148 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



PROMISING SPECIES 



In spite of numerous failures there is no reason to doubt the en- 

 tire practicability of successfully breeding in captivity almost any 

 species of fur-bearing mammal. In most cases it will take consider- 

 able time to bring about the complete domestication and adaption de- 

 sirable; but the object is of ample importance to warrant the necessary 

 expenditure of time and money. It is not necessary nor advisable to 

 start on a large scale, as the requirements of each species must be studied 

 and worked out slowly. 



In selecting species for breeding purposes the first important con- 

 sideration should be to secure a permanently valuable fur. The fancy 

 prices paid for sea otter and black and silver foxes, reaching SI, 000 

 and even S2,000 for some choice skins, are based, in part, on the rarity 

 of these animals, and would not be maintained if a large supply be- 

 came available. Still, these skins will doubtless always be among 

 the most valuable. Owing to their pelagic habits, however, the sea 

 otter and fur seal need not be considered in the present connection. 



The fur of each species varies greatly in colour, quality, and value 

 in different parts of its range. The choicest natural strains should, if 

 possible, be selected to start with; but these can doubtless be bred into 

 later if a domestic breed be established. 



The North American species promising most valuable results in fur 

 culture are as follows, in sequence of greater permanent fur value: (1) 

 black and silver foxes; (2) blue or Arctic fox; (3) otter; (4) marten, 

 or American sable; (5) beaver; (6) mink; (7) fisher. Cheaper kinds 

 of fur, such as skunk, muskrat, raccoon and opossum, may, under special 

 conditions, yield paying returns, but need not be considered at present. 

 Many exotic mammals are worthy of consideration, but in general they 

 do not offer any advantages over our native species and have the dis- 

 advantage of not being acclimated. 



BLACK AND SILVER FOXES 



The black and the silver foxes are merely melanistic and partially 

 melanistic individuals of the red fox. Both owe their value, in part, 

 to their rarity; but it will be long before artificial production will 

 seriously affect the price. In habits and requirements they are iden- 

 tical with the red fox, of which they are in some cases the offspring. 

 Still, either the black or silver, if mated together, usually breed true. 

 The cross fox is merely a dark form of the red with considerably more 

 valuable fur. By selecting the darkest individuals to breed from and 

 continuing the selection, an increasingly valuable strain doubtless could 

 be obtained. 



