Fur -Farming in Canada 



I. Introduction 



TIE- FARMING is a new industry in Canada, but its 

 development has been rapid. An investigation 

 conducted in the latter half of 1912 revealed numer- 

 ous instances where animals of various species were 

 being bred in captivity for their fur. Foxes of two 

 species and of all colour varieties, skunk, mink, 

 raccoon, fisher, beaver and muskrat were found upon 

 fur-farms. The marten and otter are likewise being domesticated for 

 their fur. In one instance even the wild cat was retained in captivity 

 for breeding purposes, and it is authentically reported that the common 

 black house-cat is being bred for its fur on pioneer Ontario farms. Up 

 to the present time the domestication of wild fur-bearing animals has 

 been practised most extensively, and also most successfully, in the Mari- 

 time Provinces; but the industry is developing rapidly in Ontario and 

 Quebec, while isolated fur-farms are also to be found throughout the 

 Western Provinces. 



The great interest manifested in fur-farming is to be ascribed to 

 the remarkable success attained in breeding silver and other colour 

 phases of the fox common to Eastern Canada. The black and dark 

 silver skins from foxes produced on Prince Edward Island ranches have 

 rarely brought less than five hundred dollars each, and frequently bring 

 over two thousand dollars at London auction sales. The pioneer fox 

 breeders have acquired wealth in the business and their success has 

 inspired their neighbours to engage in a similar line of work. Naturally, 

 the price of breeding stock, responding to the increased demand, has 

 risen to many times the fur value, so that the ownership of even a pair 

 of silver foxes is impossible to the average farmer. 



Corporations and partnerships with a total capitalization of several 

 millions have been established for farming the silver fox. A large pro- 

 portion of the inhabitants of Prince Edward Island and a smaller pro- 

 portion of those of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia have invested their 

 money, sometimes even mortgaging their property to buy stock in these 

 enterprises. Others have attempted to breed fur-bearing animals which 

 require less capital for foundation stock. Thus, in 1912, more than a 

 tbousand red and blue foxes were imported into the Maritime Provinces. 

 Mink, skunk and raccoon arc being experimented witli. Tlie faith exlii- 



