4 BULLETIN 1350, TJ. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BRIEF HISTORY OF BLUE-FOX FARMING 
Veniaminof, a Russian writer, states that when the Pribilof Is- 
lands were discovered they were inhabited by blue and white foxes. 2 
The larger islands of the Aleutian group also are said to have been 
inhabited by blue and white foxes when discovered by the Russians. 3 
In 1835 the Russians introduced blue foxes on Kiska Island, possibly 
on Amlia, and perhaps on other islands in the Aleutian Chain. 
In 1858 an official Russian proclamation permitted and ordered 
the killing of white foxes on the Pribilofs whenever and wherever 
found, but there were rigid restrictions on the killing of blue foxes. 
The Russians followed a wise and vigorous policy of stocking lands 
with fur-bearing animals, giving both native and introduced forms 
protection with the view of maintaining a constant supply of fur. 
There is nothing to indicate that fur farming was carried on in a 
manner similar to present-day fur farming, however ; that is, caring 
for the animals in pens. 
Fig. 3. — View of Long Island, near Kodiak ; stocked with blue foxes. The dwelling 
is in the center; the buildings on the left and right are feed and storage houses, 
respectively 
The first recorded efforts to raise blue foxes, after the purchase of 
Alaska by the United States, began in 1885. The Semidi Propagat- 
ing Co., of Kodiak, obtained 8 or 10 pairs of blue foxes from the 
Pribilofs and placed them on Aghiyuk Island. This island is locally 
known as North Semidi, and is off the Alaska Peninsula near the 
present village of Chignik. About 1886 or 1887, 3 or 4 pairs were 
taken from the progeny on North Semidi and placed on Chowiet 
or South Semidi Island. A black male fox also was placed on this 
island, and this one killed off all the blue foxes. Chowiet was again 
stocked in 1891 by the Semidi Propagating Co. with 18 pairs of blue 
foxes from the Pribilof and Aghiyuk Islands. In 1891 this com- 
pany also stocked Chirikof Island with 6 or 8 pairs from Aghiyuk 
and possibly some from the Pribilofs. 
In 1895 the Semidi company obtained possession of Long Island, 
near Kodiak, from a person who had been raising cattle, sheep, and 
silver foxes there (fig. 3). After trapping and removing all the 
2 Veniaxninofs Zapieska, 1840, translation by Henry W. Elliott, in "A Report upon the 
Condition of Affairs in Alaska" to the Secretary of the Treasury (p. 258), 1875. 
3 Dall. William H., "Alaska and its Resources," pp. 498-499, 1870. 
