SILVER-FOX FARMING. 35 
In judging the value of a pedigree it is important to give as much 
weight to the inferior animals represented as to the superior. Un- 
fortunately, it is not possible to learn much of the characteristics of 
any but the latter class. Superior foxes would be classed as those 
descended from high-grade pelt producers and the winners of prizes 
in well-judged fox shows. It is evidently extremely difficult to judge 
quickly and accurately the amount that a certain pedigree adds to or 
subtracts from the value of a fox as an individual. The early his- 
tory of fox breeding can not be learned from books, since at first 
no accurate records were kept. Eecent history, which is more im- 
portant, can be learned by following the results of fox shows and 
fur sales for a number of years and by keeping in touch with cur- 
rent fox journals. 
The pedigree of registered pure-bred foxes can be obtained from 
one of the associations registering foxes. The following associa- 
tions at present register foxes in the United States and Canada. 
American Silver Fox Breeders' Association. 227 Congress Street, Boston, 
Mass. 
National Silver Fox Breeders' Association of America, 204 Rosen Block, 
Muskegon, Mich. 
Canadian National Silver Fox Breeders' Association, Summerside. Prince 
Edward Island. Canada. 
Silver Black Fox Breeders' Association of Prince Edward Island. Charlotte- 
town, Prince Edward Island. Canada. 
BREEDING. 
It is to be constantly borne in mind that silver foxes are not do- 
mesticated animals in the true sense of the term. The purpose of 
breeding silver foxes is not merely to increase their numbers but to 
produce a uniform product and improve the stock. A uniform 
product depends upon such knowledge and control over the heredity 
of the stock that matings may be made with assurance that the off- 
spring will be of the certain definite type in demand. Improving the 
stock, of course, is closely related to control over heredity, but the 
methods which give the greatest control are not necessarily those 
which lead to the most rapid improvement. 
The business of fox ranching is new. and he who would succeed 
in it must give it careful thought, study the moods of the animals, 
and prepare himself to meet intelligently emergencies as they arise. 
Many companies formed for the sole purpose of raising foxes have 
failed because of the great difficulty in hiring a keeper having the 
necessary personal interest. To an even greater extent such failures 
have been due to the tendency of stockholders who know nothing 
about the industry to urge purely theoretical and impractical meth- 
ods. The more thoroughly a man studies breeding practices and his 
foxes the more closely he may approach a desired degree of fixity in 
his breeding operations. 
INBREEDING. 
Of the effective means of improving the stock at the command of 
the breeder, next in importance to selection is the judicious mating 
of related animals. This process is known as inbreeding. 8 It should 
8 See Farmers' Bulletin 1167, U. K. Dept. Alt., p, 20. 
