this must constantly happen as their hiding places make way for 

 towns and cities. 



The promoters of the fox farms realize this and their first in- 

 terest has been to secure the sure perpetuation of a prolific stand- 

 ard type. For this guaranteed pairs bring as high as from twenty to 

 forty thousand dollars for pure black foxes for breeding. The 

 London market, which is the center of the world fur trade, esti- 

 mates that it could dispose of five thousand pure pelts from such 

 sources yearly, without lowering the prevailing price, which ranges 

 from an average of five hundred dollars for an ordinary skin, to 

 fifteen hundred or more for prime and exceptionally perfect skins. 

 The years that must pass before any such number can possibly be 

 furnished, assure investors that there is no danger of the market 

 becoming overstocked. 



105 



