FUR ANIMALS 



1385 



It can hardly be doubted that this comparatively new fur-farming 

 industry has become a permanent part of our agriculture. It has met 

 with relatively more success in recent years than most other branches 

 of agriculture, and it promises still greater developments when freed 

 from the artificial restraints and handicaps that at present are retarding 

 its progress. Fur farming fits in well as a side line to general farming 



Figure 3. — Many small fur farms like this one in Massachusetts are producing fur as 

 a side line to other agricultural pursuits. 



because it can utilize certain parts of the farm not adaptable to 

 growing other crops. It also provides a winter occupation and brings 

 in additional revenue during the season when both are needed to 

 balance farm operations. 



In 1926, when the annual production of silver fox pelts in the United 

 States was about 25,000 and the average price for skins was $126, 

 farmers began to worry about the possibilities of overproduction. 

 Many were wondering whether increasing production of furs year after 

 year would not outstrip even the increased demand, including that 

 resulting from the normal population increase. At that time the 

 prices paid for pelts were dropping and the cost of feed was going up. 

 The situation at that time was more alarming to the small than to the 

 large producers. 



Today, a decade later, the annual crop of pelts has multiplied eight 

 times, to 200,000. Silver fox fur is fashionable, in fact very fashion- 

 able. The average price for raw pelts has dropped to $42, only a third 

 of that realized in 1926. Food costs are increasing rapidly. Some 

 fox farms have grown bigger, others better. Conditions now are not 

 perplexing so much to the small as to the large producers. The 

 reason for this change is that the former does not have all his eggs in 

 one basket — pelt production with him is a side line (fig. 3). Further- 

 more, pelt production costs him less on the average than it does the 



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