22 FUR FACTS 



animals, and he uses good judgment as to the time of trapping them 

 in order that they may increase and continue to be a constant source 

 of profit to him, his children and his grand-children. In this he re- 

 ceives the co-operation of the old established fur houses who have 

 large sums invested in the fur business and who are vitally interested 

 in seeing the industry prosper and the supply of fur bearing animals 

 increase. Funsten Bros. & Co., furnish the best information obtain- 

 able, encourage reading the reports prepared by the United States 

 Department of Agriculture, furnish him with most humane traps 

 and suggest the best time and method of taking pelts of the fur 

 bearers. 



Every boy in the country now is almost an expert in the trapping 

 of fur bearing animals, their care, the care of the pelt, how to stretch 

 it and how to prepare it for shipment. Information about game- 

 laws etc. is sent free by the big fur houses and by the United States 

 Government, who recognizes the value of the fur crop to the farmer 

 as well as to the country at jlarge. The total value of all of the pelts 

 taken in the United States annually runs into millions of dollars and 

 is a big source of revenue and a big help to the farming community. 



In addition to protecting the fur bearers, that run wild, a great 

 many enterprising farmers and stock men have undertaken the 

 raising of fur bearing animals for profit and in many instances it has 

 proved very successful. The silver fox farms of Prince Edward 

 Islands being unusually so, and this particular industry has developed 

 in the last decade to a business nmning into millions of dollars. 



Of late years there has been considerable interest shown in fur 

 farming and it is safe to predict that the next ten years will show 

 wonderful strides made in this branch of industry. Muskrat, mink, 

 skunk, opossum, raccoon, which are the staples in the fur line can 

 all be raised successfully with profit, and no doubt great progress 

 will be made along these lines. 



