BLUE-FOX FARMING IN ALASKA 
21 
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. 
-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. Where 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. The same method is followed 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 
