18 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



stock for his large ranch from his uncle, Robert Tuplin, Other neigh- 

 bours were able to secure stock at various points, and as the years went 

 by purchased from the older ranchmen, an animal or two for 

 crossing. In this manner Silas Rayner, Harry Lewis and John 

 Champion started their ranches. A large number of neighbours secured 

 red and cross foxes and began breeding them for the purpose of per- 

 fecting themselves in the art of rearing the silver foxes which, in after 

 years, they were able to obtain. By the year 1909, a dozen or more 

 farmers in the vicinity of Alberton, P.E.I. , were engaged in fox-farming. 

 Two ranches were in operation near Summerside, P.E.I., several in 

 Maine, two in Ontario and one in Quebec. Selling foundation stock 

 became general in the following year and enhanced prices for breeders 

 soon put a stop to the slaughter of animals for fur, the last sales of pelts 

 being recorded in 1910 of animals slaughtered in 1909. Since that 

 time only the pelts of old, accidentally killed, and diseased animals 

 have been marketed. 



Most of the early attempts to rear foxes failed because : 

 Causes of 



Early 1. No good fencing material, such as the woven wire 



Failure used at the present time, was available. 



2. Warm, dry quarters for the young litters were not pro- 

 vided, the principle of having a small well-insulated nest which 

 would be sufficiently warmed by the mother's body heat not being 

 recognized sufficiently. 



3. The monogamous nature of foxes was not recognized and 

 being quartered in one pen in large numbers, the young were 

 kiUed. 



4. The price of fur was not high enough to induce breeders 

 to risk large amounts of capital in experiments, and those who 

 had the aptitude for the business usually possessed but little 

 capital. 



The rising prices of fur in the "nineties," the availability of woven 

 wire fencing material, and the invention of a suitable nest and the 

 persistence of men like Oulton, Gordon, Dalton, Beetz and Burrowman 

 are responsible for the successful methods of ranching evolved. General 

 details of feeding and management are still kept from the public and new 

 ranchmen frequently pay considerable sums of money to older ranch- 

 men for advice which, they, in turn, seek to retail to others. Other 

 experienced ranchmen demand large salaries for their services as care- 

 takers. A large proportion of the newer ranchmen have been less 

 successful than the older and more experienced, for it is obvious that 



