48 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



securely locked up. Strychnine and white arsenic do not kill im- 

 mediately, and, if another animal ate the flesh of an animal poisoned 

 by them, it would be poisoned in turn. 



The cased method of skinning, described elsewhere, is used.* The 

 only difficulty will be with the forelegs and tail. The forelegs become 

 stiff and hard in a short time and should be turned fur side out after 

 a day or two. If the tail bone is not wholly removed in the first attempt, 

 the tail may be slit down the under side. The skins are marketed fur 

 side out and are sewed up in muslin and packed flat in a box. 



The condition of the pelt in respect to primeness, proper 



Silver Fox Skin killing, skinning, drying and shipping is important. 



Skins may be blue or unprime; springy, when the 



hips and shoulders are worn and the hair loose; dirty, shot, chewed, 



heated, or greasy. In such cases their value is largely decreased. 



The skin value of the live animal may be judged from the follow- 

 ing standards : 



Colour. — Glossy black on neck, and wherever no silver hairs are 

 found. The black must be of a bluish cast all over the body 

 rather than a reddish. The underfur must also be dark- 

 coloured. The fur of silver and black foxes is a dark slate 

 next the skin. 



Silver hairs. — Pure silver bands — not white nor very prominent. 

 In the costliest skins there are only a few silver hairs, which 

 are well scattered over the pelt. The neck and head should be 

 clear black. Flakiness, which is the appearance of whitish silver 

 hairs placed close together in patches, is objectionable. 



Gloss. — The sheen must be evident. It is caused by the perfect 

 health of the animal and the fineness of the hair, as well as by 

 hereditary influences. Woods and humid atmosphere also 

 favour this important quality. 



Weight. — A good fox skin will weigh at least one pound, the weight 

 usually varying from ten to nineteen ounces. The thick, long 

 fur makes the weight. This is a very important point, as 

 heavy fur is more durable and handsome. 



Size. — The value of silver fox pelts increases with the size. 



FINANCIAL ASPECTS 



The amount of capital required to finance a ranch containing even 

 three or four pairs of foxes, involves the organization of companies or ex- 



*See page 97. 



