SILVER FOX FARMING. 31 



for breeding purposes as much more than ordinary stock as thorough- 

 bred horses are worth more than common horses, probably tenfold. 

 As has been pointed out under the subject of improved strains, 

 crosses and reds derived from silvers throw a proportion of silver cubs. 

 It is feasible, therefore, if one is willing to sacrifice the time required, 

 to obtain a stock of silvers from these more common foxes, which cost 



comparatively little. 



PROFITS. 



The profits of silver-fox farming have hitherto been large. Prior 

 to 1910 they were realized mainly from the sale of pelts. Since then 

 they have been derived almost entirely from the sale of live foxes for 

 breeding purposes. Values went up rapidly and profits multiplied 

 accordingly. 



The recent sharp decline in prices for breeding stock is quite certain 

 to result in heavy loss to those who have paid dearly for a poor grade 

 of animals, especially if they have not sufficient means to tide over 

 the changing conditions. 



The supply of silver fox pelts must always come from cold climates 

 beyond the more thickly settled temperate regions. They are not 

 likely, therefore, to become overabundant. Red fox skins have been 

 coming to market for many years. Their numbers, while fluctuating 

 considerably from year to year, have, on the whole, remained approxi- 

 mately constant. Their average value, however, has increased. 

 This indicates a steady demand which may be expected to keep pace 

 with the increase of population and wealth. But the supply from 

 wild foxes can never be greater than it is now. Already red foxes 

 can be raised and their pelts sold without loss, and it is altogether 

 probable that before many years the rise in fur values and the intro- 

 duction of more economical methods of ranching will result in making 

 the raising of red foxes profitable. The superior beauty of silvers 

 should always make them worth several times as much as reds, and 

 many years must pass before they can become common. 



PREPARATION OF SKINS. 



The preparation of skins requires no special implements or pre- 

 servatives. Extreme care must be taken to prevent blood from 

 coming in contact with, the fur. With this in view, the method of 

 killing commonly adopted is to lay the fox on its side on clean snow, 

 and then to compress it- chest by standing upon it. This stops the 

 action of the heart and lungs and death follows immediately. The 

 same result, without the unpleasant features connected with thus 

 catching and smothering the animal, caD be obtained by means of a 

 killing box which, from a, humanitarian poinl of view, is prefer- 

 able. This i merely a tight wooden box into which the fox is to 



