FUR-FARMING IN CANADA 53 



per cent, per annum can Ix' utilized. Tlius, 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 

 America for many years. The story of the Royal Russian furs is 

 doubtless derived from the fact that certain sable and other costly 

 furs were formerly given as tribute to royalty. Ermine happens to be 

 a royal fur and is demanded at coronations and great court ceremonies, 

 yet it is stated that much of the so-called ermine at the coronation of 

 King George V was really rabbit. The best customers of silver fox 

 will be fashionable ladies who will use it in trimmings, stoles and muffs. 



„ Because of the removal of foxes to new ranches in 



Number of Foxes ^ , , , ^t ^ i •, .1 • • 



In Captivity beptember, October and JSovember while this inves- 



tigation was proceeding, no very exact data could be 

 procured regarding the number of silver foxes. The following is an 

 astimate of the number in captivity in each province in October, 1912: 



Foxes in" Captivity in Canada in 1912 



Bastard No. of 



Silver Cross and Red Ranches 



P. E. Island 650 150 1,000 200 



Nova Scotia 32 30 150 13 



New Brunswick 30 10 50 8 



Queb3c 40 10 50 6 



Ontario 30 40 150 14 



Other provinces and territories 18 10 50 



Total 800 250 1,450 241 



The silver fox industry is centred about the following points: Al- 

 berton, Summerside, Charlottelown and Montague in Prince Edward 

 Island; Port Elgin in New Brunswick; Piastre Bay on the north shore 

 of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Quebec "ity in Quebec, and Wyoming in On- 

 tario. The number of silver foxes within driving distance of each point 

 is approximately as follows: Alberton, .'500; Sumuicrsido, 200; Cbar- 

 lottefowii, 100; Montague, 25; Port Elgin, N.B., 25; Quebec city, 20; 

 Piastre Bay, 20; Wyoming, Ont., 12; Carcross, Yukon, 18. In the 



