52 BULLETIN 1151, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
The final judgment of the caretaker as to which foxes are to be 
retained should be based on the records kept of the performance of 
individual animals. A ranch owner who inspects the foxes only at 
intervals is apt to judge the animals on the basis of appearance 
rather than performance, and for this reason selection of the foxes 
to be retained should be left entirely to the resident caretaker, who 
has had opportunity to study the individuals and to become familiar 
with the characteristics of each. 
The foxes to be disposed of should be separated and fed sufficiently 
to maintain good health. The pelts of fat foxes, however, lack sheen 
and finish because of the tendency of the animals to lie around and 
not take sufficient exercise. In order to improve the quality of the 
fur it is a good plan to shut the foxes out of their pens on cold days 
in winter, not, however, during wet or inclement weather. 
PELTING. 
The business of fox raising is based on pelt value. Many of the 
most successful ranch owners follow the practice of killing some 
foxes every year and marketing the pelts. These are naturally 
the culls — that is. the old foxes that have served their period of use- 
fulness, nonproducers, and those that have been injured through 
accident. 
It is not a good practice to pelt pups, as their skins lack finish in 
the fur as well as in the leather. Occasionally a pup skin of excep- 
tional development sells for a good price, but this is not the rule. It 
is better for the rancher to carry the young over until they are a 
year and a half old or older and the pelt has developed into a more 
marketable skin. 
PRIMENESS. 
Pelts of foxes become prime in Xovember, December, January, 
and February, depending upon the season, climate, and feeding. 
In the United States the majority of pelts become prime in December 
and January, with a few in February, the exact time varying with 
the individual. Primeness is the highest quality of perfection in a 
pelt : when the pelt shows quality and finish, determined by its 
texture and sheen, it is said to be prime. 
Ability to judge primeness comes only through experience. When 
the fur is coming prime it does so rapidly, and after it reaches the 
peak of perfection it soon becomes overprime, losing its sheen and 
finish. It therefore behooves the rancher to watch closely day by 
day each individual set aside for pelting. 
It is better to take the pelt just before it is prime than to take the 
chance of delaying until it is overprime. This is one of the periods 
when frequent handling is necessary. 
KILLING. 
• In killing a fox the method generally pursued is as follows: The 
animal is caught with the tongs, taken to the killing shed, and laid on 
its side. The caretaker then places his foot on its chest and crushes 
out the life. This practice has been followed because it does not 
injure the pelt. Striking the fox on the back of the head with a club 
leaves a blood clot on the pelt and sometimes cuts it. 
