SILVEE FOX FARMING. 23 



danger of injury to itself or its keeper. It is best to darken the 

 handling box by covering it or bj r turning the netted side downward 

 on the ground before attempting to drive a fox into it. In actually 

 handling grown foxes it is prudent to wear gloves to guard against 

 being bitten, though this precaution is not always adopted by ex- 

 perienced keepers who understand just how to handle them. An 

 effective device for catching foxes is a pair of tongs with jaws curved 

 to form a circle 2h mches in diameter. The fox is first driven into 

 its den or into a large covered box. Then the cover is raised barely 

 enough to let the tongs pass in and grasp the fox around the neck. 

 By holding the tongs in one hand and grasping the hind feet and tail 

 of the fox with the other, the animal can be held securely. 



Healthy foxes if properly boxed and cared for can be shipped 

 safely almost any distance. Two foxes or even more than two are 

 sometimes shipped in the same compartment, but this is inadvisable 

 unless the distance is short. As a rule, a box containing two should 

 be partitioned, each animal having a space equivalent to 2 by 3 feet 

 on the floor and 1J feet high. About half of one side of the box 

 should be removed and the opening covered with wire netting to 

 allow ventilation and inspection. Shippers often cover the entire 

 box with netting or tin to preclude the possibility of escape. A dish 

 for water should be fastened to the floor close to the front, where it 

 can easily be filled. Foxes are not usually injured by a fast of three 

 or four days but they should not be allowed to suffer from thirst. 

 Express companies, if duly instructed, will feed animals en route and 

 add the cost to the regular transportation charge. In case the ani- 

 mals are very valuable or are to be shipped a long distance, an 

 attendant should accompany them. 



SANITATION. 



Generally speaking, sickness is not common among domesticated 

 foxes that are well cared for. Once in a while one breaks a leg as 

 the result of a fall or, more often, from entanglement in wire netting 

 having too coarse meshes. Lacerations rarely result twice from the 

 same cause or from fighting. Even more rarely a fox is choked while 

 eating. Passing meat and small or soft bones and cartilege through 

 a bone grinder will not only prevent choking, but allow enough bone 

 to be fed wit h the meat to produce sturdy animals. Simple fractures, 

 uncomplicated by abrasions, will mend if untouched, but it is better 

 to bind splints upon the wounded Limb to keep it in proper shape, 

 and then to apply iodoform to prevent, the animal from tearing them 

 off. When a bone is badly shattered, and especially when it pro- 

 brudes, the leg should he amputated. Anesthetics are likely to kill 

 foxes and henee should not he used. Flesh wounds ordinarily 

 require no at ten! ion of he/- 1 ban washing once or twice a day in warm 



