BLUE-FOX FARMING IX ATASKA 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: Xorth 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. Wnite-fox pelts are 
dyed various 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 foimd helpful to pioneers in white-fox raising. 
