62 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



will become as cheap as rabbit; that wild foxes do not decrease in num- 

 bers when a country is settled; that investments usually yield from 2 to 

 10 per cent per annum and that, therefore, the large profits made by fox 

 ranchers during the season of 1912 were abnormal. A smaller propor- 

 tion state that the fox boom was promoted by exaggerated statements 

 respecting the prices received for pelts and by other misrepresentations. 

 They assert that many of the skins marketed have not brought over 

 $50.00 or $100.00 each and that a large proportion of the foxes now in. 

 captivity is of little more value than red foxes. They also state that 

 the demand for silver fox has been supplied and that the Russian nobility 

 and some other Europeans are the only ones who will pay a high figure. 

 It is also maintained that skins of ranch-bred foxes have not the gloss 

 and quality of the product of the wilds. 



On the other hand, it is stated that the supply of valuable wild 

 silver foxes captured is decreasing, that the demand for costly natural 

 furs is rapidly increasing; that only a few hundred silver foxes are in 

 captivity and that there is ample time for readjustment of values before 

 enough are reared to warrant marketing for fur. The fact is also 

 pointed to that the domestication of fur-bearers has been predicted and 

 attempted for centuries and that those who achieved the work are 

 entitled to reward. Furthermore, it is claimed that when fur is so 

 valuable no animals will be sold unless enormous prices are paid; that it 

 is proved that the fur is better in all respects than the wild product and 

 that the best foxes have not yet been sold and will bring higher prices 

 than the present high record, viz. $2,900.00. In addition, the best cus- 

 tomers are millionaires and not the nobility. 



A general comment is all that can be made on the arguments ad- 

 vanced. Some of the points are discussed elsewhere in this report, nota- 

 bly those respecting the prices obtained for ranch-produced furs as com- 

 pared with the wild, the decline in numbers of the natural wild supply , 

 and the general excellent quality of ranch-bred stock as compared with 

 the wild stock. 



The increased demand and its causes have already been discussed 

 and little remains to be said on that subject. It is possible that silver 

 fox wUl become even more fashionable than at present and that the 

 demand will thus be increased, but no one can forecast definitely what 

 fashion will do. It should also be noted that the Russian sable, chin- 

 chilla, sea-otter and seal will be off the market for several years and, on 

 this account, an increased demand for the fur of the silver fox may be 

 created. 



The imitation of silver fox is also impossible because of the colours 

 of the silver-banded black overhairs. The nearest imitation is the 

 German-dyed pointed fox, made from a common red fox dyed black, 



