﻿BLUE-FOX FAEMING IN ALASKA 33 



come an important part of the fox-farming industry, not only of 

 Alaska, but wherever the animals are found in the pure white, or 

 normal, phase. 



The increasing demand for fox furs is evidenced by the growth of 

 the fox-farming industry, and that white foxes will play an impor- 

 tant part in its future is indicated by the fact that of 92 permits issued 

 in 1925 by the department for the capture of Alaskan fur bearers for 

 propagating purposes, 33 were for taking white foxes. Persons 

 engaged in the production of white foxes in the northern parts of 

 Alaska are optimistic regarding the future of the industry and pre- 

 dict that it will some day equal or even surpass other industries 

 which to-day are of much greater importance in the Territory. 



The habitat of the Arctic or white fox is limited chiefly to the 

 north polar regions, but extends south as far as Labrador. In the 

 wild the white fox is more common than its relative in the blue 

 phase. 



Although the white fox is one of the smaller foxes existing, its 

 pelt is one of the most popular. The estimated annual production 

 of white-fox pelts in 1925 was as follows : North America, 30,000 ; 

 Asia, 25,000 ; and Europe, 10,000. The prices paid for pelts are con- 

 trolled largely by the relative scarcity of the animals and the market 

 demand. Blue-fox pelts generally sell for much more than those of 

 white foxes. Owing to the difference in the price of the skins many 

 white pelts are dyed to imitate the natural blue. White-fox pelts are 

 dyed A*arious other shades also to harmonize with present-day colors 

 in dress. 



Like silver foxes, white foxes are confined in pens (fig. 28) and 

 a number of ranches for them have been established on the Seward 

 Peninsula. This section of Alaska is well adapted to fox ranching 

 because of the abundance of cheap food, as herring, humpbacked 

 salmon, seal meat, and reindeer offal, which white foxes take readily. 

 The production of these animals in captivity has not been carried 

 on long enough, however, to give definite advice regarding their 

 feeding, breeding, and handling. The information found in this 

 bulletin and in Department Bulletin 1151, " Silver-fox Farming," 

 will be found helpful to pioneers in white-fox raising. 



