48 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 
securely locked up. Strychnine and white arsenic do not kill imme- 
diately, and, if another animal ate the flesh of an animal poisoned by 
them, it would be poisoned in turn. 
The cased method of skinning, described elsewhere, is used.* The 
only difficulty will be with the forelegs and tail. The forelegs become 
stiff and hard in a short time and should be turned fur side out after 
a day or two. If the tail bone is not wholly removed in the first at- 
tempt, the tail may be slit down the under side. The skins are mar- 
keted fur side out and are sewed up in muslin and packed flat in a box. 
The condition of the pelt in respect to primeness, proper 
killing, skinning, drying and shipping is important. 
Skins may be blue or unprime; springy, when the 
hips and shoulders are worn and the hair loose; dirty, shot, chewed, 
heated, or greasy. In such cases their value is largely decreased. 
The skin value of the live animal may be judged from the follow- 
ing standards: 
Judging a 
Silver Fox Skin 
Colour.—Glossy black on neck, and wherever no silver hairs are 
found. The black must be of a bluish cast all over the body 
rather than a reddish. The underfur must also be dark- 
coloured. The fur of silver and black foxes is a dark slate 
next to the skin. 
Silver hairs.—Pure silver bands—not white nor very prominent. 
In the costliest skins there are only a few silver hairs, which 
are well scattered over the pelt. The neck and head should be 
clear black. Flakiness, which is the appearance of whitish silver 
hairs placed close together in patches, is objectionable. 
Gloss.—The sheen must be evident. It is caused by the perfect 
health of the animal and the fineness of the hair, as well as by 
hereditary influences. Woods and humid atmosphere also 
favour this important quality. 
Weight.—A good fox skin will weigh at least one pound, the weight 
usually varying from ten to nineteen ounces. The thick, long 
fur makes the weight. This is a very important point, as 
heavy fur is more durable and handsome. 
Size.—The value of silver fox pelts increases with the size. 
FINANCIAL ASPECTS 
The amount of capital required to finance a ranch containing even 
three or four pairs of foxes, involves the organization ol companies or ex- 
*See page 97. 
