S THE GAME BREEDER 



darker animals and dispose of the lighter to engage in fox farming alone. Almost 

 ones, and as a result each successive lot immediately, however, companies were 

 of pelts from their yards was darker formed for the benefit of those having 

 than those of previous years. Finally, foxes to sell. It was customary for a 

 in 1910, they were able to send to the company to take them over. An attrac- 

 London sales the finest collection of sil- tive prospectus containing pictures of sil- 

 ver fox pelts that had ever appeared ver foxes, an account of the 1910 sale 

 there. This lot, containing 25 pelts, of pelts, and a list of companies which 

 brought an average of $1,386 each, the had paid dividends of 20 to 500 per 

 best one selling for $2,624. In the mean- cent, was published, and the stock sold 

 time a few other small ranches had been through brokers and solicitors. Foxes 

 started in the Maritime Provinces, New- that would bring $12,000 or $15,000 a 

 foundland, Maine, Ontario, Michigan pair in the open market were usually 

 and Alaska. The policy of the half capitalized in companies at $18,000 or 

 dozen Prince Edward Islanders in that $20,000, which, after allowing for com- 

 business had been to monopolize it. missions, installation of pens, and other 

 They had kept their own counsel, and ranch necessities, left a tolerably safe 

 not even their families were enlightened balance from which to pay the first year's 

 as to methods. The pelts had been running expenses. Another reason for 

 shipped three in a package by parcel the multiplication of fox companies is 

 post from a distant post office, and re- found in the income to be derived from 

 ports of the sales had been received in them by brokers and promoters, and 

 code. The fox raisers had entered into many companies were formed by men 

 a compact to sell no live silver foxes and having no other interest. The outbreak 

 had bought the best that could be ob- of the European war, in the summer of 

 tained. Notwithstanding their secrecy, 1914, interrupted and probably ended 

 the evident improvement in their finan- these speculative operations. Ranch-bred 

 cial conditions was noticed by their silver foxes have recently been adver- 

 neighbors, who thereupon desired to par- tised for sale at from $1,500 to $2,000 

 ticipate. a pair. In some of the western Prov- 



Disclosure of the results of the 1910 inces and Territories of Canada, where 



sales was the climax of the first stage only those foxes born or kept for a year 



in the development of fox farming, or more in captivity are allowed to be 



People who formerly had known some- exported, prices of wild half-grown sil- 



thing of the business were now eager to vers run from $150 to $250 each. Prior 



engage in it. Those having money in- to the war a general stagnation in the 



vested it in foxes. Others mortgaged fur trade was beginning to have a de- 



their farms for the purpose or fitted up pressing influence on prices of live foxes, 



ranching facilities and boarded foxes for The June, 1914, sale of silver fox skins 



a share of the progeny. How rapidly in, London averaged only about $118 



prices for breeding stock advanced is each. From present indications values 



well illustrated by the experience of one of foxes and of pelts are likely soon to 



ranchman who sold his first pair of cubs fall as low as they were before 1910. 

 for $750, and other pairs successively In the pioneer days, when proper 



for $3,000, $12,000, $13,000 and $14,000. methods of handling foxes were un- 



In the fall of 1913 good ranch-bred cubs known, many failures resulted from 



six months old sold for from $11,000 to ignorance and carelessness. The excite- 



$15,000 a pair. Pairs that had had large ment following the fur sales of 1910 



litters were valued at about twice as hastened the improvement of methods 



much as six-months-old cubs. of feeding, handling and breeding. It 



The maintenance of this prodigious in- also broke the monopoly, and caused a 



flation of prices was due mainly to stock rapid distribution of foxes and of iri- 



companies, which originally were formed formation concerning them. Now, with 



by individuals without sufficient capital a comparatively large number of silver 



