best opportunity for the production of high quality furs. It is believed that the 

 number of fur farms of Montana practically doubled during 1929, and additional 

 farms are constantly being installed. 



These farms are scattered well over the state with locations in more than 

 half of the 56 counties. Probably the best successes have been made in the rais- 

 ing of silver black foxes, to which many of the fur farmers devote their energies, 

 although quite a number are breeding blue foxes. While many of the farms 

 specialize in one kind of animal, most of them include several types of fur 

 animals in their production schemes. 



Many, but not all, of the fur farmers have associated themselves into an 

 organization, the Montana Fox and Fur Breeders association, which has a member- 

 ship of 33. These farms are carrying about 300 pairs of silver black foxes and 100 

 blue foxes for breeding stock and their 1929 income for pelts alone was approxi- 

 mately $200,000. 



Alaskan foxes are raised on some farms. Many muskrat farms are scattered 

 about the state. At the close of 1929 the fur farms licensed under the state fish 

 and game commission totalled 204, their permits including 21 different types 

 of fur bearing animals. This number does not cover all the farms of the state 

 as many find it unnecessary to take licenses because of not engaging in the raising 

 of animals which have been taken under the jurisdiction of the commission. 



By reason of the combination of various types of production the licenses 

 issued by the game commission indicate 52 different combinations. Of these 204 

 farms 117 raise mink, 81 muskrat, 47 marten, 43 foxes, 33 beaver. 13 raccoon, 6 

 rabbits, 5 fishers, 4 otter, 4 skunk, 4 badgers, 4 deer, and one each raising bear, 

 lynx, elk and coyote. Four farms raise Chinese pheasants and one Canadian 

 geese. 



During 1929, exclusive of the pelts of predatory animals, Montana produced 

 pelts marketed under permits from the state fish and game commission numbered 

 as follows: Muskrats 123,196; beaver 7,388; mink 6,336; foxes 2,667; raccoons 

 1,955; marten 987; bears 281, and otters 34. 



A RESUME OF THE NATIONAL OUTLOOK 

 REPORT ON THE SHEEP INDUSTRY 



Sheep numbers in Montana during the past 10 years have increased from 

 2,230,000 head on January 1. 1921, to 3,913,000 head on January 1, 1930, which was 

 a gain of 75.4 per cent. At the same time numbers in the United States increased 

 26.4 per cent from 38,690,000 head in 1921, to 48,913,000 head in 1930. Montana's 

 wool production was 16,400,000 pounds in 1921, and 28,733,000 pounds in 1929, 

 while the wool production in the United States (exclusive of pulled wool) rose 

 from 235,129,000 pounds in 1921, to 308,947,000 pounds in 1929. Federally in- 

 spected slaughter of sheep and lamps rose from 10,982,000 head in 1920, to 14,- 

 023,362 head in 1929. 



Estimates of world sheep numbers and wool production in complete form are 

 not available for all countries. For 40 countries having 100,000 head of sheep and 

 over, the 1928 numbers of sheep were 473,856,000 head compared with the 1921- 

 1925 average of 389,363,000 head. For wool the estimated world total exclusive of 

 Russia and China was 3,217,000,000 pounds in 1928, compared with 2,903,000,000 

 pounds in 1925. 



From these comparisons is evident the expansion that has taken place in the 

 sheep industry in Montana, the United States and internationally. 



EXPANSION NEAR PEAK 



Expansion of the sheep industry has been accompanied during the past 10 

 years by rising prices both for wool and lambs, over the first half of the period 



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