﻿4 BULLETIlSr 1350, TJ. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE . 



BRIKP HISTORY OP BLUE-FOX FARMING 



Veniaminof, a Russian writer, states that when the Pribilof Is- 

 lands were discovered they were inhabited by blue and white foxes.^ 

 The larger islands of the Aleutian group also are said to have been 

 inhabited by blue and white foxes when discovered by the Eussians.^ 

 In 1835 the Russians introduced blue foxes on Kiska Island, possibly 

 on Amlia, and perhaps on other islands in the Aleutian Chain. 



In 1858 an official Russian proclamation permitted and ordered 

 the killing of white foxes on the Pribilofs whenever and wherever 

 found, but there were rigid restrictions on the killing of blue foxes. 

 The Russians followed a wise and vigorous policy of stocking lands 

 with fur-bearing animals, giving both native and introduced forms 

 protection with the view of maintaining a constant supply of fur. 

 There is nothing to indicate that fur farming was carried on in a 

 manner similar to present-day fur farming, however ; that is, caring 

 for the animals in pens. 



Fig. 3. — View of Long Island, near Kodiak ; stocked with blue foxes. Tlie dwelling 

 is in the center ; the buildings on the left and right are feed and storage houses, 

 respectively 



The first recorded efforts to raise blue foxes, after the purchase of 

 Alaska by the United States, began in 1885. The Semidi Propagat- 

 ing Co., of Kodiak, obtained 8 or 10 pairs of blue foxes from the 

 Pribilofs and placed them on Aghiyuk Island. This island is locally 

 known as North Semidi, and is off the Alaska Peninsula near the 

 present village of Chignik. About 1886 or 1887, 3 or 4 pairs were 

 taken from the progeny on North Semidi and placed on Chowiet 

 or South Semidi Island. A black male fox also was placed on this 

 island, and this one killed off all the blue foxes. Chowiet was again 

 stocked in 1891 by the Semidi Propagating Co. with 18 pairs of blue 

 foxes from the Pribilof and Aghiyuk Islands. In 1891 this com- 

 pany also stocked Chirikof Island with 6 or 8 pairs from Aghiyuk 

 and possibly some from the Pribilofs. 



In 1895 the Semidi company obtained possession of Long Island, 

 near Kodiak, from a person who had been raising cattle, sheep, and 

 silver foxes there (fig. 3). After trapping and removing all the 



- Veniaminof 's Zapieska, 1840, translation by Henry W. Elliott, in "A Report upon the 

 Condition of Affairs in Alaska" to the Secretary of the Treasury (p. 258), 1875. 

 « DalL William H., "Alaska and its Resources," pp. 498-499, 1870. 



