﻿BLXJE-FOX FAEMING IN ALASKA 



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A ration composed of a variety of feeds gives better results than a 

 very simple fare, even though the latter supplies the proper propor- 

 tion of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and minerals. 



METHODS OF PREPARING AND FEEDING 



The preparation of the feed and the method of feeding have a 

 great influence on the breeding of foxes and the production of fine 

 pelts. Only clean and wholesome food should be supplied — never 

 putrid or diseased material, A few extra dollars spent to obtain the 

 right kind may save many hundreds later, for a proper diet and 

 satisfactory methods of feeding are important factors in lessening 

 the chances of outbreaks of disease. 



Fish are generally obtained by the rancher fresh from the water; 

 or, if the ranch is near a cannery, cull fish and refuse may be pro- 

 cured. (Fig. 21.) Fish may be fed fresh, salted, smoked, or dried. 



Fig. 21. — Cull fish and fish refuse from canneries are used for fox feed 



Formerly most ranchers prepared their fish for winter by salting, 

 but more recently many have adopted the method of smoking and 

 drying a large portion. The process of smoking is practically the 

 same as that followed with fish intended for human consumption; 

 that is, each one is split, cleaned, and hung in a smokehouse until 

 lightly smoked. If the smokehouse is of sufficient capacity, the fish 

 may remain there until needed. This enables the rancher to supply 

 a little heat occasionally to prevent mildewing. Wliere climatic 

 conditions permit, fish are dried in the sun without smoking and 

 then stored in a dry place until needed for winter feeding. 

 (Fig. 22.) 



In salting, the fish are split and cleaned and each piece rubbed 

 lightly with salt and packed tightly in barrels or tanks, or the 

 cleaned pieces may be placed in layers and the salt sprinkled over 

 them. 1'he same method is followiul with fish heads. 



Some ranchers report satisfactory results in packing both fish and 

 whale meat in fish, whale, or seal oil. Their experiments were made 



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