SILVER FOX FARMING, 31 
for breeding purposes as much more than ordinary stock as thorough- 
bred horses are worth more than common horses, probably tenfold. 
As has been pointed out under the subject of improved strains, 
crosses and reds derived from silvers throw a proportion of silver cubs. 
It is feasible, therefore, if one is willing to sacrifice the time required, 
to obtain a stock of silvers from these more common foxes, which cost 
comparatively little. 
PROFITS. 
The profits of silver-fox farming have hitherto been large. Prior 
to 1910 they were realized mainly from the sale of pelts. Since then 
they have been derived almost entirely from the sale of live foxes for 
breeding purposes. Values went up rapidly and profits multiplied 
accordingly. 
The recent sharp decline in prices for breeding stock is quite certain 
to result in heavy loss to those who have paid dearly for a poor grade 
of animals, especially if they have not sufficient means to tide over 
the changing conditions. 
The supply of silver fox pelts must always come from cold climates 
beyond the more thickly settled temperate regions. They are not 
likely, therefore, to become overabundant. Red fox skins have been 
coming to market for many years. Their numbers, while fluctuating 
considerably from year to year, have, on the whole, remained approxi- 
mately constant. Their average value, however, has increased. 
This indicates a steady demand which may be expected to keep pace 
with the increase of population and wealth. But the supply from 
wild foxes can never be greater than it is now. Already red foxes 
can be raised and their pelts sold without loss, and it is altogether 
probable that before many years the rise in fur values and the intro- 
duction of more economical methods of ranching will result in making 
the raising of red foxes profitable. The superior beauty of silvers 
should always make them worth several times as much as reds, and 
many years must pass before they can become common. 
PREPARATION OF SKINS. 
The preparation of skins requires no special implements or pre- 
servatives. Extreme care must be taken to prevent blood from 
coming in contact with the fur. With this in view, the method of 
killing commonly adopted is to lay the fox on its side on clean snow, 
and then to compress its chest by standing upon it. This stops the 
action of the heart and lungs and death follows immediately. The 
same result, without the unpleasant features connected with thus 
catching and smothering the animal, can be obtained by means of a 
killing box which, from a humanitarian point of view, is prefer- 
able. This is merely a tight wooden box into which the fox is to 
