SILVER FOX FARMING. 35 
The exceedingly high value of silver foxes has led to the adoption 
of a variety of precautions against their loss. On the more preten- 
tious ranches the animals are regularly examined by a doctor and 
guarded by watchmen, bulldogs, and burglar alarms. Cats are kept 
to act as foster mothers to orphan cubs. Foxhounds are trained to 
overtake and hold without injury foxes that have escaped, and 
bloodhounds are employed to track thieves. 
The cost of yards runs from $100 to $150 each, and that of foxes 
from $150 to $250 for common silver foxes up to several thousand 
dollars for the best silvers. The price of foxes will decline as the sup- 
ply increases. The profits from breeding silver foxes have thus far 
been very large. So long as the demand for breeding-stock exceeds 
the supply, the value of the annual increase, or the gross income, 
will average approximately 100 per cent of the value of the breed- 
ing stock. When part of the increase can be disposed of only by 
slaughtering for fur, profits will be less than at present, but even 
then they are likely to be much greater than from ordinary lines 
of husbandry involving like capital and attention. 
o 
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