SILVER FOX FARMING. 35 



The exceedingly high value of silver foxes has led to the adoption 

 of a variety of precautions against their loss. On the more preten- 

 tious ranches the animals are regularly examined by a doctor and 

 guarded by watchmen, bulldogs, and burglar alarms. Cats are kept 

 to act as foster mothers to orphan cubs. Foxhounds are trained to 

 overtake and hold without injury foxes that have escaped, and 

 bloodhounds are employed to track thieves. 



The cost of yards runs from $100 to $150 each, and that of foxes 

 from $150 to $250 for common silver foxes up to several thousand 

 dollars for the best silvers. The price of foxes will decline as the sup- 

 ply increases. The profits from breeding silver foxes have thus far 

 been very large. So long as the demand for breeding-stock exceeds 

 the supply, the value of the annual increase, or the gross income, 

 will average approximately 100 per cent of the value of the breed- 

 ing stock. When part of the increase can be disposed of only by 

 slaughtering for fur, profits will be less than at present, but even 

 then they are likely to be much greater than from ordinary lines 

 of husbandry involving like capital and attention. 



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