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pul’lisxieo i:vr-:::y Friday
This section is open lev discussion of anything pertaining j
to fur farming.
Inform.ifcion concerning sloe'-, site, house and pen eon- lj
struction, cqripnient, cost, breeding, mating, feeding, cooking *
recipes, sanitation, pre rente- .: of contagious diseases, disinfec- jj
tion, trappin killi: a pedhig, marketing, packing, shipping i
and other no. are *. doomed for publication,—with due credit j
to the author.
This section is innuded to be the common meeting ground J
for fur farmer. . Inhunr. ,e of ideas, helpful information, con
structive suggestions anenfc these particulars should readily j
solve vexatious problems of Ttr farming. Readers are urged to <
take advantage of this section and help The Gateway foster iur I
farming throughout Alaska.
I BLUE-FOX FARMING IN ALASKA
(By Frank G. Ask brook, Bureau of Biological Survey)
TRANSPORTATION a
Foxes in good condition can be
shipped almost any distance; but
if the journey is long, as is gen
erally the case in Alaska, or the
shipment 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 two feet
high containing two compartments
and having a total floor space of
approximately two by three and a
half feet is large enough to carry
a pair of foxes. It should be made
of wood, and wire of one-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 substan
tial crate receives better treatment
in transit than a poor one.
PELTING
The business of fox raising is
based on pelt value, and the most
successful fox ranchers market
some pelts every year. This, of
course, can not be done on islands
where the business has just start
ed. In such cases it will be neces
sary to wait two or three years for
the stock to increase.
It is not good practice to pelt
pups, as their skins lack finish both
in the fur and in the leather. Oc
casionally a pup skin of exceptional
development sells for a good price,
but this is not the rule. It is bet
ter for the rancher to carry the
young over until they are at least
a year and a half old and the nelt
has developed into a more market
able skin. Foxes not desirable for
breeders, however, should be pelt
ed at the first opportunity.
When animals are caught for ex
amination and pelting, those not
killed should be marked in order
to show that they have been trap
ped and then released for breed
ing. Males can be marked by clip
ping a ring of fur around the tail
near the body. Females can be
marked in the same manner, the
f'-s'om tanner*
■f fur skin* and
Sukskin. Tati*
dermiit on b i g
I’.irae rues, wall
mounts. M a n a
f a e t n re r nl
ebokers, coots
s u d cloves of
latest styles.
Send for oar
enl!ilo"iie.
—We buy teeih /of raount/nc—
W. W. WF.AVFU. Rpr«Hin.» Mi^iw
ring clipped being near the tip of
the tail. Records should be kept
of animals pelted and of those re
leased for breeding. Wherever prac
ticable more females should be left
than males.
PREV1ENESS
Pelts of foxes usually become
prime in November or December,
depending upon the weather, cli
| mate and feeding. Primeness is
i the highest perfection of quality in
, a pelt. When the pelt shows high
quality and finish, determined by
jits texture and sheen, it is said to
, be prime.
i Ability to judge primeness comes
j only through experience. When the
| fur is coming prime it does so rap
idly, and after it reaches the peak
| of perfection it sc-on becomes over
j prime, losing its sheen and finish,
i When foxes are running wild this
I point can not be watched so closely
I as when they are raised in pens.
KILLING
In killing, the method generally
pursued is for the caretaker to
I catch tiie fox with tongs, lay it on
its side, and then press his foot on
its chest. Striking the fox on the
back cf the head with a club leaves
a blood clot on the pelt and some
times cuts it.
A more humane and satisfactory
method of killing is by the injection
of a solution of strychnine sulfate.
Objection lias been made to this
on the supposition that strychnine
may injure the pelt by causing the
hair to fall out. This, however, is
not the case. The effect, if any,
of strychnine on the hair follicles
is contracting rather than relaxing.
The operation of injecting strych
nine is very simple. The istrument
used is a small hypodermic barrel
syringe with a reasonably long nee
dle, and a quantity of a three per
cent solution of strychnine sulfate.
The syringe is filled with the solu
tion and the gauge set for one cubic
centimeter. The fox is placed on
its right side and held by an at
tendant. The operator places his
hand on the chest to locate the
heart, at the same time feeling for
a space between the ribs to avoid
running the needle into the bone.
The needle Is inserted in the direc
tion of the heart and the dose dis
charged. In less than a minute the
j fox dies without a struggle. Great
j care should be exercised in using
strychnine as it is a deadly poison.
NOTICE
The freight train will leave Sew
ard Tuesday, December 29, instead
of December 30. This change is
on account of the fact that the Vic
toria will be two days early in ar
riving in Seward. The passenger
"rain will run on its regular sched
ule.
Affiliated with the
West Coast Grocery Co,
FUR SALES DATES 1932
JANUARY ... 20
FEBRUARY 24
MARCH .... .23
APRIL . 27
MAY .25
JUNE ...29
JULY .27
AUGUST 31
SEPTEMBER 28
OCTOBER..26
NOVEMBER .30
DECEMBER 28
WEST COAST HJR SALES INC.
TACOMA. WASH INCTON
SERVING THE ALASKA FUR SHIPPER SINCE 1902
! BERLIN, Dec., 23, (.P)-Germany's
| production of synthetic gasoline,
j nov/ approximately a 100,000 tons
I annually, will be trebled next year,
' ’.coo ding to an announcement from
i the German dye trust administra
i Lion at Frankfort.
| The increase in the output, it Is
declared, has been made possible
by the invention of a device in the
Bergin’s process for the production
of synthetic gasoline, a device
j which has considerably simplified
I and cheapened production.
Aside from this, the venture is
| probably chiefly inspired by the
{ recent increase of the duties on mo
■ tor spirits which makes it possible
for the artificial product to com
j pete with the imported natural
j fuel.
I An annual production of 300,000
i tons would be equivalent to a fifth
j of Germany’s total gasoline con
! sumption.
---
SOCIETY DIVORCE
NEW YORK, Dec. 23. (/P)—Mrs.
I Katherine Lauder Dewing, sister of
Mrs. Polly Lauder Tunney, filed a
suit for divorce against Edwin
Stcrrs Dewing, charging “intolera
ble cruelty.” Both are socially
prominent.
* Full line of lovely Leather Gifts
| for men and women at the Alaska
Shop.
! -—11..
A Masters Work
Jonas Bros, offer you a com
plete Fur, Taxidermy and
Tanning Service — unexcelled
anywhere.
Game heads, fur rugs, birds,
etc., mounted true to nature.
Your raw fur skins dressed
and made into coats and
chokers.
Write for free catalogue.
JONAS BROS.
1030 Broadway, Denver, Colo.
Ill
Get your share this season of this
extra fur money which is offered
to trapper3 everywhere by the
THIRD
FUR SHOW
i
i
| Johnny Muskrat's now
' bo a k,**Tips to Trappers"
! —the only book of its kind
j —written for trappers, by
; trappers — with many
' photos taken right on tho
! trap-line, (jives modern
methods of trapping,
; handling and selling your
! furs for most protit. Con
| tains full details of our
Free Fur
Marketing Service
! which, since 1025, has cn
j abled many thousands of
I trappers to obtain more
fur money. Learn now
how the World's Largest
Store can help you—writo
for Johnuy Muskrat's
! new book todayl
WON
$2,000,00
II. A. Barker. Not<wuInT».
Ait*.• wh sc Aaiuk «kiu
iuaged to be thn be*t
h no.ed pelt entered in
I**t yuar’a thow.
YOU CAN WIN
1st Award 52000.00
2nd Award. 500.00
3rd Award .250.00
4th Award .100.00
215 Honorable
«*"omc2150.00
Poao.&o
Sears, Roebuck & Co.
Mail This Chlcaro Phtiadeighia
. i■ Memohfs Kansas City
Coupon to Dat,a* Seattle
' (Writo nearest point)
SENT FREE
SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO. / ^3G81
Pleasnmnltrro without coat * /
or obligation .lonnny Muskrat’s new"-. /
book explaining your free fur marketing service
and the Third National Fur Show.
Name ... .....
POStOfflCS .-.
Rural Rux
Slate ...Route-.....N#.-.- -
Uit.b yoor Rootn and Boa Number
if on % &uxai ftooto fr
Street Address......
MARRIAGE ANNULLED
I
NEW YORK, Dec. 23. </P)—The j
' marriage of John C. Fawcett,
| Brooklyn dental supply dealer and
J brother of Supreme Court Justice j
• Lewis Fawcett, was annulled by a ;
| court here last November 7. Dis- i
| patches from San Francisco said j
I his wife, the former Mrs. Genevieve j
Paddleford, is on parole from San
Quentin prison where she served
sentence for issuing bad checks.
For the unusual bridge gift—try
ALASKA SHOP.
jplwiai
Saiss
Every Month in the
Year
1931 SALES DATES
December 15
1932 SALES DATES
January 2G
February 16
March 15
April 19
May 17
June 21
July 19
August 23
September 20
October 18
November 22
December 20
Advances will be made
(is usual when request
ed. Transferred by tel
egraph if desired.
Special sales he'd on
request of shippers.
f.
J1$.
<6. % v V
*%•<- %.•-/*.t> -«.«4t^
>
I
ants lorn
p
8 kT^ ifi
The purchasing power
of the American fur in
dustry is concentrated in
New York, the fur center
of the world. Offer your
raw furs to these buyers
through the NEW YORK
AUCTION CO, INC. This
Is the safest and best
method of marketing your
merchandise.
Let us put you on our
mailing list. Write us
today.
Inew york Auction cal
In<>Ar].ori«Ur«l
is 22G West 25th Street
5 NEW YG.*K
» J’he btj&T place for
GLEANING
PRESSING
and ALTERATIONS
AT
C. Henning’s
Tailor Shop
NUKA BAY TRANS
PORTATION CO.
BIS ROLPH III
Leaves Seward 20th
of each month
Capt. Pete gather
For Charter or Hire
Telephone Main 34
M’Mullen’s Grocery
FOR PROMPT DELIVERY
STAPLE AND FANCY GROCERIES
MAIL AND PHONE ORDERS PROMPTLY
ATTENDED TO
ONE OF THE MOST MODERN SHOPS
IN THE TERRITORY!
! AUTO REPAIRING
j ACETYLENE AND
i ELECTRIC WELDING
! FORD AGENT
Agent for The Kohler Automatic Power
and Light Plant
Oils, Greases and Gasoline
Agent and Installing Engineers for Fur
nace Oil Burners
i PLUMBING
i TINNING
I STEAMFITTING
! GENERAL MACHINE
j WORK, REPAIRING
! J
i Seward Machine Shop
1 ALL WORK GUARANTEED — MADISON 56