ANIMAL INDUSTRY 127 



The history of the Short Horn cattle is most 

 interesting and illustrates the possibilities of 

 animal-breeding as well as the great value of 

 individual animals. The sale at New York 

 State Mills demonstrated the worth of individ- 

 uals of certain families. 



The record of any of the leading breeds of 

 hogs, sheep, or poultry will afford equally strik- 

 ing examples of high prices for superior indi- 

 viduals. No line of animal breeding has had 

 such an extraordinary history as the breeding 

 of Silver Foxes. There have been fads and 

 crazes in almost every department of agricul- 

 tural activity, but none more remarkable than 

 that of the fox industry. For a number of 

 years a few individuals have successfully reared 

 these valuable animals in captivity. They have 

 demonstrated that the Silver Fox, famous both 

 in literature and trade, is a pure strain, breed, 

 or species, and not a sport, as has popularly 

 been supposed. 



The demonstration of this fact, together 

 with the great value of the pelts and the suc- 

 cessful rearing of the animals in captivity has 

 made breeding stock sell for almost fabulous 

 prices. Pelts sometimes sell for $1,000 to 

 $1,500 each. The great value of the individ- 

 ual, coupled with the fact that the young are 



