FUR FARMING SECTION
PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY
This section is open for discussion of anything pertaining
to fur farming.
Information concerning stock, site, house and pen con
struction, equipment, cost, breeding, mating, feeding, cooking
recipes, sanitation, prevention of contagious diseases, disinfec
tion, trapping, killing, pelting, marketing, packing, shipping
and other notes are welcomed for publication,—with due credit
to the author.
This section is intended to be the common meeting ground
for fur farmers. Interchange of ideas, helpful information, con- 1
structive suggestions anent these particulars should readily
solve vexatious problems of fur farming. Readers are urged to f
take advantage of this section and help The Gateway foster fur j
farming throughout Alaska.
I LUNGWORM TROUBLE IN FOXES *1
ITS TREATMENT AND CONTROL
“nhaclniy otwP pati'hinir t.hp
Lungworm trouble is one of the
most important diseases of the fox
breeding industry. Each year its
prevalence is steadily increasing,
both in the number of ranches in
volved and in the relative number
of serious cases of the disease on
affected ranches. Because of its in
sidious and chronic nature, fox
farmers usually do not give lung
worm trouble much attention until
after it has become well established
and has developed to be a perma
nent handicap to the most success
ful operation of their ranches.
Cause and Modes of Transmission
The lungworm most commonly
found on fox farms in this country
iCapillaria aerophila) is a white,
slender worm, varying from one to
three inches in length. It is us
ually present in the windpipe and
its branches,
The worm is transmitted through
eggs, which, after being raised from
the lungs, are usually swallowed
and then passed in the feces. With
suitable moisture and temperature
conditions the eggs undergo an in
cubation in which the embryo worm
is developed within the shell. It is
believed that foxes pick up this
parasite in eating or licking sub
stances or objects that are con
taminated with the embryonated
eggs. Through one means or an
other the eggs hatch and the lar
val worms eventually reach the air
passages of the lungs, where they
remain and grow.
Occurrence
Lungworms are more troublesome
on old ranches than on newr ones,
largely because of the gradual ac
cumulation of embryonated eggs in
the pen soil. Occasionally, however,
they may be exceedingly trouble
some on ranches that have been in
operation for only a couple of years.
In such cases there usually is a
history of bad rattlers, wheezers,
or coughers that have been allowed
to stay in the regular breeding
pens instead of being moved
promptly and kept in isolated quar
ters where they can not contam
inate ground occupied by healthy
foxes.
Poor drainage, wet wreather,
heavy soil, and shade tend to favor
incubation of the eggs and are,
therefore, conducive to the devel
opment of the parasite. As a gen
eral rule, lungworms are not troub
lesome on unshaded and well
drained ranches with a sandy soil
or on those where the foxes are
kept in clean and properly drained
concrete or board-floor pens.
In our northern climate cases of
lungworm trouble rarely develop
after freezing weather sets in. In
fact, most foxes having the disease
recover from both symptoms and
infestation during the winter, par
ticularly if it is a cold one with a
heavy snowfall and a little thawing
weather. Nevertheless, after the
snow melts in the spring, the foxes
again start picking up lungworms,
Thus, this parasite disease tends
to run a seasonal cycle in the north
ern part of the United States, the
foxes picking up infestation anc
developing symptoms in spring anc
summer and early in fall and ther
recovering during winter.
Symptoms
Foxes lightly infested with lung
worms, and even some of thos<
moderately infested, usually shov
no noticeable symptoms. In som<
of the moderate and practically al
of the heavy infestations, however
symptoms become apparent, con
sisting usually of one or more o
the following: A wheeze, a rattle
rales, short-wind, or spawl of ;
deep husky or hacking cougt
Since chasing and catching the
animals tend to bring out these
symptoms and make them more
noticeable, this method is often
taken advantage of as and aid in
the detection of affected animals.
In bad cases, one or more of the.
following may also become mani
fest: Emaciation, anemia, weak
ness, discharge from the nose and
sometimes the eyes, and an un
thrifty pelt.
Jp most cases lungworm trouble
tends to be chronic and insidious
in nature, the symptoms developing
gradually and remaining about the
same for a few weeks to several
months. Except in bad cases the
animals seldom show marked dis
tress or loss of appetite.
Acute cases, or those that develop
rapidly and soon terminate in
death are occasionally encounter
ed. In such instances, there gen
erally is evolved either a heavy in
festation picked up within a short
time or a complicating bacterial
infection.
Lesions
Light and moderate infestations J
usually are associated with no ap
parent gross lesions. Chronic ca
tarrhal inflammation of the wind
pipe and Its branches, together
with more or less abundant phlegm
like exudate in the air passages, is
encountered in some moderate and
nearly all heavy infestations. It 1s
this exudate that is responsible for
the characteristic wheeze or rattle
so common in lungworm trouble.
Chronic bronchial pneumonia is
rather common in bad cases of long
standing. The inflammation and
the symptoms produced by the
lungworms may persist for some
time after the animal lias recovered
from infestation.
I
Care and Treatment of Pens
The droppings (manure) of all
foxes should be picked up thor
oughly and safely disposed of each
day throughout the year. This is
I essential to help reduce contam
ination of the ground and prevent
! the pens from becoming a troub
lesome source of worm infestation.
Pens should be well drained. It is
advisable to have drainage ditches
; around every pen so as to prevent
the dissemination of lungworm eggs j
by water flowing from one pen into j
I another. Heavily infested foxes or j
j those showing apparent symptoms j
I of lungworm trouble should not be |
| allowed to remain in breeding pens !
any longer than is absolutely essen- j
tial. Such animals should be j
promptly removed to isolated quar- i
antine pens, where they will not;
have opportunity to infest ground
that is used by healthy stock. It
requires only a short time for a
heavily infested fox so to contam
inate a pen that practically all sus
j ceptible animals kept in it will like
! wise become heavily infested with
j lungworms.
; Once a pen becomes a trouble
some source of lungworm trouble,
iit is advisable to abandon it until
after it is given a treatment that
will remove or destroy the major
portion of the infective lungworm
eggs. In the light of present know
t ledge the following appear to be
the most satisfactory methods of
treating badly infested pens:
1. Moving the pen to well-drained
i virgin soil, preferably sand.
2. Removing the top three-inch
»j layer of old soil, safely disposing
j; of it, and then replacing it with
;: clean sand or fine gravel.
1 j If conditions preclude either of
, j these, then heating the ground
. j thoroughly with a large torch, boil
f; ing water, or steam might be tried.
, | In these treatments it is essential
% 1 that the ground be heated well to
l. a depth of at least two inches, and
to accomplish tms is coruuuei<iui.y
more of a task than most persons
vould believe. Leaving troublesome
pons unoccupied over winter or for
i year appears to be an ineffective
nethod of treatment.
Next week — Treatment of Foxes
with Lungworm Trouble.
SEATTLEITES MUSE FIRST
1FLIGHTJN ALASKA
Another Alaskan Airways plane,
the Denali, zoomed over Seward
yesterday and came to a landing
on Resurrection Bay. Arrivals on
the plane which came from An
chorage were Mr. and Mrs. J. D.
Nelson, Miss Lilienne Kay, Mr. and
Mrs. Karl K. Katz, and Mr. and
Mrs. Robert Ellis.
Mr. Nelson is assistant general
freight agent for the Alaska Steam
ship Co., with offices in Seat
tle. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson and Miss
Kay came to Alaska for their first
flight in an airplane and were out
spoken in their praise of the Al
aska Airways pilot.
Karl K. Katz, manager of the
Anchorage base of the Alaskan Air
ways, with Mrs. Katz, and Mr. and
Mrs. Robert Ellis returned to An
chorage this forenoon after an
overnight stay in Seward. Robert
Ellis was at the controls of the
plane.
Mr. and Mrs. Nelson and Miss
Kay departed for Seattle on the SS
Yukon.
Mrs. H. Arnold Karo, who has
been spending the summer months
in Seward, was among those leav
ing for the Outside on the SS Yu
kon. Lieut. Karo is one of the of
ficers on the USS Discoverer and
will meet Mrs. Karo in Seattle.
LARGE ALASKA POTATOES
A large Alaska-raised potato,
weighing almost three pounds from
the George Roll garden at Hope,
Alaska, was brought to Seward re
cently by Leon Urbach. The large
tuber may be seen on display in the
window of Urbach and Valade.
Rev. VV. R. Macpherson, who ar
rived on last night’s train and held
exercises last evening in the Prot
estant-Episcopal church, departed
for Anchorage on this morning’s
train.
CHINESE BARRACKS BOMBED
CHANGCHUNG, Manchuria, Oct.
3. (/P)—The Reuters News Agency
reported that Japanese airplanes
bombed and destroyed the Chinese
barracks at Paisham Cliengtse on
the Mukden and Hailung railway
after they had been fired on by
Chinese troops estimated to num
ber 6.000. The casualties are esti
mated at 260 from the bombs which
were dropped from the planes.
TRAPPERS!
American Trapper Maga
zine is devoted entirely to
trapping. It gives you the
best trapping methods; and
each issue contains over a
full page of scent and bait
formulas, including directions
on how to use. Each and
every issue of American
Trapper is packed full of
useful trapping information.
It is just the magazine you
have been looking for. Am
erican Trapper tells you how
to make successful sets for
the wise furbearing animals,
also scents that will lure
them to your traps. No Trap
per can afford to miss a
single issue. It is published
six times a year, October to
March. Subscription price is
only $1.00 a year (Six issues)
or three years for $2.00.
Sample copy, 10c. Regular
price is 25c. Back issues, 10c
each, or 8 different copies
for 50c, prepaid. We are sure
once you see a copy of Am
erican Trapper you will be
come a regular subscriber.
Subscribe NOW or at least
order a sample copy.
Address
N. E. SHARP
Publisher
Plymouth, California.
vt-uan LnAvus
The US LHS Cedar, Capt. C. W.
Leadbetter, arrived in port this
morning from Seldovia where it
discharged the cargo of coal for the
different lighthouses to the West
ward area. The coal was loaded
i m the Cedar at Seward. The Cedar
is going to remain in port until
Monday night when it departs for
Ketchikan to do more work in the
Southeastern Alaska district. This
is the Cedar’s last trip up to Sew
ard for this season.
TARZAN SERIES—The books you
have always wanted to own—two
for the price of one, at the ALASKA
SHOP.
Custom tanners
of fur skins surf
buckskin. Taxi
dermist on big
game rugs, wall
mounts. Hinu
faeturar a f
chokers, coats
and gloves of
latest styles.
Send for aur
ntalonifL
—We buy teeth for mounting—
W. W. WEAVER, Reading Michigan
Hunters — Trappers
"NEVERFAIL CHEMICAL FERRETS"
will help you get the cream of tKe far
harvest—the prime furs of the animals
that den up. Positively empties the
dens—brings the animals out alive and
without injury to fur or flesh. Suc
cessfully used for years by the best
trappers and hunters. Don’t delay—
order NOW, and start making REAL
money in fora this season. Trial order
of six sent postpaid for $1.00.
WILSON MANUFACTURING CO.
Dept. A. Bo* 81 Quincy, IEL
i Hotel Seward
!
i | ROOMS WITH OR WITHOUT
BATHS
■
HOT AND COLD WATER IN
! ALL ROOMS
J W. BLASE, Prop.
>
Wants Your
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.
[NEW YORK AUCTION Cl
Incorporated
226 West 26th Street
NEW YO»K
j Science of Trapping, $L50; Fox
j Trapping, $1.50; Fur Buyer's Guide,
} $2.50; Home Manufacture of Furs .
; and Skins, $1.75; ALASKA SHOP.
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.
KODIAK, the Home of the World’s Largest Bear
Worlds record bear was killed 5 miles from the town of Kodiak and measured
n feet 6 inches. THE GENUINE KODIAK BEAR lUrsus Mtddendorfuj AHr*
ONLY ’FOUND ON KODIAK ISLAND. THE GREAT ALASKA BROWS BEAR
<Uraus Guyas) ARE FOUND ON THE ADJACENT MAINLAND AND PAKtS
t»l THE KENAI lTNlNhll'A.
World’s record moose, will
a spread of 78V£ inches, wa
taken on the Kenai fen
i r s • a. 8KWAU1) is »*•
Gateway to the worl
famous hunting grounds.
I a
I
1
KODIAK
Chat. Madsen.
GUIUKs ASSUUAiiwn
Field Mgr.-KODIAK. ALASKA
YOUR LAUNDRY
AND KEEP
phone
MAIN
148
YOUR YOUTH
Renewing the bloom in
your family clothes robs
the bloom from your
cheeks, and ironing out
clothes wrinkles hasten!
face wrinkles. It’s all
so unnecessary. The
Seward Steam Laundry
will keep you and your
clothes young at a very
low price.
— u
deward Mean Laundry
Call For and Deliver Dry Cleaning and Pressing