On the other hand, there are places where a few pairs of foxes have been turned loose, and a solitary native or half-breed more or less perfunctorily catches and scatters fish for their food. The chances are he doesn't know much about the results of his venture, though he may have been engaged in it for several years; and he has no sort of idea what the increase has been, or indeed can not tell if he has as many foxes as he started out with. I found more than one case where neglect and slovenly, shiftless ways had resulted in the decimation of the original number.

For the latter class of persons it is easy to foresee failure. For those who adopt and follow Mr. Washburn's businesslike methods there is good promise that the enterprise will prove highly profitable. That he believes so very firmly is evidenced by the fact that he and those associated with him have a large amount of money embarked in the venture, and are every year increasing the sum by thousands, without any return as yet.

When it is remembered that all the foxes with which the breeding was begun cost from $150 to $200 a pair, and that the work has been going on fifteen years or more, and that up to date there has been practically no return, it will be seen that it represents a good deal of hard cash and a large amount of hard work. It certainly merits success.

The original project, I think, was to propagate the silver-gray fox chiefly, the fur being more valuable than that of the blue fox-the difference being at least four to one. Experience, however, has shown that the scheme was impracticable, mainly on account of the ferocious, untamable character of the animal, which made it impossible to domesticate him; beside which they were much given to killing each other and destroying their young. The reproduction of a photograph herewith might tend to contradict that statement, it showing a silver-gray fox being enticed to take food from the hand of a keeper. But the case is exceptional. The silver-gray is perhaps more a wolf than a fox in its instincts. The breeding of them has been practically abandoned, there being but a single island where they are now to be found in any number.

The blue fox, which now is practically the only kind being bred, was originally found in great numbers on the Atu and Pribilof islands, and all of the old stock came from there, mainly from Atu. The supply at the latter place is now almost exhausted, and greatly reduced on St. Paul and St. George. The Pribilofs being a Government reservation, no live animals are permitted to be taken away except on a special permit, and I understand that skins taken by the natives are very few compared with what they got in former times. They are required to sell to the North American Commercial Company, which holds the sealing lease, and receive, I am informed, $5 per pelt.

My judgment is that the semidomestication of fur-bearing animals affords the only possible escape from the early extermination of all those species which now provide the most costly and luxurious of wearing apparel, and it seems reasonable that the Alaska fox industry may be the beginning of what shall become a great and profitable business. The islands of Alaska are peculiarly fitted for the experiment. No other portion of the public domain possesses similar advantages, and, as it happens, very few of them are of the least value for any other purpose. In view of this situation it would seem especially advisable that the industry should receive all possible encouragement from the Government. My own opinion is that the established rental is excessive in a majority of cases, and that a reduction of the charge by one-half would

have the effect to attract a good many natives to the business, and thus not alone give them a new means of livelihood, but at the same time increase the public revenue from this source. A very small proportion of the natives can accumulate cash enough to even buy the necessary foxes to start the business with, it is true, much less to pay $100 per year for a term of years to secure the right of occupancy of an island; but no doubt, in the aggregate, the number would be considerable. In any event it would seem well to offer them every possible advantage. I think the result would prove the wisdom of doing so.

Of course there is a vast difference in the size and relative value of the islands. Some of them are cheap enough at the present rental. Others would be dear at half the money. It would seem a rather difficult matter to arrange a graduated rate; and for this reason I would favor a general reduction. In some cases I confess it seemed to me almost like a case of "stand and deliver" to demand and take $100 from some poor fellow who had settled on a little island, thinking it free to any comer; got trusted, perhaps, for a pair or two of foxes; and, working on the outside to gain a livelihood, was patiently waiting in the hope that some time in the future it might turn out that there is money in fox breeding. I am sorry to say that there were several such cases in the summer's experience. There were also several cases where the parties smiled with bland amazement at the absurdity of such a proposition, while admitting that they'd mightily like to have $100-which they'd use for something else than paying rental for a fox island.

It is thought by experienced fur men that it might be entirely feasible to introduce the Russian sable and other of the more valuable marten species into Alaska for propagation on the same lines as the fox experi ment, and that whatever the Government can do in the direction of encouraging the development of fur raising will be a step well and wisely taken.

It may be noted, in passing, that in one instance an island is occupied by a party who thinks there is money in raising bears. He has a dozen or more. But the bear supply, I should say, is as yet fully equal

to the demand.

The following communication from M. L. Washburn, esq., is in response to a request for a statement of his experience in fox breeding, and is an interesting contribution to the subject:

KODIAK, ALASKA, September 1, 1899.

DEAR SIR: Regarding the domestication and propagation of the blue fox on the islands of Alaska, I would say that the first experiment in this business was tried on North Semidi Island something over a dozen years ago with 22 blue foxes brought from the Pribilof Islands and landed on this barren and almost unknown island. Notwithstanding the fact that the habits and requirements of the fox had to be studied, the proper artificial food found, the method of catching the foxes without injury learned, still from this small number of foxes nearly twenty other islands have been stocked, several of them by natives, who take naturally to the business. And now with the hundreds of barren islands, which can be used for no other possible purpose, and which would seem to be well fitted for the raising of fur-bearing animals, which in the natural wild state are being exterminated, and which if not domesticated must in the near future become extinct, it would seem wise on the part of the Government to encourage this industry and protect those engaged in it in all possible ways.

The method of caring for the foxes on all the islands is nearly the same. Each island has a keeper and one or two native assistants. The food is put up during the summer and consists of unmarketable fish, blubber, and oil, obtained around the islands, and a good supply of corn meal to cook with the native foods.

The foxes are fed each day at a regular hour and soon get acquainted with the keepers and come for their food like other domestic animals, but are shy on the approach of strangers.

In trapping, only box traps are used, to prevent injury to the animals which are to be released for breeding, as all the foxes come in the traps and in many cases, after they find they are unharmed, become a nuisance by springing the traps nearly as soon as they are reset. Selected breeding foxes are marked by clipping the hair at the tip of the tail to prevent recounting of stock saved for breeding, and a record of all foxes released is kept, as well as those killed.

Most of the islands used for raising foxes are leased from the Government at an annual rental of $100. This amount has undoubtedly prevented many of the natives from engaging in the business, as most of them can secure but little more than enough to support their families, who might, were the rent reduced to one-half or even onefourth the present amount, be able to start in the industry in a small way at first by securing a few animals for breeding purposes, which in a few years would secure for them and their families an assured income and prevent their becoming dependent upon the Government.

The propagation of foxes would in a short time undoubtedly lead to domestication of many other fur-bearing animals, and eventually be a source of considerable return from islands now unused and worthless for anything else.

Respectfully,

Hon. HOWARD M. KUTCHIN,

Special Agent Treasury Department, St. Louis, Mo.

M. L. WASHBURN.

Herewith is a complete list of the islands occupied for fox breeding, with the names of lessees and all particulars of interest:

Pond Island, Axel W. Lind, lessee. Began in 1895 with one pair. No lease prior to this year. Now has about 50. None sold. Island is 1 by 13 miles in area.

Goose Island, G. N. Donaldson and L. M. Tortenson, lessees. Began in 1895 with 4 pairs. Killed 12 in 1898. No lease before 1899. Now have about 100. Donaldson bought a half interest in 1898 for $2,000. Area, one-half by 1 mile.

Began in 1897 with 4 Have now about 25. Little foxes swim back and forth Area, about 16 miles in cir

Bligh Island, Cloudman & Busbee, lessees. pairs. No lease before 1898. None killed. Bligh Island is so close to the other that and the two are properly treated as one. cumference.

Little Naked Island was formerly occupied by Story, Carlson & Lilengren. They have since transferred their foxes to Seal Island. Story, Carlson & Lilengren, lessees. Began in 1895 with 11 pairs. It is now estimated that there 700 or 800. Sold 25 skins in 1898; also several pairs for breeding, receiving $150 per pair. Area, three-fourths by 31 miles.

Dangerous Island was stocked with 6 pairs of blacks in 1891 by Story, Carlson & Lilengren. The experiment was a failure. The foxes disappeared and the island is now unoccupied.

Fairmount Island, William C. L. Byers, occupant. Began in 1895 with 5 pairs. Has no lease and professes inability to pay at present. Hopes to later. Now believed to have 150. None killed. Area, 1 by 11⁄2 miles.

Low Island, Chris Christensen, occupant. Began in 1898 with 1 pair. No lease. The party was not reached. Area, one-fourth by threefourth miles.

Perry Island, Beatty, Steamy & Emerson, occupants. Began in 1897 with 2 pairs. No lease and profess inability to pay until next year. Now have about 20. None killed. Area, 3 by 6 miles.

Green Island, Charles Swanson, occupant. Began in 1895 with 5 pairs. No lease. Now has about 150. None killed. Professes inability to pay, but hopes to do so next year. Area, 1 by 8 miles. Peek Island, McPerson & Elk, lessees. Began in 1895 with 2 pairs. Now have about 60. None killed. lease until 1899. Area, onehalf by 2 miles.

No