were known to have eaten dead pups on St. George, but a similar phenomenon 

 was not witnessed on St. Paul. 



It appears from the early records that St. George has always furnished the 

 greater proportion of foxes, although always the smaller proportion of seals. As the 

 sea birds are far more numerous on St. George than on St. Paul, it would seem that 

 their flesh and eggs rather than seal meat is the regular diet of the fox while they 

 are to be had. Tie fox-runs on the islands all point toward some cliff or place 

 frequented by the sea birds. 



Whatever may be said of these attempts to better the condition of the fox herd, 

 it must be borne in mind that they clearly recognize the two important factors of the 

 problem. Some plan must be adopted whereby a definite breeding herd is insured 

 and if possible enlarged. As this grows, artificial means of increasing the food 

 supply must be devised after the natural limit has been reached. The criticism 

 we have to offer is that an attempt has been made to apply methods and means of 

 protection without definite knowledge as to the facts and needs of the herd. To a 

 monogamous animal, wholly confined to the land and bearing several young at a 

 birth, has been applied the regulation which was designed to serve an amphibious 

 animal, polygamous in its habits and bearing but a single young at birtli. The 

 attempt to feed the animals by artificial means has been undertaken without definitely 

 knowing whether or not such a course was necessary. 



What we wish to emphasize in this connection is the fact that a thorough study 

 of the natural history and breeding habits of the blue fox should precede any final 

 plan for its protection. With full knowledge of the problem to be dealt with, means 

 for solving it can be intelligently devised and effectively carried out. 



