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FUR-FARMING IN CANADA 49 
tensive partnerships among people whose experience and location are 
suitable for fox rancning. In the autumn of 1912, at least $50,000 
was required to build, equip, and stock a ranch in Prince Edward 
Island with five pairs of first-class stock. Many ranches have been 
equipped for less money, but either cheaper wild or unselected stock 
from Newfoundland or elsewhere was purchased, or options had been 
taken at an earlier date on pups for delivery at that time. 
Because of the keen demand for breeding stock, it has been 
Options customary to sell options for future delivery. Usually the 
ar options are taken on the unborn pups, and 10 per cent. of 
the price agreed upon is paid when the options are taken. Time of 
delivery is made the essence of the contract and, if the rancher has not 
as many pups as he has sold options for, the orders are filled consecu- 
tively; i.e., the earliest orders are filled first. In case delivery cannot be 
made, the agreement provides that the deposit must be returned with 
6 per cent. interest per annum. In 1912, options were sold on more 
pups that could be delivered because of the unusually small number of 
pups. At the present time (December, 1912), many options on 1913 
stock at an average price of about $10,000 per pair have been sold. As 
large ranchers carefully number the options, the holder of the first 
option has the best chance of securing the choice of pups when the 
deliveries are made. 
All over North America wherever the common red fox is found, 
agreements are being constantly made with lumbermen, miners, mis- 
sionaries, fur traders, trappers, government officials and others for 
future delivery of wild animals captured in their respective districts. 
The supply of fur, however, will not be appreciably diminished by the 
capture of wild fur-bearers alive. 
In 1911 and 1912 all available foxes were sold for 
= ned bd Stock  Preeders. The first general sales were made in 1910, 
et at prices not far above the fur-value, viz. about $3,000 
to $4,000 a pair. In 1911 the price rose to $5,000 a pair, and, about 
littering time in 1912, one pair was sold for $20,000. This, however, 
was for a pair of excellent proved breeders, which, a few weeks later, 
produced five whelps which were sold for $20,000 in August, 1912. By 
September 1, when the deliveries of stock began, the price was $8,000 
a pair for pups and a month later, $11,000. By December, 1912, 
$12,000 and $13,000 was the ruling price, with few sales. Old proved 
breeders of good quality were valued during the last months of 1912 at 
from $18,000 to $35,000 a pair. 
