18 



witli animals which have long been thoroughl}^ domesticated, as 

 horses, dogs, cattle, and poultry. How much more then is it neces- 

 sary in the case of an animal suddenly transferred from the wild 

 state to restricted quarters and unnatural conditions. The business 

 of fox raising is new, and he who would succeed must give it careful 

 thought, studying the moods of the animals and preparing himself 



to intelligently meet 

 emergencies as they 

 arise. A resource- 

 ful, persevering man 

 with a natural, fond- 

 ness for animals can 

 assuredly succeed, 

 where one not so 

 qualified would as- 

 suredly fail. 



Many men other- 

 wise well qualified 



Fig. 0. — Fox yards on open jn-ound. i . , 



do not succeed on 



account of the half-hearted way in which they undertake the business. 

 They do not consider it of prime importance, but make it only an ad- 

 junct to other Avork. Hoping that it may bring them a little sup- 

 plementary income, they trust it to proceed automatically, mean- 

 while devoting their best thought and energy to something else. 

 Practically the only conspicuous successes in fox raising have been 

 attained by men 

 who have given it 

 their best efiorts. 



Companies formed 

 for the sole purpose 

 of raising foxes, 

 however, have uni- 

 formly failed. 

 This has been due 

 largely to the great 

 difficulty of securing 

 a hired keeper hav- 

 ing the necessary 

 personal interest. 

 Scarcely less disas- 

 trous has been the advocacy of ditferent methods 

 by different stockholders, each insist in^^- that his 

 is the only proper one 



liter fence. 



ot management 

 theoretical way 

 Many attempts to raise foxes have been 

 of such short duration that their faihire can scarcely be taken into 

 account in considering the practicability of the business. Such fail- 



.328 



