Map of life zones in which fox farming is feasible in the United States, showing the Canadian Zone, 

 where conditions are excellent, and the Transition Zone, in parts of which conditions are favorable 

 (Farmers' Bulletin 795, United States Department of Agriculture) 



Why Not Raise Your Own Furs? 



A FEW FACTS ABOUT THE LITTLE-KNOWN INDUSTRY 

 OF FUR FARMING 



By NED DEARBORN 



Assistant Biologist, Bureau of United States Biological Survey 



IN considering the factors which led 

 to the exploration and development 

 of the North American continent 

 we are prone to forget the important 

 part played by the fur industry. Since 

 man first felt the need of protection 

 against the elements, skins of animals 

 have been in demand for clothing, and 

 when no longer an actual necessity, be- 

 cause displaced by woven materials, 

 they still held their own in the esteem 

 of mankind on account of their beauty. 

 Marco Polo, the first great traveler, 

 whose narration of his wanderings 

 thrilled the world, told of furs, and the 

 great trading companies then formed 



for the East were but the forerunners 

 of others which came West. As the 

 population of the world increased, the 

 desire for furs kept pace, and a new 

 source of supply was welcomed eagerly. 

 French and English explorers in the 

 New World soon discovered that the In- 

 dians were ignorant of the value of 

 furs, and hence an enormous profit was 

 possible to the collector. They there- 

 fore pushed boldly into the wilderness, 

 braving all difficulties and paving the 

 way for the less adventurous agricul- 

 turist. Many of the first settlements iu 

 North America were founded by the fur 

 traders, to whom the Canadian prov- 



551 



