126 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



raising wild animals for fur, and these have usually ceased while the 

 animals were still wild. The fur crop has been expected at once and 

 has usually been the sole object of the experiment 



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 considera- 

 ble time to bring about the complete domestication and adaptation 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, reacliing $1,000 

 and even $2,000 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 a\-ailable. 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, 

 01 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 melauistic and partially 

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

 to their rarity, but it will be long before artilicial production will 

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



