24 
In the early days of island fox farming few, if any, of the 
ranchers fed their animals, and the foxes were compelled to forage 
for their food, living on rodents, birds, and such material as they 
could find on the beach. AVhile such practices resulted in small 
litters and high mortality, a number of ranchers still follow them, 
but the more successful are giving considerable attention to methods 
and time of feeding. There is still room for improvement, how- 
ever, for although some ranchers feed every day, others feed only 
every other day or only twice a week. Those who feed at long 
intervals place the feed at widely separated points on the island, 
while those who feed more frequently usually have more evenly 
distributed feeding places. Feeding in quantity at widely sepa- 
rated points results in the animals' colonizing in the vicinity of 
these places. 
"Wherever possible the foxes should be fed once a day. The feed, 
no matter of what kind, should never be thrown on the ground or 
on the floor of the trap house, but should always be placed in dishes. 
During the whelping season, fish — either fresh, dried, salted, or 
smoked — should be cut into convenient sizes so that the adult foxes 
can carry it to the dens for the young. It is very important that 
plenty of feed be supplied at this time to insure that the pups shall 
receive sufficient nourishment. In every case where it is at all prac- 
ticable to do so, it will well repay the rancher to carry feed and 
water to dens where young are known to be. Five-gallon oil cans 
with the tops cut out and wooden handles fitted in. or galvanized 
buckets are used for canying feed to the foxes. 
Difficulty is often experienced at the pelting season in inducing 
the foxes to go into the trap house. This can be avoided if a prac- 
tice is made of feeding the animals in these houses regularly at all 
seasons. It has the further advantage of furnishing old as well as 
young foxes a sheltered place in which to eat, thus protecting both 
the feed and the animals from eagles. 
TRANSPORTATION 
Foxes in good condition can be shipped almost any distance; but 
if the journey is long, as is generally the case in Alaska, or the ship- 
ment large, it is well to have an attendant go along to feed and care 
for the animals. Foxes can go without feed for two or three days 
with no apparent ill effects. In transit they have a tendency to lose 
their appetites, and should be fed carefully, although fresh water 
should always be supplied. Small pieces of .meat, preferably liver 
or beef, and fox biscuit may be given. 
It is not advisable to place more than one fox in a compartment 
of a shipping crate. A crate 2 feet high containing two compart- 
ments and having a total floor space of approximately 2 by 3Vo feet 
is large enough to carry a pair of foxes. It should be made of wood, 
and wire of 1-inch mesh should be nailed inside to prevent the foxes 
from chewing the wood. In the front of each compartment dishes 
for feed and water should be fastened where they can be filled from 
the outside. A good substantial crate, such as is detailed in Figure 
24, receives better treatment in transit than a poor one. 
