FOX-FARMING IN CANADA 



63 



which has white hairs from the badger or other animals sewed into it or 

 fastened in by adhesives. It is easily distinguished from the silver 

 fox fur and is not favoured except as a medium-priced article. It is 

 not nearly so beautiful as silver fox. The silver band in a genuine 

 skin is not white, but silvery, and the whole skin possesses a gloss 

 not equalled by a dyed product. The dyeing process, also, has the dis- 

 advantage of rendering the fur less durable. 



With regard to the statement that much of the stock is of poor 

 quality and low-priced, it must be admitted that this is true. While 

 statistics of the low prices obtained for pelts obviously could not be 

 secured, it is quite probable that at least 30 per cent of the silver 

 foxes would bring a price of from S50.00 to $500.00. At the present quo- 

 tations, probably another 30 per cent, would be priced between $500.00 

 and $1,000.00 and the other 40 per cent would bring from $1,000.00 to 

 $4,000.00* each. The ability to recognize a cheap grade of fur instantly is 

 essential in the present state ol the business as traders represent a 

 silver fox as such regardless of quality; and, usually, only a short and 

 distant examination of the animal is possible. Besides, the sales are 

 made at a season when the fur is not in prime condition. 



If wild foxes do not decrease when a country is settled, it is not 

 recorded that they increase. The number in unsettled regions, how- 

 ever, is diminishing. 



Thus far, profits in the industry have been large, but, except from the 

 pomt of view of the individual, the dividend on the money invested is 

 not the main consideration. From the social and economic viewpoint, 

 the discovery of how to breed high-grade foxes is what is important. 

 It is akin to an invention; but, as it cannot be patented, the neighbours 

 of the inventois have become the promoters of a new method of pro- 

 ducing a remarkable commodity. No huge factories can be built 

 m a few months to manufacture the article to the limit of demand; 

 only the natural law of increase of foxes which is not much over 100 

 per cent per annum can be utHized. Thus, it will be several years 

 before the supply will meet the demand, as it is sure to do eventually. 

 If the investing public can be made to believe that future profits are 

 assured, it is human nature to ask as large a premium on the shares 

 of fox-ranching companies as can be obtained. 



The stories of the predilection of the nobility of Russia and of 

 other countries for expensive furs like silver fox, sea-otter and sable 

 are mostly drawn from the imagination. The current story that gold 

 IS tipped on silver fox overhair was unknown to any of the furriers 

 interviewed, some of whom have been purchasing furs in Europe and 



*Inasrnuch as Mr. Jones states (p. 62) that the record price of a skin is $2,900, 

 the upper hmit— $4,000— seems too high.— Ed. 



