BLUE-FOX FARMING TX ALASKA 
islands of this class are occupied for fur farming under the belief 
that those in possession will have their occupancy recognized should 
Congress pass the necessary law authorizing the issuance of leases or 
permits for them. 
Shipments by mail of furs consigned to points outside of Alaska 
are required to be reported to the Alaska Game Commission, Juneau, 
Alaska, on appropriate blanks supplied for the purpose. 5 
SELECTING AN ISLAND OR RANCH SITE 
CLIMATE AN1> SHADE 
The production of a fine quality of fur is closely related to climate. 
A long, cold winter, with a fair amount of rainfall, particularly 
in spring, is conducive to the production of good pelts. Hot sum- 
mers are not detrimental if short and if followed by a season of cold 
weather sufficiently severe to cause the renewal of heavy coats. 
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Fig. 6. — Paul Island. Scrubby underbrusb is found here but no large timber 
It has been stated that excessive sunshine makes the fur of live 
animals fade, but to what extent has not yet been definitely ascer- 
tained. The sun will make fur fade, however, after the pelt has 
been removed. \Yhen the fur of a blue fox is being shed the dead 
hairs turn to various shades of brown and chocolate. During the 
season when the blue-fox pelts are becoming prime, some will be 
found with a chocolate tinge, commonly known as rusty. This, 
however, is not conclusively proved to be the result of sun bleaching ; 
in some cases it is due to inferior breeding stock, which has a tend- 
ency to produce rust color instead of a clear maltese. 
A happy medium of shade and sunshine is necessary for the com- 
fort and health of the foxes. Every animal likes to be in the shade 
during extremely hot weather. On the other hand, sunshine is the 
best natural means of keeping the ground clean and sanitary. Some 
of the treeless islands have scattering brush and shrubbery (figs. 6 
5 Full text of laws and retaliations relating to fur farming and the trapping of fur- 
bearing animals can be had on application to the Alaska Game Commission, Juneau. 
