SILVER FOX FARMING. 23 
danger of injury to itself or its keeper. It is best to darken the 
handling box by covering it or by turning the netted side downward 
on the ground before attempting to drive a fox into it. In actually 
handling grown foxes it is prudent to wear gloves to guard against 
being bitten, though this precaution is not always adopted by ex- 
perienced keepers who understand just how to handle them. An 
effective device for catching foxes is a pair of tongs with jaws curved 
to form a circle 2 J inches in diameter. The fox is first driven into 
its den or into a large covered box. Then the cover is raised barely 
enough to let the tongs pass in and grasp the fox around the neck. 
By holding the tongs in one hand and grasping the hind feet and tail 
of the fox with the other, the animal can be held securely. 
Healthy foxes if properly boxed and cared for can be shipped 
safety almost any distance. Two foxes or even more than two are 
sometimes shipped in the same compartment, but this is inadvisable 
unless the distance is short. As a rule, a box containing two should 
be partitioned, each animal having a space equivalent to 2 by 3 feet 
on the floor and 1J feet high. About half of one side of the box 
should be removed and the opening covered with wire netting to 
allow ventilation and inspection. Shippers often cover the entire 
box with netting or tin to preclude the possibility of escape. A dish 
for water should be fastened to the floor close to the front, where it 
can easily be filled. Foxes are not usually injured by a fast of three 
or four days but they should not be allowed to suffer from thirst. 
Express companies, if duly instructed, will feed animals en route and 
add the cost to the regular transportation charge. In case the ani- 
mals are very valuable or are to be shipped a long distance, an 
attendant should accompany them. 
SANITATION. 
Generally speaking, sickness is not common among domesticated 
foxes that are well cared for. Once in a while one breaks a leg as 
the result of a fall or, more often, from entanglement in wire netting 
having too coarse meshes. Lacerations rarely result twice from the 
same cause or from fighting. Even more rarely a fox is choked while 
eating. Passing meat and small or soft bones and cartilege through 
a bone grinder will not only prevent choking, but allow enough bone 
to be fed with the meat to produce sturdy animals. Simple fractures, 
uncomplicated by abrasions, will mend if untouched, but it is better 
to bind splints upon the wounded limb to keep it in proper shape, 
and then to apply iodoform to prevent the animal from tearing them 
off. When a bone is badly shattered, and especially when it pro- 
trudes, the leg should be amputated. Anesthetics are likely to kill 
foxes and hence should not be used. Flesh wounds ordinarily 
require no attention other than washing once or twice a day in warm 
