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MKIOCOPY MSOIUTION THT CHART

(ANSI ond ISO TEST CHART No. 2)

tii

11° 12.0

■ 2.2

^iJ^

A /APPLIED IIVMG E Ine

^K ■^^■5 Eo»' M«"' Street

B^,^ -ocheater, New Yofk U609 LISA

'-S '-e) *.82 - 0300 - Phone

^B { .' 1 ^.,: 288 - 5989 - Fax

Commission of ConservAtion

ConMuUd undrr "Tkt Conttrratitm Ael," »-0 Kdwnrd Vll, t%,p. 27J1909.
andamrndint AcU. 9-10 W««.rd Vlt. ehap. 42, 1910, and 3-4 Otarg* V .
C'*-i;<. 12, 1B13.

Ci>Kirm«n :
HoM. CLirroMD StrroN

Mtmbcrs :

Hon. AuBii: E. Aiimnaclt, Summerelde, P.E.I.

!)■ HowAKD MnmuY, l)»lhouiii« Univeniity, H»Uf«x, «.».

D«. KT Jon"^, ChmnceUor. Univertity of New fenm.wick. Frederic

ton, N.B. ^^ ^ „ _

Mr. William B. Snowbam-, rhatbwn, N.B.
Hnv H«N«i rf HtLANH. M I) . M.P., St. J, cph-de-Bj-auce, Oue.
"rr" NK b Ada". DUn:F.culty of Applk^d Science. McOlll Univ.«ity.

MoNwwNBUH CHAKLF.* P. CtKHjuiTT., St. Hywinthe. Que Profe«wr,
^mitmry of St. Hyacinthe and Member of faculty, Laval Lnivenity

Mk. Edward Gohier, St. Laurent, Que.

Dr. Jamrb W. Robbrwjn, C.M.O., Chairman, Royal CojnmUiion on In-

duitrial TraininR and Technical Education, Otta»v», Ont.
S«8A5;»rSRDFL.MWO,K.C.M.O., OtUwa, Ont.. Chancellor, Queen.

Hon. SiNAToR Wiluam Cambkon Edwai»», Ottawa, O"*- Toronto

Sir Edmund B. 0«l«r, M.P., Oovemor, Univerrity of Toronto, Toronto,

Ont.
Mr. Charli:* A. McCoot, Ottawa, Ont. T„w,n»„ Ont

Mr. J. F. Mackat, Businew Manaaer, "The Globe," Toronto, Ont.
Dr. B. E. Fbrncw, Dean, Faculty of Forettry, Univer«ity of Toronto,

Toronto. t)nt. . .. , , «.. i «._

Dr Georoi: Bptcb, University of Manitoba, n innipea, Man.
Dr. W. J. Rutherford, Member of Faculty, University of Saskatchewan,

Dr. h'^m' W?pJUldent, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.
Mr. John HENn'.T, Vancouver, B.C.

Members, ex-officio :

Hon. Martin Burrbll, Minister of Agriculture, Ottawa
Hon. W. J. Roche, Minister of the Interior, tHtawa
Hon. Louib Coderhe, Minister of Mines, Ottawa .»»„„.„ rr.„„_i

Hon. John A. >Uthieson, K.C, President, Premier, and Attorney-General,
Prince Edward Island ^ , „ „ ^.

Hon. Orlando T. Daniels. nomey-General, Nova Scofa

Hon: Ja«8 K. Flemmino, Pren<ier and Surveyor-General. New Brunswick
Hon. Jules Allard, Minister of Lands and forests, Quetec
Hon. Wiluam Hearst, Minister of T.-nd,, Forests and Mmes, Ontario
Hon. James H. Howdev, Attorney «> - . . Manitoba „ .

Hon. James A. Calder, Mini-t^r -iways and Highways, Saskat-

Hon" Ar-??ttr L. SirroN, Premier, Minister of Railways and Telephones.

Hon. William R. Ross, Minister of Lands, British ColumbU

Assistant to Chairman and Deputy Head :

Mr. James White

Commission of Conservation

CANADA

COMMITTEE OS FISHERIES, QAMF
AND FUR-BE A RISa ANIMALS

FUR-FARMING IN
CANADA

Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged

By
J. WALTER JONES. B.A.. B.S.A.

Otiam:

Tk* MoctlMr Co., Ud.

1914

Committee on Fisheries, Game and
Fiir'bearing Animals

Chairman:
Dr. Cecil C. Jones

Members:
Hon. O. T. Daniels
Hon. J. K. Fleumino
Hon. W. H. Hearst
Hon. J. H. Howden
Hon. J. A. BIathisson
Dr. Howard Murray
Dr. J. W. Robertson
Hon. W. R. Ross

^0bn'4:i(i

To Field M***"*!- Hib Royal Highness Prince Arthur Wiluam
Patrick Albert, Duke of Connaught and of Strathbarn,
K.G., K.T., K.P., Ac, Ac, Governor-General of Canada

May it Please Your Royal Highness:

The undersigned has the honour to lay before Your Royal Highness
the report on Fur-farming in Canada, new edition, corrected and
revised.

Respectfully submitted,

CLIFFORD SIFTON,
Chairman

Ottawa, February 4, 1914

Ottawa, Febbcart 3, 1014

Sir.

I have the honour to transmit herewith the report on Fur-farming
in Canada, new edition, corrected and revised.

Your obedient servant,

JAMES WHITE,

Asaiakmt to Chairman

Hon. CLiFFORn Suton,
Chairman
Commission of Conservation

Ill

IV.
V.

VI.

VII.

Contents

PAGI

INTRODUCTION 1

EARLY ATTEHPTS TO DOMESTICATE THE POX l»

MANCAIi OF FUR-FARHINa
Common Rkd Fox:

the bcixncs op brbbdino 20

BANCHINO pRAcnca 31

PraxNCIAL ABPBCn 59

POI.AR OR Arctic Fox:

Bttnt POX-PABMINQ M

blue foxes op the pribilof islands 71

Karakul Sheep 81

Raccoon 89

Weasel Family:

MINK 90

MARTEN OR AMERICAN SABLE 97

PI8HBR, PEKAN OR PENNANT MARTEN 98

CANADIAN OTTER 99

SKUNK 104

Rodents:

MUSKRAT 110

BEATER Ill

Reindbbb and Moose:

the rxindebr in canada 113

moose 118

PREPARINQ SKINS FOR MANUFACTURE 117

THE COMMERCE IN RAW FURS

Centres op the Fur Trade 126

London Fur Market 127

Prices op Silver Fox Skins 131

APPENDICES

I. Value op Wild Animals 137

II. Experience in Raisinq Viroinla Deer 139

III. Selected Articles prom American Breeders' Association

Reports:

objects op BREEDING WILD MAMMALS 141

EXOTIC SPECIES POR DOMESTICATION 142

BREEDINQ OP THE WAPITI 144

BREKDINa THE VIRGINIA DEER 145

BREEDING FUR-BEARING ANIMALS 147

IV. Reindeer Progress in Alaska 152

V. The Romance op Fur 156

VI. The Muskrat 159

VII. Canadian Legislation Respecting Fcr-farminq 165

VIII. Notes Concerning the Conservation op Qame in Quebec. . 182

IX. Statistics op Fur PRODUcnoN 186

X. Statistics op Fur Prices 215

XI. Fur-farming Companies and Fur-farmers in Canada 222

XII. Report op Fur Sales, March, 1914, Lampson 4 Co 262

INDEX 257

vii

ILLUSTRATIONS

_ „ „ PAGE

I. SlTTINO ON THB BoX IN WhICS Hi ItADX A RAILWAY JOUBNCT,

Sbphmbui Fub FnttUitpUet

II. A Fuix-vuRmo Fox, Decuibkb Pub 15

A FirLL-VDBBBD Blaox Fox, Dxcbmbbb Fur 15

III. A Rbd Fox Two Hontbb Ou), Showing a Dabx Linb of Blood 24

A Cbobs Fox, Rbd on Sidbs, Nbcx and Eabs, Sbptbmbeb Fub 24

A Dabx biLVBB Fox with a White Patch on Hia Bbxabt 24

A Black Femaix in Octobxb 24

IV. A Matbd Paib, vbrt Dabx Siltxb Male and Half Silver Female,

OcTOBEB Fub 3I

Pen in the Maple Woods — Sunnt in Winteu and Shaded in

Summer 31

V. The Best Location for a Ranch is a Woodlot 33

VI. • Detail of Fence Construction with Sheet Iron 35

Detail of Fence CoNSTRUonoN, Many Breeders Prefer an

Allet Subboundino each Pen 35

VII. Usual Type of Kennel and Pen 40

Cheap Kennel Constructed from a Packing Box 40

VIII. Floor Plan and Vertical Section of a Fox Kennel 4*^:

IX. Types of Fox Ranches 44

X. Fox Kittens Two Weeks Old 47

A THRXE-auARTERS Black Fox Badly Frightened 47

Keeping Watch on the Strangers 47

A Nobtk Shore (Que.) Fox in August 47

XI. Polar Fox (White) Ranched in Russia 66

A Russian Red Fox 66

XII. Karakul Lambs, Three Days and Eight Days Old, Respec-

tively gl

XIII. Karakul Bam 85

Full-blood, Coarse-wool Karakul Ewes and Lambs at Foot 85

XIV. Floor Plan of Minkery 93

XV. Mink Ranch at Lac Chaud gg

Mink's Den, Artificial 95

XVI. A Successful Mink Ranch 96

XVII. Mink Sitting on His House loO

OlTER 100

XVIII. Beaver 106

LrvB Skunk, Long Str'ped 106

XIX. Stretching Boards and Traps 119

XX. A Collection r ? 34 Wild Silver Fox Skins 132

XXI. T. R. H. Duke of Connauoht anc Princess Patricia at St.

Patrick Ranch I37

MAPS

I. Range of the North American Red Foxes in Canada 20

II. Range of Raccoons in Canada $9

ni. Range of Minks in Canada 90

IV. Range of American Martens ln Canada 93

V. Range of Skunks in Canada 104

VI. Range of Mubkrats in Canada no

VII. Range op the American Beaver in Canada 112

viii

Preface to Second Edition

Rapid progress has marked the fur-farming industry since the publi-
cation of the Commission's first report on the subject a year ago. From
all parts of Canada requests have been received for information and for
copies of the report. To meet this demand it was deened advisable
to issue a revised and enlarged edition, so as to make the report as up-
to-date as possible.

Assistance in the preparation of the original report, as well ae the
revision, has been received from various sources, many of which it is
impossible to acknowledge here. It seems fitting, however, that special
mention should be made of the courtesy and assistance rendered by
Mr. Ernest Thompson Scton for helpful suggestions, as well as for
permission to reproduce from his "Life Histories of Northern Animals,"
the maps showing the ranges in Canada of the Red Fox, Raccoon, Mmk,
American Marten, Skunk, Mu; u-at, and Beaver. Valuable statistics of
fur production and sales were furnished by the Hudson's Bay Co., through
the office of the Canadian High Commissioner, by Messrs. C. M. Lampson
& Co., Messrs. A. and W. Nesbitt, Mr. Emil Brass, Mr. J. D. Whelpley
and others. Messrs. Henry and Ernest Poland, of P. R. Poland &
Sons, London, England, courteously revised a number of tables of
statistics, in addition to providing considerable new material. Mr.
R. H. Campbell supplied a short article on the Reindeer, Mr. .Johann
Beetz on the conservation of game in Quebec, and reports of the Ameri-
can Breeders' Association, and the Fur News Magazine have been freely
quoted.

Mention should also be made of the kindness shown by Provincial
game authorities and others who furnished the names and p ' presses of
fur farmers and fur-farming companies given in Appendix XI.

I i

Sitting on the Box in Which He Made a Railway Journey September Fur

dBi

FUR'FARMING IN CANADA

I. Introduction

UR-BARMINd is a new industry in Canada, Imt its
dovolopment has been rapid. A particular investi-
gation conducted in the latter half of 1912 and further
inquiries made during 1013 revealed numerous instances
where animals of various species wore h'iing bred in
captivity for their fur. Foxes of two species and of all
colour varieties, skunk, mink, raccoon, fisher, beaver
and muskrat were foimd upon fur-farmw. The marten
and otter are likewise being domesticated for their fur. During t'.o
past two years the number of fur-farms has multiplied exceedingly.
In the province of Prince Edward Island, which may bo considered
the centre from which the fur-farming interest has chiefly radiated,
probably six hundred ranches exist where one species Oi- another is
kept in confinement. In Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfound-
land the industry is extending with great rapidity and at this date —
November, 1913 — practically every trapper is trying to capture foxes,
mink, marten, otter and skunk for purposes of domestication. A
great and rapidly extending interest is manifested in Quebec, Ontario,
Western Canada and the New England states. Russia has realized
her advantageous position for the prosecution of this industry and has
passed an enactment prohibiting the export of her karakule sheep.
An extensive development of sable, silver and polar fox farms is also
taking place in that country.

The great interest manifested in fur-farming is to be ascribed to
the remarkable success attained in breeding silver and other colour
phases of the fox common to Eastern Canada. The black and dark
silver prime skins from foxes produced on Prince Edward Island
ranches have rarely brought less than $500.00 each, and frequently
bring over $2,000.00 at London auction sales. The pioneer fox
breeders have acquired wealth in the business and their success has
inspired their neigh oours to engage in a similar line of work. Naturally
the price of breeding stock, responding to the increased demand, has
risen to many times the fur value, so that the ownership of even a pair
of silver foxes is impossible to the average farmer.

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

ll!

Ill

Corpor»tioM uid partnership* with » total capitaliiation of
•10,000,000 or 112,000,000 bav« been Mtabliahed for farming the ailver
fox. A large proportion of the inhabitants of Prince Edward Island
and a smaller proportion of those of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia
have invested their money, sometimes even mortgaging their property,
to buy stock in these enterprises. Others have attempted to breed fur-
bearing animals which require less capital for foundation stock.

Thus, ir i012 and 1913, upwards of 6,000 red and 1,000 cross or
patch foxet were captured and made inmates of ranches in Eastern
Canada. Probably more than 1,000 animals of various other species
fared similarly. The industry has Hpread into Russia, where fur-
bearing animals such as the Russian sable and the polar and the silver
fox are now extensively farmed. Sables from the vicinity of Irkutsk
and karakide sheep from Bokhara have, at (,reat expense to the im-
porters, been brought to America.

The great enthusiasm for fur-farming in Eastern Canada has r^
suited in high prices for breeding animals and seems to have created
in the popular mind the improesion that the soil and the climatic con-
ditions of that region are favourable to the production of the best fur.
It is true that splendid fox and mink are produced there, but it should
not necessarily be assumed that polar fox, Labrador marten and Russian
sable will thrive and fur up as well as in their own habitat. But, what-
ever the outcome of these experiments, the fact is that the reputed
skOI of its fur-farmers in caring for the animals has led to a centralisa-
tion of the fur-pro<^ncing industry on Prince Edward Island. It ia
probably true thai, it least 85 per cent of the silver foxes in captivity
are to be found in the Island province.

The high .orices for furs prevailing during recent years explain
why fur-farming has made 'mch rapid progress in such a short time.
This is particularly true of the black fox industry. The fur-value of
a high-grade prime black fox skin ranges from about $500 to about
$2,500; but the demand for breeding animals has been so great that
the price has risen to $35,000 a pair for the best quality of breeding
stock. Moreover, the promoter has entered the field and companies
are being floated whose capitalizations are based on these high prices for
pelts and on very rosy expectations of profits. It cannot be predicted
with certainty what the price will be when even a few thousand more
skins are marketed yearly. The price will certainly decline eventually
in conformity with the increase in supply, but will probably always
remain high on accoimt of the fur'- -jxtreme beauty. Although there
is ample basis for a soimd indust fox-farming, it is necessary that

the general public should realize i..a., t»ie industry is a highly speculative
one, and that the individual who puts his money in companies capital-

Firn-FARMivn ix cakaoa

izod at from five to ten times the fur vuluo uf the ftnimala Hiumai »
great riak.

Since the fur-farming induMtry i^ lo intimately connected with
the preaent high prices of furs, it will be worth while to enquire into
the causes of those high prices and ondoavour to forecast to what extent
they will continue to operate.

Demand and Supply

Inertaiinc ^^uted in gen'jral terms, fur has become scarce because loss
Dmand for is produced and more is used than evur before. The reinark-
• able increase in the demand for costly furs in the past twenty

years is due to a combination of causes. Tliu pot>ulation is growing.
The relative number of people in the wealthy classes is increasing. The
habits of travelling extensively and of living in metropolitan centres ore
rapidly increasing. Commerce and more efficient salesmanship have
introduced furs al' over the world, so that their admirers and users are
multiplied. Dame Fashion, whose influence is predominant every-
where, is responsible for a very heavy domand for certain kirds, and
only the best and scarctvt are in high favour with her. Then, too, our
growing cities, which multiply the opportunities for gatherings and
coiicduraes, especially of the well-to-do clossits, engender competitive
habits in choosing personal adornments.

The growiri; use of the automobile and the more general habit of
living out-of-doors have made furs almost a necessity. In America
alone, the valuation of automobiles is now about $2,000,000,000,
and a proper equipment for the luxurious vehicles and their occupants
necessitates the use of many millions of dollars worth of furs and luather.
Better roads, more extensive travel, and cheaper automobiles are im-
portant factors in determining the growing demands for fur and polts
generally.

LMtaninK ^^ ^^^ keenness of the hunt is maintained, some species of
Supply animals must soon be exterminated. When dead-falls, snares
01 Fur ^jjij ^jjg y^^ ^jjjj jj,.j.Q^ were used in hunting there was a

chance for the game to escape; but with modern guns, smokeless powder,
improved traps and the most alluring baits and scents that modem
chemists can compound or trappers can invent, there are fewer oppor-
tunities. Coupled with mcreiused efficiency of destructive gear is the
general diffusion by railways, steamship lines and hunting and trapping
magazines, of knowledge respecting game resorts and the hunter's art.
Railwajrs and steamship lines are tapping new territory, corps of guides
are organized, canned food and better camping equipment make the

COMMI»»HION or rONHKRVATIOjr

; j

hunter's life more enjoyable, and iw a rettult, the uttermoat sanc-
tuaries of the fur-bearers are invaded. Their last retreats ha> a been
made and they must now slowly diminish in numbers year by year.
The musk-ox, for instance, has figured in the London sales only for the
past forty years because, prior to that time, Arctic hunters were unable
to roach its habitat. Continued invasion of its territory may lead to
its extinction. The usual method employed to prevent the complete
extinction of a species is to establish a close season. Recently, a close
season of three years was declared for the Russian sable to allow it to
recuperjite in nujnbers in Siberia. The chinchilla has similar protection
in Bolivia, and the Canadian beaver is frequently protected in a similar
way. Perhaps the most concerted effort on the part of nations to
prevent the extinction of a species by establishing a close season is to
be found in the case of the Alaska fur-seal. In July, 1911, the United
States, vjreat Britain, Russia and Japan entered into a treaty whi.^h
provide* for the prohibition of pelagic or open sea sealing for a poriod
of fifteen years. In the same year the United States enacted a pro-
vision prohibiting land-killing of seals on the Pribilof islands for a period
of ten years. The general decrease in the number of fur-bearers during
the past twenty years indicates how ineffectual are the preventive
methods employed.

The ever-expanding areas of human settlements have
l>***Tvctiin j,m,ggd gome kinds of fur-bearers to retreat farther into

the woods. The clearing away of the forests and the
grazing of the natural covers by domestic animals have destroyed their
haunts and exposed thom to their enemies. Draining swampy areas has
destroyed the homes of the muskrat or musquash, the mink, the otter
and the beaver. The fisher and the marten never seem to exist long
near man's habitation. Even the fox, which appears to increase near
human settlements, will decrease if the forests are wholly removed or
burr id.

f 1

! t

FUR-FAHMING IN CANADA

OBCRBASING NUM8BR OP PELTS

SuUtmnl, batmi o*i th» Lomlon SaUt of C. M. Ump»on Jt Cj. By 4(M A'roMr,

.\mi> York)

Kind or Akih

DCCHEAM IS NUMHKM, I'CltCaNTAOB

lH02-t(K)l

over
1».H2-1W)1

ltX)3-l(«lt

over
's«t2-imH

1899-1011

over
1882-1891

Fox, silver

" croM

" red

" blue

" whit<4

Mkrtcn, pin«>. . .
Flxher or pekan .

Mink

Skunk

MuKkmt

Lynx

(Htor, laml

•" lieu

t IncruuKi'

34t

75()t

5 lot

eat

7St

30t

not

2S0t

31 5t

3800t

70Ot

45t

.W)

INCRRASING PRICES OF PELTS

(Statement baud on the London Salei o/C. M. Lampeon A- Co. B'j Alfred Fraier,

\ew York)

Inckkam in Priced, F

RCTtNTAQB

Kind op Skin

1892-1<.»01

over
1882-1891

li)02-l'Jll

over
1802-1901

1803-1911

over
18«2-1891

155
10

«5
20*

120

47tt

»)()
20

25
30*

110

.55
100

h't
145
100

15
430
150
110
230
130
170

300

125

" red

245

" blue

" whifo ... • ■

I'H)
350

580

Fisher or nokan

430

Mink.... .

3(K)

Skunk

1.50

Muskriit

Lynx ...

230

2(H}

Otter, land

" sea

80
240

• Decrease

Notes. — 1. The increase in the price of pells during tlie past twenty years
has been general averaginK about 25 per cent for th<! staple i'u.--bearers of Canada.

2. All pelts, except those of skunk, have decreased in numbers during the
past ten years.

3. Pelts considered of little value tAfenty years ago ore being hunted to the
verge of extinction; e.g., tisher, lynx, marten, inink, cross fox and even muskrat,
show signs of f.itling.

4. The increase in numbers of pelts fifteen years ago was caused by keener
hunting. This was inspired by the rising values.

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

fii

The extent to which these influences have diminished the number
of furs marketed is well put in the Fur Newt Magazine, for November,
1912, which says: —

"We present elsewhere in this issue a record of the collection
of all fur skins centring at London, and the majority are sent there,
for the years 1911 and 1912, both secured under the terrific pres-
sure of a strong demand and record-breaking prices which induced
strenuous and persistent trapping to the limit — and past good
business judgment.

"The figures are remarkably interesting, and definitely serious
as showing the marked decrease in quantity straight down the
column with rare and insignificant exceptions; in most instances
the declines are very great and invite careful attention, particu-
larly as it is perfectly true that every possible effort was made the
country over to effect the opposite result, and which surely would
have been noted if the fur-bearers were present in usual numbers
in their customary haunts or new and unusual retreats. The few
exceptions, where there is an increase instead of a decrease, include
cross fox and fisher, both of which were so high in value that it.
paid better to catch one a week rather than waste time catching
other animals twice a day every day; but the total increase for
both is only thirty-two hundred for the entire year and country;
wolf is the only other fur of moment showing an increase in catch
over 1911, and the difference is due to a general impulse to effect
extermination, and not to the fact that there were more wolves
than in the preceding year. Not a few 1911 skins were held back
and came forward in this year's sales.

"A study of the figures further shows the same general de-
crease in collections of Russian, German, Japanese and Australian
skins. Every fur skin caught anywhere this year will have a value
and not a skin should be sacrificed."

SuppLVi.No THE Demand

■i

Confronted with this condition of a decreasing

M?D^e'8°fc Furs""*'^ >^"PP'y ''"^ »" increasing demand, the fur trade
has sought to prevent high prices by popular-
izing the use of furs which were formerly considered of slight value. A
large '^art of this work now devolves on the fur-dressers and dyers who
can render stiff pelts mo'-e supple and change the colour of the fur to
resemble that of other more valuable animals. The use of furs pro-

FUR-FARMING IN CANADA

duced under domestic conditions has also been enormously extended.
Ponies, kids, lambs and even pups are killed in large numbers to supply
a the increasing demands for fur. The great vogue of Russian lamb

^ skins of which about three millions are used yearly, emphasizes the

importance of achieving production of fur from domestic animals.
The costly baby lamb or broadtail, the Persian lamb, the astrakhan
and krimmer furs are the skins of the karakule sheep. The various
names have been supplied by the furriers and have no geographical
significance at the present time. If the marten and mink had been
if domesticated a score or more years ago, they might now be supplying

fur in the same way as the karakule sheep, and, with the modern addi-
tion of the fox, would have served as a counterpoise in Canada to the
monopoly now enjoyed by Russia — particularly Bokhara — in the pro-
duction of domestic fur. When the perennially fashionable sable,
ermine, chinchilla and silver fox did not supply the demand, the Persians,
broadtail and seal became more costly. Gradually, too, from its ple-
beian rank of coat-lining at fifty cents a skin, mink was adopted into
the select family of valuable furs, closely preceded by marten and,
latterly, followed by fisher and cross fox. To take the place of mink
as a coat-lining, muskrat or musquash was chosen, sharing this promo-
tion with the less valuable marmot and hamster of Europe. To supply
the demand for a medium-priced black fur of beauty, a common animal,
the skunk, has been chosen and named Alaska sable. The black
domestic cat, known to the trade as 'genet,' is also utilized to meet the
demand for black furs, while northern hares and conies are extensively
manufactured into 'Baltic fox' or 'white fox' or 'black lynx' or 'electric
seal.'

When the fur dressers and dyers produced a clipped and
Furs'""'* dyed muskrat skin that resembled sealskin almost perfectly,

it was found that it would not sell under its real name be-
cause it was a comoion fur, used largely by the poorer classes. Conse-
quently a name was invented for it and this popular and high-priced
fur is now sold as 'Hudson Bay seal'. The fur of the coney, a very
cheap and common animal in France, is the raw product in producing
'electric sealskin', 'clipped seal' and 'Baltic seal'. Raccoon, when
first introduced, was cheap and was in little demand, but when given
the name 'Alaska bear' and 'silver bear' it immediately came into
favour. Skunk, which is an excellent fur of a dark hue, though beau-
tiful and durable, could not be sold as skunk, but, as 'black marten', and
'Alaska sable', it is in high favour and likely to remain in the class of
the medium and higher priced furs. It is worth remarking that, since
the prejudice against the muskrat, skunk and other cheap furs has been

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

overcome, they can be sold under their real names. Muskrat backs are
now sold as 'rat' fur at almost as high figures as the dyed product.

Imitations and
Misnaming

The pressure of increasing demand has brought into
common use the fur of animals with har.sh, brittle hair
of any colour, which is sold under names which mislead
thfi unwary public. Thus, the pelts of animals from the warmer zones
.such as Chinese goat, Thibet lamb, Manchurian dog, hamster, marmot,
Tartar pony, opossum, raccoon, weasel, jackal fox, monkey, antelope,
otter and many others are now worked up by dressers and dyers into
very respectable-looking furs. They are inferior, however, to the furs
from colder climates in suppleness of leather, closeness of underwool,
fullnes.s of overhair and silkiness of hair and, because they are dyed,
they are less durable and loss prized.

. The misnaming of furs has caused the London Chamber

Deceptions "° °^ Commerce to give notice that misleading terms are
not to be used and that offenders are liable to prosecu-
tion under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1887. Even in the early days
when misnaming was in its infancy, the manufactured furs were fre-
quently misnamed as follows:

Muskrat or nmsquash, pulled and dye-! Seal

Nutria, pulled and dj'od Seal

Nutria, pulled and natural Beaver

Rabbit, sheared and dyed Seal

Otter, pulled and dyed. . Seal

Marmot, dyed Mink or sable

Fitch, dyed Sable

Rabbit, dyed Sable or French sable

Hare, dyed Sable, fox or lynx

Muskrut, dyed Mink or sable

Wallaby, dyed Skunk

White rabbit Ermine

White rabbit, dyoii Chinchilla

White hare, dyed or natural Fox, foxaline

Goat, dyed Bear or leopard

But, if laws were necessary twenty-five years ago to protect the
public from fi-auds, what must be the necessity at the present time,
when two hares reared by the same mother may pose on tlie same
counter as 'white fox' and 'black lynx', respectively?

The following is a list of common misdescriptions:

FUR-FARMING IN CANADA

Varmtt Sold

American .able R^) Rusdan sable

Fitch, dyed ^able

Goat, dyed Bear

Harp lived Hahle or fox

Hare.uyea Lamb or broadtaU

Maraot; dyed. Mink, ^ble or skunk

Mink, dyed • • • Sable

K=S,»»tt. ::::::: :S=E"^.. «- -' - «

Nutria, pulled and dyed Seal, electric seal, Red River seal or

' '^ Hudson Bay seal

Nutria, puUed, natural Beaver and otter

Opossum, sheared and dyed Beaver

Rlbbrtd"'' '^""' : ; : : : : iable or French sable

Rabbit; &d and dyed. Seal, electric seal. Red River seal, Hudson

' Bay seal and seal musquash

Rabbit, white S[?^*„

Rabbit, white, dyed ^u"nk^

wwte'^ire^*^ .:;::;:::.::::;;;;;::: Fox^ana other similar names

Dved furs of an kinds . Natural

White hairs inserted in foxes and sables. .Ucal or natural furs

The following list has been published iiy the London Chamber of
Commerce as permissible descriptions:

N\ME OF FtJK Permissible Description

American sable Canadian sable or real sable

Fitch, dyed Sable fitch

Goat, dyed F*'^'' 1°** , i

Hare, dyed t^^'K *'?''*', °5 ^'"^ ^^

Ki ja Karakule kids

Mannot dyed. ... Sable marmot, mink marmot or skunk

' marmot

Mink, dyed ^ ■ -^ Sable mink

Musquash (muskrat), pulled and dyed Seal musquash

Nutna, pulled and dyed Seal nutna

Nutria, pulled, natural Beaver nutna or otter nutna

Opossum, sheared and dyed Beaver opossum

Otter, pulled and dyed Seal otter

Rabbit dyed Sable coney

Rabbit! sheared and dyed Seal coney or musquash coney

Rabbit, white Mock ermme

Rabbit, white, dyed Chmdulla coney

Wallaby, sheared and dyed Skunk wallaby

\\'hite hare Imitation fox or mock fox

A^^lite hairs inserted in foxes or sables Pointed fox or sable

Roliable furriers, however, do not use the misdescriptive
Frauds in ^j^jj^^g mentioned above. Many of the smaller furriers are
Selling urs ^^^^^^j^^^ ignorant of the real names of their stock; but
cheap advertisers are frequently guilty of misnaming. Many adver-
tisers giving private addresses mislead the public; when a lady who is
'going South' offers her 'new S150 Russian Ijtix set for ?2.'i', the con-
clusion may readily be reached that it is 'doctored' rabbit. However,

coMMisaioy of conskrvation

the enterprise of furriere should not be wholly discouraged, as, other-
wise, owing to the scarcity of really good fur, many ladies would have
to appear in worsted scarfs and mitts for six months of the year. The
pride they take in their 'ermines', 'foxes', 'minks' and 'chinchillas'
and in their bargain 'fishers' and black 'marten' would probably be
diminished if they knew they were only 'doctored' rabbit, marmot,
opossum and wallaby.

Hunter-tra ^^ .*^^ artifices of the fur-dressers and dyers in pre-

Age Passing'**' paring the skins and of the furriers and jobbers in
supplying fancy names for inferior stock have failed
to compensate for the decreasing supply of fur of good quality. It is
quite possible uhat the supply of all domestic animal skins like rabbit,
lamb, and kid can be indefinitely and rapidly increased to the limit of
demand, but it is not possible under present methods of breeding, to
secure an increasing supply of really good fur such as comes fror.
the carnivorous animals— notably the muslelidm or weasel family—
unless they are domesticated. This one fact stands out prominently:
the uunting and trapping of wild fur-bearirg animals must be supple-
mented by iheir domestication if the demand for furs is to be
satisfied.

h ii

i ' ■

The hunter-trapper age has passed its zenith. With the demand
exceeding the possible supply, more economical methods must be intro-
duced and the supply must be increased. The tearing up of trapped
animals by carnivorous mammals before the trapper can reach the traps
is common and represents a great loss. The killing of animals whose
pelts are not in prime condition represents a large annual loss of val-
uable fur. These and other wastes are eliminated when fur-bearers
are domesticated.

Cruelty
of Trapping

Apart from economic considerations the cruelty involved
in trapping wild animals affords a powerful argument
against the continuation of the practice. Trapping is
notoriously cruel and tends to destroy the finer feelings of those engaged
in the business. Trappers visit their lines only two or three times a
week, and in the inter\'al the captured animals, in most ;ases suffering
excruciating pain, are exposed to frost, hunger, their natural enemies
and, finally, their arch-enemy— man. Elliott Coues in his monograph
on the North American mutlelidce, aptly desc-ibes the actions of a
mink when caught in a trap:

"The tenacity of life of the mink is something remarkable. It

FUR-FARMING IN CANADA

lives for many hours— in cases I have known, for more than a day and

night— under the pressure of a heavy log, sufficient to hold it like a

vice and when the middle of the body was pressed perfectly flat. Nay,

under one such circumstance which I recall, the animal showed good

fight on approach. When caught by the leg in a steel trap, the mink

usually gnaws and tears the captive member, sometimes laceratmg it m

a manner painful to witness; but, singular to say, it bites the part beyond

the jaws of the trap . . . The violence and persistence of the poor,

tortured animal endeavouring to escape are witnessed in the frequent

breaking of its teeth against the iron— this is the rule rather than the

exception. One who has not taken the mink in a steel trap can scarcely

form an idea of the terrible expression the animal's face assumes as

the captor approaches. It has always struck me as the most nearly

diabolical of anything in animal physiognomy. A suUen stare from

the crouched, motionless form gives way to a new look of surprise

and fear accompanied by the most violent contortions of the body,

with renewed champing of the iron, tUl, breathless, with heavmg flanks,

and open mouth dribbling saliva, the animal settles agam, and watches

with a look of concentrated hatred, mingled with impotent rage and

frightful despair."

When it is remembered that mUlions of animals are captured
yearly in traps the sum total of their sufferings must be so great that
tlie cruelty practiced on dumb domestic creatures, which so greatly
concerns the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, must
seem slight in comparison. The methods of killing domestic animals
are humane and painless, and it would seem that humane considera-
tions alone present a sufficient argument for the domestication of fur-
bearing animals.

The first step towards .aising animals for their fur was
Domestic taken years ago when karakule sheep— a domestic animal
Fur-bearers ^^^^ ^^.^^^ ^^^ Persian lamb and broadtail are obtained—
began to be bred for its pelt. Up to recent years this animal was the
only example of a valuable fur-beaver in captivity. It is a domestic
animal merely, but, because of the difficulties in travelling, in langua?-;,
in religious prejudices of the people who breed them, in knowledge of
good stock, in quarantine laws and in remoteness of the district in
which they flourish, it has been very difficult to secure specimens for
breeding purposes. Latterly, exceedingly optimistic reports of suc-
cess in karakule 'crosses' in the United States have been reported.
If the Persian lamb can be economically produced in America, millions
of dollars will be saved annually, as the use of this lasting and hand-
some fur is increasing steadily. That the business is regarded in

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

J i

' !

Russia as an important one, is indicated by the calling of a convention
of breeders at Moscow in October, 1912, at the special request of theCzar.
As a possible source of future fur supply, the karakule crossed with
lustrous wooUed sheep like Lincolns and Cotswolds appears to be one
of the most promising. Experiments made recently have produced
lamb skins of magnificent gloss and curl. Because, however, of a
recently-enacted prohibition of export of fur-bearing sheep, from
Bokhara and Russia, it is feared that the animals already brought to
America cannot be augmented in number by new blood from Asia,
Enough sheep have been imported to prove the practicability of pro-
ducing on this continent the best grades of Persian lamb fur, and, if
too much in-breeding can be avoided, it is possible that the industry
may become established.

Domesticatin ^*^P'*® *^^ progress that has been made in breeding
Fur-l»e«rer»"'*' karakule sheep, it must be acknowledged that domestica-
tion of fur-bearing animals has, thus far, failed to supply
the demand for pelts which are highly valued for fur. The increasing
demand and the ever-decreasing supply of desirable fur pelts is pro-
ducing a state of trade that would be alarming were it not for the possi-
bilities of domesticating and breeding other fur-bearers. The time
has come when, on account of the high range of prices, every effort
should be made to domesticate all wild fur-bearing animals of consid-
erable value.

There is a broad field for activity in this direction. According to
Lantz' estimate, there are about five thousand species of mammals at
present inhabiting the earth. About twenty-three of these are in a
state of domestication, serving man as beasts of burden or furnishing
food, clothing, or companionship.

The hoofed animals (ungulata) comp'ise:

The iVsiatic elephant, horse, ass, hog, camel, dromedary, rein-
deer, goat, sheep, yak, buffalo (two species), ox (two species), and
llama (possibly four species).

The flesh-eating animals (carnivora) compribe:

The cat, dog, ferret and cheetah or hunting leopard of India.

The rodent animals (rodentia) comprise:

The rabbit and the guinea pig.

The Arctic fox {vulpcs lagopus) and the common fox {vulpes vulpes)
may be classed as domestic, as for twenty years tliuy have been nurtured
under man's care, and the rising prices of fur will probably make the

FUR-FARMINC. IN CANADA

induBtry permanent. The marten « «aid to have been d"me«t cated
by the Romans and even to^ay the mink i« Bomet.me« crossed w^h
the domestic ferret to produce a more desirable disposition m the off-
spring.

ORDERS OF WILD CANADIAN MAMMALS AND THEIR
ECONOMIC USES

THREE

Order

1
1

Family

Species

Parts of Economic Use

— 1 _

1
j.-llt Flesh, hide, trophies

Hoofed Animals

Deer

(hoofed; large)

Deer ^
Moose " «
Caribou

Cattle

Bi8on(Buffalo)

Rodent

(no canine teeth; 4 \
incisors only, ex-

Squirrel

Chipmunk

Woodchuck

Pelt, Hesh
Pelt

cept in rabbit)

Beaver

Canadian
Beaver

Pelt, flesh, castors

Mouse

Mice

Voles

Lemming

Muskrat

Pelt, flesh

Hare

Flesh, pelt, hair

Carnivora

(12 incisor^; 4 Inrgi
canines; shearinj

Cat

Lynx

Cat (domestic

Wild cat

Pelt

premolars)

Dog

Fox
Wolf

••

Coyote

Weasel

Otter

(mustelida)

1
1

Weasel

■

Mink

Marten ' "^
Fisher

Wolverene

Skunk Pelt, oil and galls

BR.ger Pelt, hair

Raccoon

Raccoon Pelt, flesh

Bear

Bear Pelt. Aesh

Seal

Fur-seal | Pelt, oil, flesh

Haip-seal | Pelt, oU

— ~— ■

ii 1:1

jCpMMISSIOy OF COWHFPV4>rTf^^

recuperate in numbers. The ailver fox »nH k.k i *° P*"™'* *'"«™ *«
uously experimented with. The Aliuka «,.i T i *™ "^"^K "tren-

encouragement of the domestic production of fur Ai^ «^* * *

conducted ..ihiktr '" ^""'"f » C«»<1», «P»rime„M .hould b,

proceeamg on an mcreasmelv larea hphIa onJ «„ j u^ •
regarding the possibUity ofYoiXttg it '* '"^*^ °°"

A Full-furred Fox Deccmbcr Fur

i ■-

m ■■:-

A Full-furred Black Fox. December Fur

II. Early An«mpn to Domesticate the Fox

IT would be futile to record all the early attempts to rear foxes in
captivity and note has, therefore, been made o' the experiences of
only a few breeders at widely separated points. Tlie exptirimenters, in
mobt cases, were wholly unacquainted with the experience of others.

It has been customary for trapper-farmers to keep aliv , foxee
caught in warm weather until the fur is prime. Thus, young foxee
captured in July are kept until December before being killed. The
earliest authentic record obtained of producmg young from foxes kept
in captivity on Prince Edward Island, comes from Tignish, whore
Benjamin Haywood reared several litters some thirty-fivo years ago;
but they wore destroyed by the parent foxes because they wore not
kept in seclusion and quiet.

Doubtless there had been, in earlier years, numerous cases that
were as successful as Mr. Haywood's, but it is interesting to record this
experiment because he was a near neighbour of the men who finally
achieved the greatest success in the commercial fox-breeding industry.

Several furriers in Quebec have been connected with breeding
experiments. Messrs. Paquet Bros, had a small ranch at one time at
St. Joseph-d'Alma near the head of the Saguenay, which they finally
sold. Revillon Frferes were interested in a ranch on the north shore
of the gulf of St. Lawrence a dozen years ago, but finally abandoned
the experiment believing that fox raising was destined to fail. Holt,
Renfrew & Co. have a ranch near Quebec the foundation stock of which
was a litter of silver foxes from pair of exhibition foxes in their me-
nagerie at Montmorency Falls.

In Ontario, Rev. George Clark, of St. Catharines, an experienced
breeder of pheasants, bred a litter of reds from a pet pair of wild foxes
in 1905. Two ranches were started about 1906, near North Sydney,
and on the Lingan road near Sydney, N.S., respectively; but, after
several years, they failed to maintain the foxes in breeding condition.
These were later sold to Bruce, Cummings, McConnell, and others,
who have proved to be successful ranchers.

Excellent success in breeding the fox has been achieved by
Ere'd'rt ^^- Jo^*^ Beetz, at Piastre Baie, Noiih shore, gulf of St.

Lawrence, and Mr. T. L. Burrowman, of Wyommg, Ontario.
The former is the scion of a wealthy Brussels family, and his roving
spirit led him to Labrador and Alaska on hunting expeditions. He
finally settled at Piastre Baie, about 1898, and attempted fox ranching
with a pair of silver foxes brought from Alaska. There were trees at

I«

COMMIgJIO: or CON8ERVATIOK

wvoral pointM in the noighlx.urhmHj, and at Rome ten or twelve wooded
•poU, a hundred or more roda from hi* dwelling, he kept his pom,
having two fomuiw. and one iimic at euch point. Ho adopted the ayatem
of double mating. Urge <niantiti€.« of Halmon, lolwtera and game were
raught for food for the foxea, while horno-meat wanotcaMionally brought
from (iuobcc city. Ho augmented hiH atoclc with native Quebec wUd
foxea and conducted feeding experimenU with rod foxea. Careful
BoloctKm haa improved hia strain until they grade dark ailvor throughout.*
•Authentic reporta atate that the late M. Menier, who owned Anti-
coHti iHJand, attempted to breed foxea there, and act at liberty ailver
»Md patched foxea to grade up the colour of the wUd fox.

An Ontario ^'' ^l""'"'''^'""" " » fur-buyer who, at an early date,
Bxparlmtntar """tognizeil tho poaaibilities of domeMticating fur-boarera.
He kept foxea in captivity twenty-two years, but did not
BUccesHfully rear young to nmturity until about ten yeara ago, because,
prior to that time, he kept more than one pair in a single pen He
may bo called tho father of the Ontario fox-ranching buainosn. The
only asHiatance he obtained was from tho lute Dr. Robertson of Fox-
croft, .Me.

Oultoa and J*'^ Plrcing of the fox-ra-'sing industry on a commercial
Dalton "asis u duo to the efforts of Robert T. Oulton. formerly

of Alborton, P.E.I., but now of Little Shemoguo, N.b'
and his former partner, Charles Dalton, now of Tignish, P.E.I. Dalton
began experimenting about 1887, with red foxes, which he kept in a
Bhed at Nail Pond. Later, lie bought silver foxes from neighbouriufe
districts and from Anticosti island and continued his experiments with
indifferent success for about ten years. During that time, Oulton was
also experimenting with fox.'s, having bought silver foxes at various
points m P.E.L, Anticosti and elsewhere, and working somewhat in
conjunction with Dalton. All Anticosti foxes were subsequently
slaughtered because they did not come up to the requisite standard
of quality.

One of their chief concerns was keeping prying neighbours
from their ranch premises. While Beetz had little difficulty with
neighbours, the obtaining of a sufficient food supply was a matter that
gave no little trouble. Dalton and Oulton were more fortunate in
their food supply as tho thickly settled farming country all about them
Bupphed horse-flesh and other cheap meat in abundance. Tallow com-
meal, fish, oat-meal,flour and butcher's waste were available in plenty
'""'^ very small outlay in cash procured a large supply.
♦See memorandum by Mr. J. Beeti, Appendix VIII.

rUR-FARMING IN CANADA

Oulton purauixl hi* work on Savage Churry inland, or an it is com-
monly called, Oulton inland, of which he waa the boIo inhabitant. He
managed to improM the public with the neceeeity of keeping away
from bia ranch, and his penn, conntructed withii) an outnide enclosure
a quarter acre in area, were the models for the pr jnt syittem of ranch-
ing. Dalton joined interetits with Oulton in 1806 or thoreaboutn, and,
together, they uttcd the present forms of wire enclosures which wore
first constructed by Oulton. In 1898, Dalton built a ranch at Tignish,
still retaining a half interest in the Oulton ranch. He bought and nold
skins and generally conducted the fur sales for the diHtrict. .\ll Oulton's
foxes were sold in Dalton's name. Dalton also conducted a genera'
correspondence with the fur trade, and imported stock which proved
of value for crossing.

Up to thi« time— 1898— no very high prices wore realized fi)r ttkins.
The prices paid for silver f jx were not as high as at the pre««rit time
and probably did not average more than thirty or forty per cent of
present day prices. Moreover, the foxes of those days had not the
advantage of good breeding and selection like the foxes of the present
time. They were simply captured wild foxes or else, probably, not
more than one or two generations removed from the wild state. The
first high prices recorded wore in London in the year 1899 or 1900—
when it is said about $1,800.00 were paid for a silver fox .skin. This
price of course gave a new vision to Mosurs. Oulton and Dalton who
up to this time had been operating with but meagre capital, and the
expectation of only moderate prices for their skins.

The neighbours of Dalton and Oulton, who wore their companions
on hunting expedition.', in Casrumpeque bay, naturtiUy cimfod at
not being able to participate in this profitallo but carefully
guarded fox-farming business. One of the most alert. Captain James
Gordon, was able to purchase from Mr. Oulton, in 1898, a pair of silver
foxes, which he ranched at the remote and secluded farm of Ills friend,
Robert Tuplin, of Black Banks. It is said that this pair were pur-
chased for 8340, which demonstrates tlie value of the fur at that date.
In the following spring, high prices were received at the London sales,
and Dalton and Oulton attempted to buy back their former stock at
a price $100.00 higher, but Gordon and Tuplin would not soil. For
several years Gordon and Tuplin lost their litters on account of not
providing small well-insulated nests for the young, but they finally
achieved success with a nest constructed of small barrels within larger
ones, the intervening space between being packed with dry, insulating
material. To Captain Gordon must be given the credit of inventing the
modem form of nest, while Oulton must be credited with desitniing
the form of pen. Frank Tuplin of Summerside obtained the foundution

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

stock for his lar_. • .n>i: fn > his uncle, Robert Tuplin. Other neigh-
bours were able ' a ■; ure sto c at various points, and as the years went
by purchased fr*. ' . .der ranchmen, an animal or two for
crossing. In this manner Silas Rayner, Harry Lewis and John
Champion started their ranches. A large number of neighbours secured
red and cross foxes and began breeding them for the purpose of per-
fecting themselves in the art of rearing the silver foxes which, in after
years, they were able to obtain. By the year 1909, a dozen or more
farmers in the vicinity of Alberton, P.E.I., were engaged in fox-farming.
Two ranches were in operation near Summerside, P.E.I., several in
Maine, two in Ontario and one in Quebec. Selling foundation stock
became general in the lollowing year and enhanced prices for breeders
soon put a stop to the slaughter of animals for fur, the last sales of pelts
being recorded in 1910 of animals slaughtered in 1909. Since that
time only the pelts of old, accidentally killed, and diseased animals
have been marketed.

Causes of

Early

Failure

Most of the early attempts to rear foxes failed because:

1. No good fencing material, such as the woven wire
used at the present time, was available.

2. Warm, dry quarters for the young litters were not pro-
vided, the principle of having a small well-insulated nest which
would be sufficiently warmed by the mother's body heat not being
recognized sufficiently.

3. The monogamous nature of foxes was not recognized and
being quartered in one pen in large numbers, the young were
killed.

4. The price of fur was not high enough to induce breeders
to risk large amounts of capital in experiments, and those who
had the aptitude for the business usually possessed but little
capital.

The rising prices of fur in the "nineties," the availability of woven
wire fencing material, and the invention of a suitable nest and the
persistence of men like Oulton, Gordon, Dalton, Beetz and Burrowman
are responsible for the successful methods of ranching evolved. General
details of feeding and management are still kept from the public and new
ranchmen frequently pay considerable sums of money to older ranch-
men for advice which, they, in turn, seek to retail to others. Other
ex^ .jnced ranchmen demand large salaries for their services as care-
takers. A large proportion of the newer ranchmen have been less
iriuccessful than the older and more experienced, for it is obvious that

FUR-FARMINC. IN CANADA

the care and feeding of a wild animal in confinement is much more
difiScult than feeding and attending domestic animals. Yet results
have been such that stringency in the money market and failures to
rear any young whatsoever in some ranches, does not prevent an
increasmg enthusiasm for investment in the industry. The price of
a pair of five months' old silver fox n'.os of tl ? best Prince Edward
Island stock has risen as follows:

September, 1909 $3,000

September, 1910 4,000

September, 1911 6,000

September, 1912 10,000

September, 1913 16,000

The price of old, proved breeders is more variable. Usually few
are sold as it is considered somewhat unsafe to remove them from the
pens in which they have bred. When old stock of proved fecundity
are sold they fetch from $25,000 to $35,000 per pair.

III. Manual of Fur'farming

COMMON RED FOX

'T'HE fox ia found on every continent and comprises a number of
1 species. The common red fox, which exists in the greatest num-
bers, has a range which "extends across Europe and northern and central
Asia to Japan, while, to the south, it embraces northern Africa and
Arabia, Persia, Baluchistan and the northwestern districts of India
and the Himalayas." In North America, its range extends south to
Virginia and includes all Canada (except some northern regions), and
the northeasternmost portion of the United States. Its wide geo-
graphical range accounts for many distmct local phases or geographical
varieties. These phases, or sub-species, differ from one another in
form, in size and, to some extent, in colouring; but the differences are
often not apparent to the untrained observer. It is easy to distinguish
the four species of foxes commonly seen in America, viz., the common
red with its white tipped tail, the arctic or polar fox with its short ears
and blue or white pelt, the kit-fox with its black tail and small size,
and the gray fox with its gray and red colour and erectile hairs down
the taU; but it is more difficult to distinguish the sub-species of the
common red fox.

The popular classification is by colour, as follows:

Common Red Fox (Vulpes), found in some districts in stvoral colours, viz.:

Red Fox— ^\ hen red or yellow over sides and back.

Silver Fox — Wh"n no red is present.

Cro^K or Patch Fox— Whoa the sid< s and neck are red and tho back, shoulders
and hips are silver. .\n intermediate l)etween silver and red.

The red. .■■ilvpr and cross fo.v;es are not distinct sptcies and not even distinct
bn>e<ls. Silver foxes u.-ually breed true to olour, and contin;ied selection wiU
insure t'le distinctive colour niarkinis of each coLur \aricty.

Scientists, of course, follow the universal rule of measuring the
skulls and teeth for classification purposes. The colour is not a
consideration with them. Merriam classified the North American red
foxes as follows:

V. /uZru«— Ontario, Quebec, Eastern United States.

V. hanjsi— Labrador and NorUi shore of gulf of St. Lawrence.

V. deletrix — Newfoundland.

V.ruftrtcosa— Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Gaspe, Prince Edward Island.*

* As it has been segregated for ages, the Prince Edward Island fox is. possibly,
a distinct variety.

FUR-FARMING IN CANADA

V. nyalia — Mxiiituba, Uukuta, Movluiia, Alovrtu.

V. macrourtu — Wyoming, Nevada.

V. aW«torum— British Columbia, Alberta, North West Territories.

V. aUueensi» — Alaska, Yukon.

V. harrimani — Kadiak islands.

V. kenaientis — Kenai peninsula.

V. cascadensis — Washington, Oregon, California.

V. mecator — California.

Colour
Phaies

Investigation of the debated question of the colour phases
of foxes has produced definite information regarding its
occurrence. The fact that the cross, silver, black and
red colours are all colour phases of the common red fox is of too common
knowledge to warrant the citing of the many cases examined for evi-
dence. The colours all exist and why they exist may be left to the
diacussion of biologists, some of whom say that ages ago foxes were
originally dark coloured and that the silver is atavistic. It will be
more useful in this discussion to describe how the costlier, darker colour
is produced from cheaper, red parents.

A summary of the facts may be given as follows:

1. Silver parents always produce silver pups — ^never red or
cross pups. (See possible exception below.)

2. Red parents mostly produce red, but, occasionally, some
cross or patch pups and even a small proportion of silver pups is
produced.

3. Usually cross or patch parents produce cross or patch pups.

4. When a silver and a pure red are bred, they produce red
pups with blacker markings on the belly, neck and points than
the red parent. The pups are about of the colour known to furriers
as 'bastard'.

5. When a bastard red fox and a silver are mated often the
litter is on the average 50 per cent silver and 50 per cent red.

6. Bastard red parents often produce a black or silver pup
in a litter — the proportion of silver being about one out of four.

7. The exceptions to the above rules are that sometimes
the colours do not segregate, but rather blend, as in roan cattle
when red and white hairs are intermixtJ and not separated into
distinct patches. Cross foxes are produced by mating a red and
a silver and, sometimes, an intermediate colour is secured in the
pups. Thus, in some districts, every combination of the red, white
and black colours of foxes is found. There are foxes which are:

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATIOV

Red

Cross

or
Patch

Silver

f Red —Red above and white below, with dark points.
•< Bastard. — Red above and dark below and on the neck,
[ with darker points.

Poor Cross. — Mostly red and dark as above with a silver

patch down the back and over the shoulders and

hips.
Good Cross or Rusty SiZr«r.— Slightly red on the sides,

neck and ears, dark below and silvery over

the back, shoulders and rump.

Silver or Light Silver.— Silvery all over, except possibly

the neck; dark below and white only on the

tip of the tail.
Stiver Black or Dark Silver. — ^Black all over, except

the tip of the tail and the silvery hairs on the

hips and forehead.
Black. — Pure black all over, except the tip of the tail,

with, perhaps, dark silvery hairs only discernible

on close examination.

No two foxes are exactly alike in colour unless they be black.
Three silver foxes examined had no white tips on their tails and others
had only a half dozen white hairs — yet the white tip is one of the
marks of identification for the species. Others had white patches
on the legs or breast, while the rest of the colouring was almosi pure
black.

A silver fox when mated with a pure red usually produces silver
pups in two crosses. If the first cross produces all red pups, two
methods of breeding may be adopted:

(a) A male and a female pup may be crossbred, producing, on
the average, one silver pup to three reds.

(b) A red pup may be bred to the silver parent, producing, on
the average, 50 per cent red pups.

It is a more unusual occurrence to secure a blend or intermediate
colour from crossing a silver and a red. By breeding the pups for
four generations to a silver, the red colour is eliminated from the pelage
markings. The segregation of the red and silver colour appears to
be very common in many localities, but, in others, the roan or inter-
mediate form of colour is produced quite frequently, the parent char-
acters blending and the hybrid usually breeding true.

In thb connection it will be of interest to quote from a letter
dated August 2, 1912, received from Professor W. Bateson of Cambridge

FUR-FARMINO IN CANADA

University, England, a naturalist of high repute and an authority
on hair pigmentation. In the early stages of the investigation the
usual opinion of naturalists and breeders was accepted and it was
thus stated to Professor Bateson that silver parent foxes would produce
an occasional red pup. This popular opinion has since been found to
be usua'ly mcorrect. Professor Bateson's opinion has, therefore,
been proved correct in every detail by subsequent development.

Professor Bateson says:

"At first sight I should suppose silver to be a recessive to
red and that it would always breed tme. This, however, you
say, is not the case. If silvers, really, when mated together,
throw reds, there must be some complication which we cannot
yet represent. Provisionally, I should doubt the statement unti'
incontrovertible evidence is produced.

" I am not perfectly clear what a silver is, but I take it that
a silver fox is to a red fox what a silver tabby is to a common
tabby, viz., the same thing devoid of the red or yellow element.
It may be difficult to disentangle the relations of the colour when
there is a series of gradational forms* and, in the first instance,
I should try to get a family in which the distinction between the
reds and the silvers was sharp. Then I should breed the silvers
together — ^brother and sister if need be.

"From what you say, I infer that two silvers of opposite
sexes cannot be gotten to sta- , from. That being so, you must
mate together the silvers produced which you will raise from
the reds produced by mating red and silver — ^if only reds come.
But, if silvers come, then mate them together or back with the
silver parent.

"Apart from the great practical difficulties which there are
in breeding foxes in domestication, I think you will easily fix a
strain of silvers."

Professor Bateson outlined perfectly the fox-breeding experiences
of ranchers. Those who have spent their time working with grad-
ational forms like the cross or patched foxes do not know what they
will get until mating tests are made. Those who have chosen two
distinct colour types are eble to breed out to the pure recessive type
in two generations.

* Such as cross foxes.

COMMIgglON OF CONSERVATION

M d I' L '''■ ^"K*"'* Davenport makes an explanation of the

of'lybridi** action of Mendel's Law of Hybrids that will prove
instructive to many breeders. He says:

"When diverse characters are thus brought together two
very different results may follow. They may blend into a tingle
new character, in which case our figures show the proportions
irithin the blood, or they may remain distinct as two independent
ciiaracters within the same individual. Stature and size as well
as many colours blend freely, but not all characters behave in
that simple way. For example, white and black blend freely
in the human race, and the offspring of white and negro are mulat-
toes of various shades, according to the respective infusions; but
colours do not blend in pigs, which are either black, white, or
spotted, never roan or mulatto. Some colours blend in horses
(roan) ; some do not. Some breeds of cattle have blended colours
(Shorthorns); in others, the colours remain distinct (Holstein-
Fricsian.)

"And 80 with characters generally. Many will blend and
many others will not. When they will not blend, then the appear-
ance is still less a guide to the real hereditary qualities, and under
these circumstances it is little or no index to what will happen
when the mixture is bred. This fact was long a great stumbling-
block to breeders, involving the business of improvement in
unfortunate and as we now know, unnecessary mystery."

Silver Colour Suppose that a breeder has a silvar fox, which, being
Reee«*ive*to 'ecessive, always breeds true, and he chooses a pure
Red type of red fox for a mate, being careful in order to

secure pureness of type to obtain the red fox from a district where
no melanism exists. Let the red fox be denoted by R. R. and the
black or silver fix by B. B. (As to results, the sexes are equal in
influence.)

R.R.

B.B.

(red)

U.B

(red)

R.B

(red)

R.B

(red)

^Vll pups are led, but of the bastard type mentioned above, with
blacker points,— legs, muzzles and ears. They are really half black,
but the colour is hidden or recessive in the first generation, red being
dominant.

A Red Fox Two Months Old, Showing a Dark Line of Blood

2. A Cross Fox. Red on Sides. Neck and Ears. Scptember Fur

3. A Dark Silver Fox with a White Patch on His Breast
4. A Black Female in October

FUR. FARMING IN CANADA

There are now two mcthodii by which he can proceed to wjcure
the black colour or pure B.B.

When diverfle colours are mated in foxes the hybrid sometimes
only, has the proporti<m$ within Iht blood and H™>s not demonstrate
its parentage by its colour until the wconJ generation. When the
crossing acts thus it is said to follow Mendel's law of hybrids. But
often the result is a blend giving a hybrid which has a proportion of
silver fur, i. e. a cross or patch fox. And it is not strange that foxes
in different districts breed thus for colour, as there are various examples
of the same phenomenon in different breeds of animals. Holstoin
cattle segregate the colours; Shorthorns blond in some cases.

Fint method:

R.B.

R.R.
(pure red)

R.B.

(red)

R.B. B.B.

(red) (pure lilver or black)

Reaults: One- quarter of the Utter la pure red

One-half of the litter U red of the bastard type
One-quarter of the litter is black or silver

Second method:

R.B.

(red)

H.B.

B.B.

R.B.

(red)

I
B.B.
(pure silver
'or black)

B.B.
(pure silver
or black)

Restilts: One-half of the litter is red of the bastard type

One-half of the litter is pure black or silver

Thus, it may he concluded that, in a district where melanism
occurs, c ' >re black and cross foxes occur, or either, there are very
few foxes >^. .a pure as to colour.

If the unit of union be regarded as of gametes which are produced
by each parent in the proportion of its ancestors — red and silver —
the results may be forecasted by a simple mathematical calculation,
the law of probabilities governing the mating of the gametes.

R.R.

Red parent producing

only red gametes

B.B.

Black parent producing
only black gametes

R.B.

(red, bastard

type)

R.B.

(red, bastard

type)

R.B.

(red, bastard

type)

R.B.

(red, bastard

type)

OOMMm WIO W OK CONHRRVATIOV

R.B.

PitMiueing half red Mid hM
bl»ek gametM

R.B.

Producing half r«d aod h«lf
bUck (AinetM

R.U.

R.B.

H.B.

R.B.

Producing half red and half

black gBnMt«ii

B.B.

Producing only biaok
gamete*

R.B.

B.B.

It will be noticed that when the black colour (B.B) appears the
animal is always pure, while, R.R. is pure red and R.fi. is also red
with darker points.

It is well to bring out clearly the average results to be expected,
as considerable speculation is indulged in as to whether or not certain
foxes when bred to a silver will produce some silver pups. As much
as 1500.00 each has been paid for red pups that have one silver parent,
because it is expected that, if the pup is mated to a silver, the result-
ing litter will be composed of silver and red foxes in about equal numbers.
The hopes are realized in most instances; but many chances of securing
silver pups are lost because the breeder gets only red pups the first
generation and becomes discouraged.

There is a wide-spread belief that the silver descend-
ants of red foxes are rusty black in colour and are
not as pure a type as those bred pure for generations
in the fox ranches. Professor W. E. Castle, of Harvard University,
says that only experiments will prove what quality will be obtained
in the silver young of a red parent.* The results noted in this inveati-

• Professor Ca.stle, replying to an inquiry, says:

" The several facts stated in your letter of November 14th, 1912, which I assume
you have suflSciently verified, show clearly that black (or »ilver) coat character
in foxes is a Mendelian recessive in relation to the common red coat and may be
recovered in the second generation from a cross with red. Whether it would be
improved or deteriorated as a consequence, experiment alone could show. I should
think that the 'patch' or 'cross' foxes occasionally obtained in the F, generation
miglit be well worth experimenting with, as indicating in that particular strain a
tendency for the dominance to be reversed. If this tendency could be strengthened
by judicious selection, a more potent strain of silvers might result. If, by this
means a strain potent enough to dominate F, could be secured, it is evident that
silver foxes could be produced much more readily."

Fozei from Reds

K IT B • K A H M I N IN C AWADA

gation indicate that sonje of the best akinH ever produced are thu^.i
of Bilvers having a red parent. There was difficulty in obtaining Ji'.orni-
ation on thin important point, a« breedera were extremely reticent
in giving information concerning their experiences in croiw-bruedmg
with reds, because of a great prejudice against such breeding on Prince
Fdward Island. The prejudice, no doubt, results from an ignorance
of Mendelian principles in Begregating types.

It is interesting to note that Rev. George Clark, of St. Catharmes,
Ont., has in his possession a black dog fox obtained from near York
Factory, Hudson bay, which, he asserts, has sired none but silver
pups, when mated with any vixen. Of course, the five or six litters sired
by one dog does not provide sufficient data from which to form a
general conclusion. It may be that many of the six thousand or more
red foxes kept in captivity will yet be crossed so as to produce a pro-
portion of sUver stock. As the red foxes were generally purclia».id
from districts which produce very ordinary pelts, it is quite probable
that, in many cases, the resulting sUver wUl not be of good quality.
The climatic conditions of Canada, however, which are very favour-
able to the production of good pelts, may improve exotic sub-species.
If a prepotent race of silver foxes can be developed which will
produce silver young by mating to red, thus reversing the supposed
dominance of the red colour, the silver colour could be more readily pro-
duced; but the red colour would appear in the second generation. No
record of such behaviour, other than the case mentioned above, was
obtained, so that it is probablo ♦.hat breeders cannot got posseswion
of prime silver foxes by breeding them from red ones other than by
the usual method of mating a silver male of polygamic tendencies
with red fetnales.

breeders are generally better pleased if cross foxes are
CnuVoxf produced the first generation; but, as a rule, if cross
•I rs ers j^^^^^ ^^^ jj^^j oyj^jje tendency to produce an occasional
red pup will never be wholly eliminated. Having cross foxes in the
ancestry of silver foxes means that a proportion of rod gametes are
thrown and, at any time, a red fox may appear among the other silvers
in a litter. Some cases of red or cross pups bred out of silver parents
were recorded, but general experience, together with some evidence
produced, favours the opinion that the parent foxes were animals
captured in the wilds and probably had cross or patch parentage.
It may be declared generally, that the silver colour is easily fixed
and will practically always breed true after one or two generations of
silver colour. Silver foxes can be produced of good silver colour by
top-crossing cross foxes with silver for sevoral generations and, if the

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

silver foxes used in tliu tiossiug iiud auccsloia of cross foxes, tiie pro-
babililty is that a proportion of red, bastard, and cross foxes would
appear among their ofifspring. All evidence tends to show, however,
that very few, if any, with red colour on them are produced, and it
clearly demonstrates that the blackness of foxes can be made prac-
tically permanent by top-crossing to silvers. After mixing red, cross
and silver foxes for several generations, it is practically impossible
to estimate the kind of pups that will come. Litters were seen that
had red pups, cross pups and silver pups in them.

The Beit
Furred Foxes

Beyond a doubt, the finest foxes in captivity at the
present time are the descendants of foxes captured
in Prmce Edward Island. The best foxes, therefore,
belong to the geographical species, vulpes rubricosa; or, what is affirmed
— and is not impossible — ^the Prince Edward Island fox, because it
has been cut off from the mainland, is a distinct sub-species or geo-
graphical race. No cranial and other measurements have yet been
secured. If scientists admit the fact of its difference from the main-
land species, a new name wipes abegweit, could be chosen — Abegweit
being the Micmac Indian name for Prince Edward Island.

As London sales show that silver and red foxes from Prince Edward
Island have been sold for the highest prices, the evidence seems to
bear out the assumption of its superiority. Red foxes have, in some
cases, sold for 80 shillings. Twenty-three red fox skins from Prince
Edward Island, marketed in London in 1910, by one man, were sold
for £68 sterling, or an average of $14.39 each. Other vendors claimed
to have received as much as 88 shillings each, but no documentary
proof was produced.

When black colour phases of such animals are captured, they
are usually of excellent quality in fineness and colour of coat. As a
general rule, the ancestors of the highest priced foxes were dug out of
dens, situated on Prince Edward Island.

One instance of the capturing of wild foxes may be quoted, as
the silver blood procured on this occasion flows strong in the highest
priced animals of the present time. Two residents of Bedeque, P.E.I.,
had seen a red vixen in that locality, and it was reported one winter
that a silver fox was seen running with her. The following July (1900),
Louis Holland and Louis Spence foimd the den and proceeded to dig
the young foxes out. They found four blacks and three reds, which
they sold to Charles Dolton for $300.00.

Many other instances show that litters frequently occur in nature
as described above— half of the litter silver and half of it red. One
red female ranched in Nova Scotia and mated to a silver fox has produced

FUR-FAR MI NO IN CANADA

The Best
Localitiei for
Ranches

fourteen pups in the years 1910, 1911 and 1912. Seven of the pups
are red and seven silver.

Most of the fox-breeders in other provinces have sold silver and
dark silver stock to Prince Edward Island, where the demand has
been greatest. Probably in all the dozen or more ranches in Ontario
there are not three score silver foxes. The stock kept is bastard and
cross foxes that produce litters with a proportion of silver pups. As
their experience in selling fur has not led them to believe the present
high prices for breeders in the Maritime Provinces were warranted
by the pelt value of the animals, the attitude of Ontario ranchers has,
in general, been to sell out at the high prices offered.

Fur experts who have given special study to
the fauna of Canada say that the red and silver
foxes found on the Athabaska river and in
the Yukon and Alaska are often of great value. These regions should
produce a weighty pelt and, if good quality were secured in foundation
stock, conditions for fox ranching should be ideal— especially if venison
and fish could be easily secured for food. The rapidly rising price
of meats may finally necessitate the removal of the fox industry to
remote points where cheaper meat can be obtained. Newfoundland
and Labrador would provide sites where meat and fish could be cheaply
secured and preserved for long periods by inexpensive refrigeration.
The foxes of these regions are often of considerable value especially
m size and strength though the fur is usually coarse. The cost of
feeding a pair of foxes on Prince Edward Island, where the price of
the offal and cheaper grades of meat has risen, is about $50.00 a year,
cash outlay, in addition to considerable labour in collecting the
great variety of foods seemingly required. When the industry finally
settles down to the production of pelts for fur, it is probable that founda-
tion stock for new ranches will be obtained on Prince Edward Island
at high prices and that the fur will be produced on ranches situated
at distant and remote points.

On account of a lack of sufficient data it is practically
"'FoFeign" Stock impossible to discuss intelligently the vexed question

of the relative merits of " imported " and " domestic "
stock. As many animals — in fact the large maj ority of the animals caught
in the wilds — are of poor quality, they will need to be subjected to methods
of rigid selection for many generations to come, if fur of good quality
is to be produced. Oidy a few of the domestic stock are as poorly
furred as the average wild stock. The chief deficiency noted in fur
quality of the domestic stock was in the thin coat of fur. Among

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

the wild stock the poor colour and the coarneneas of fur are notable.
There are exceptional individuals of excellent quality among the wild
foxes, but none yet examined is the equal of the selected domestic
animals in silkiness and sheen of coat. Those who favour the wild
class of stock contend that wild foxes are stronger and will p oduce
as good fur as domestic foxes after they have been penned up and fed
properly. They argue that the lower average for pelts of wild animals
is caused by the fact that they are killed out of season; that they are
shot, are poorly skinned and carelessly handled before marketing and
are not especially prepared for market like the domestic animals; and
that the average price is thus lowered several himdred dollars a skin.
The exponents of the domestic stock say that selection practised for
eight or ten generations^when at least 50 per cent of the animals have
been culled out and slaughtered — has produced a type of animal that will
bring upwards of one thousand dollars each or five times as much as
the wild animal.

There is much to be said on both sides. In our opinion, however,
the prime killing of the wild stock after careful fattening would probably
increase the value of the pelts 100 per cent but they would still be less
than half as valuable as the best grade of selected Island stock. Excel-
lent foimdation stock, improved through several generations by selection
and feeding/ has done its work in a fashion similar to the development
of our breeds of domestic stock.

The owners of selected stock will do well, however, to bear in
mind that their animals can be still further improved and that it may
require a Labrador, Alaskan, Newfoundland or Hudson Bay fox to
grade up their stock in some particular quality. It is not probable,
however, that improvement of stock can be effected by importations
from Kansas, New Jersey and other southern states. To protect the
character and reputation of their established strain of stock, all true fox
breeders should discourage the practice of importing southern foxos
for speculative purposes merely.

When the great success of the Prince Edward
LiT^ Fur^eareri Island fox ranchmen was disclosed several years

ago, a general search was made for wild silver
fox by trappers and others acquainted with the situation. Until 1912,
the business was not generally known. Up to that year, probably
a hundred or more foxes had been imported and at least half the Island
stock had "imported blood" in them. In the year 1913, hunting
for wild silver foxes became a veritable craze. The digging out
of dens and nesta proceeded throughout summer, and in November,
when the trapping season opened, the search was prosecuted with

A Mated Pair, Very Dark Silver Male and Half Silver Female, October Fur

Pen in the Maple Woods -Sunny in Winter and Shaded in Summer

FUR-FARMINO IN CANADA

greater zeal than ever because trappers hoped to receive larger prices
for the live animals than they could obtain for the pelts. The buf ^ness
of the trapper has changed from that of securing pelts to the capturing
of the animals alive and the fur buyers of the district have simply trans-
formed themselves into live stock salesmen. An estimate of the number
of wild animals shipped to Prince Edward Island in 1912 and in 1913
(till November) is as follows:

Year

Red
Fox

Cro'B
Fox

Silver
Fox

Mink

Skunk

Marten

Polar
Fox

Beaver

Fisher

Russian
Sable

1912
1913

500
1000

100
250

20
50

50
250

20
50

2
20

30
30

3
3

Inasmuch as Prince Edward Island protested against the importa-
tion of foreign stock in July 1913 and induced the Federal government
to establish a quari .itine on all importations, many animals imported
to Eastern Canada remained in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia,
Probably more "imported" stock is held there than on the Island.

RANCHING PRACTICE

While it is legal to keep fur-bearers in 'ity in those provinces

in Canada where there is no close season provii -. for them, it is uidaw-
ful in most provinces to keep protected fur-i>o^iera during the close
season. In the close season, in all provinces except Prince Edward
Island, it is also unlawful to catch fur-bearers for ranching purposes.
Apparently it is lawful in Saskatchewan and Quebec to hold the animals
during the close season, provided, they have been caught in the open
season, or brought from a point outside the province. In all the other
provinces, no ranching can be legally done without a permit from the
provincial department charged with the care of game and fur-bearing
animals.

The various provincial authorities should encourage fur-farming
by amending th>9ir game laws so as to allow the issue to residents of
permits to catch fur-bearers at any seaeon and to hold them in cap-
tivity for breeding purposes. Requiring annual returns of production
would prevent any abuse of this privilege.

If foundation stock of excellent quality has been secured.
Location of ^^j^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ important question to be considered is
tne Kancn • . . ■ t ^ it. t-i

the selection of a site for the ranch where the quality

of the stock can be maintained from generation to generation. Climatic

! I

COMMISSION OF CON8ERVATIOK

iofluencea are largely responsible for tho value of the coat of fur. If
an abundance of good food can be secured, an animal produces the
heaviest coat where the climate is coldest. Humidity of atmosphere
must also be considered. Poland* says that open waters, such as lakes
and seas, render the fur thicker, probably owing to the high percentage
of humidity in the atmosphere. Exposed sea coasts and exposed
prairies, he says, render fur coarse, while woods and forests cause it
to be finer. For instance, the timber or forest wolves have finer fur
than those living on the exposed prairie. Mr. Wesley Frost, United
States consul at Charlottetown, in a report to his government, Sep-
tember, 1912, says: "The temperature and humidity on the island
[Prince Edward] are a happy mean between the intense cold and the
moist, dull weather of Newfoundland, Labrador and Alaska, and
the warmer, drier weather of regions farther south. The far northern
furs are said to be coarse and shaggy, while the furs produced in the
northern states of our own country are light and thin." It is also
said that the absence of limestone in Prmce Edward Island and West-
morland county. New Brunswick, gives a perfect soil for foxes to burrow
in and is beneficial t" the fur covering. As some excellent foxes do
not burrow, the ranchers carefully stopping up the holes whenever
a start is made, there cannot be much ground for this assumption.

The following is a summary of the best conditions for fox-ranch-
ing operations:

1. Foxes should be ranched in woodland areas with good
drainage in a climate cold enough to produce a heavy fur and
overhair and which is cool in summer.

2. The value of the pelt depends on good health as well as
on climatic conditions. W^holesome, varied food is a necessary
condition for health and can be best secured in a thickly-settled
rural district.

3. Foundation stock should be the best obtainable. The
best foxes are those in captivity in ranches, and they have the
additional advantage of being half-domesticated.

There are some advantages to be gained by conducting extensive
ranching operations in one locality, particularly because breeding
animals may be easily exchanged and the dangers of close, or in-breed-
ing, prevented. Neighbours can also impart to one another more
freely what their experience has taught them. These advantages,
however, may be ofifset by the difficulties of securing food for the foxes.
In every rural township there is enough cheap meat and offal to supply

*Fvr-BeaHng AnimaU in Nature and Commeree, p. xvi. By Henry Poland, F.Z.S.

FOX-F ARMING IN CANADA

flesh diet to scores of foxes, but not to humliedH. Soveiul liuiulied
foxes, therefore, ' i one neighbourhood, would necessitate tiie purchase
of costly meat. An ordinary farm has enough waste meat scrap,
dripping, bread, biscuits and game to support several animals.

A Woodland

Site

A wooded area, not subject to fl >oding, and where the
snow does not pile up in deep drifts in winter, is best
adapted for the site of the ranch. The sulwoi! should
be a hardpan to prevent deep burrowing and escape imder the fences.
Areas which produce a growth of birch, spruce, fir and cedar, with
heath plants and blueberries in the open areas, have usually a good
turfy cover and a hardpan subsoil near the surface. In such a situa-
tion it is easy to erect pens as the fences have only to be extended
dcwn to hardpan to prevent the foxes from burrowinp under and
escaping. A sandy soil and subsoil, on the other hand, while provid-
ing good drainage, entails an additional expense, as foxes can burrow
to depths of six feet or more. A family of foxes working one behind
the other will relay earth out of a sandy hole in a veritalile shower.
In ordinary loam, the fence is not considered safe unless it extends
down a depth of over three feet or is founded on a subsoil of considerable
hardness.

Proximity to the dwelling of the keeper is also an important con-
sideration. This is usually accomplished by building the ranch in a
woodland lot a few hundred yards distant from the house, or, if the
ranch is a considerable distance from the owner's dwelling, by buildmg
a house for the keeper. It is not advisable to keep fox pens nearer
than ten rods to a dwelling as, particularly during muggy weather,
the peculiar and somewhat disagreeable 'foxy' smell is strong and
unpleasant.

The advantages of a large woodland ranch may be summed up
as follows:

1. The outer fence and bush cover protect the foxes from
curious sightseers, dogs, cattle and thieves, and give them a
sense of being hidden from enemies.

2. The bush cover is especially valuable for nervous foxes
to hide m and to provide shade for the fur. They will also sleep
contentedly all day under a bush, where it is more healthful than
in a aest or a burrow.

3. The outer fence is an additional insurance against escape
to the woods. If a fox escapes from the paddock, he can be
easily caught in the outer enclosure, or, if the door Ls left open,
he may, of his own accord, go back to his pen at feeding time.

rOMMI88ION OF CONSERVATION

4. The Bnow dooB not pile in drifu, but Ue» level, on wooded
areas. Huge drifts necessitate higher fencea, or wiring over, to
prevent escape. Fences do not need to be more than six or seven
feet high if the snow never lies more than one or two feet deep.

6. A ranch in the woods has more equable climatic condi-
tions. It is cooler in summer, less windy in winter, and is warnaer
for young foxes in the spring. There is less thawing and freezing
up of snow to injure the fur. It also affords protection from
rain and sleet.

0. The foxes can hide from thieves and could not be captured
by a stranger unless the house were broken into when they were
shut in their nest. So much noise, however, would be sure to
rouse the dog and the watchman.

7. The outer enclosure permits of protective measur i being
taken. The keeper sleeps in a house there. Dogs are kept chained.
Traps for thieves are laid, as, e.g., bear traps, burglar alarms, elec-
tric shocking devices; and some ranches are lighted with lanterns
or electric lights and are equipped with telephones.

8. Large ranches seem to be more successful than smaller
ones, because foxes in contiguous pens are company for each other.

If a wood-lot is not available, the. ranch may be built
Otiier Sites j^ cleared ground and quick-growing trees planted.
The Carolina poplar, soft maple, Manitoba maple {Acer
negundo) , black locust and willow are among the fastest growers. One
rancher living m an Ontario city in a grape-growing district has planted
grapes vines about the paddocks and will train them over his pens.
The predilection of the fox for grapes is well known smce the time
of JEaop, but life in a vineyard may not be more beneficial to reynard's
health than life elsewhere. The vines provide a dense shade in summer
no shelter in winter, fresh fruit in season, and exercise in securing
food. The whole ranch is surrounded by a concrete wall. Such a
ranch is impossible in a district where there is a heavier snowfall.
The lack of ventilation through the pens is objectionable and the
cost is considerable. It shows, however, that an experienced breeder
can establish the industry on city lots in a pop '.ous neighbourhood.

Sometimes an orchard serves as a suitable situation for a ranch.
For instance, Mr. T. L. Burrowma of Wyommg, Ont., has placed his
pens in a four-acre orchard, the i^.^es being kept out of the trees by
trunk shields.

Barnyards, open fields about the houses, hill-tops where snow
drifts off and many other situations are frequently chosen, but the

3tTA(L or FiNCE Construction with Sheet Iron

DETAIL OF FENCE CONSTRUCTIC -■ MaNV BREEDERS PREFER AN ALLEY

Surrounding each Pen

FOX-FARMINfJ IN CANADA

raiu'htuaii, ait a rule, ruKarda ttuch nittnt w* tuinpoi ury unly. Tiioy usually
contuinplatu turgor ranching uporatiunn on bettor sites when sufficiont
capital run liu rainod.

An ItUnd
•I i Sit*

8omotimoA a small iMJand ha8 l>«cn rhoi«en an a nits for
a rtuR'h. When sui-h is tho cumo, vii*itorH ppr bo kupt ixit
of rlio vitinity more oaHily. Also a fox thai has oscapml
i- 1 lit iipt to swim to tho mainland away from tho place where he ha-'
l>(!i'ii fe<l, Princo l^dwanl iHlanii has an advantage over mainland
areas as a ranching centre ijocaiwe a fox that has escapod can usually
Iw tracfd and captured, whereas on tho maiidand, he could roam for
h .tidicds of miles and j;ct into uninhabited territory.

ttnen and
Ftncing

Wicn the site of tho ranch is chosen, the bush surround-
ing the selected area is clcaretl for a width of four
feet and tho ground levelled for the erection of an
«'\turiui l"enc(!. Tho trees are trimmed or cut so that foxes may not
climb over tho fence by means of them. Post-holes three to four
feet deep, depending on tho depth the frost penetrates, are dug from
10 to 16 feet apart, cedar posts boing used if it is possible to secure
them. If cedar, locust or other durable wood cannot Ijc obtained,
tho ground end of the post may be charred or treated with hot petro-
leum or creosote to render it more lasting. Posts from 10 to 15 feet
long are used according to the usual snowfall of the locality and should
be sharpened at tho end to prevent heaving by tho frost. A post four
inches in diameter at the small end and 12 feet long will cost from 30
cents in some districts, up to 75 cents in others.

Tho corner pwts need not bo anchored when a purline is used.
The latter is made of one-inch boards, five inches wide, or of straight
poles. These are nailed to the posts to brace them and support the
meshed wire on the upjjer side. They also support the overhang wire.

The overhang wire is usually from 18 to 24 inches wide and is
laid on brackets nailed at right angles to tho posts and purline and
then stapled to them. It is usually made of No. 16 galvanized vnre
havirg a two-inch mesh.

The fence is compo.sed of two-inch diamond meshed wire fas-
tened to the purline with staples and hung on the outside of tho post.
If several rolls of wire are used, tho selvedges are laced with a soft
No. 16 wire. No. 16 galvanized wire is stroni? enough for tho upper
part of the fence and No. 15 for the lower part and No. 14 for the under-
ground part of the fence. The wire is stretched at each corner with
second class levers passed thrnvigh the meshes, the post being used
as a fulcrum. All corner posts must be perpendicular and when the

COMMISSION OP CONSERVATION

whole area is not perfectly level, care must be taken to pleat the wire
or gore it when a change from one level to another ia made; otherwise
it 'buckles.' This occurs at corner posts on sloping land, and at changes
of slope in the fence.

The exterior fence is frequently built of boards 6 feet, or even 10
feet, high. The upper four feet are usually of wire with an overhang
to prevent the foxes from escapmg. On the ground, inside, is a carpet
wire 30 inches wide, made of No. 14 wu-e havmg a two-inch mesh. It
is laid on the ground and laced to the selvedge of the fence at the ground
level, or stapled, if the fence ia of boards. The other selvedge of the
carpet wire is stapled to stakes driven m the ground. As a fox almost
always begins to burrow close to the fence, the carpet wire will prevent
him from burrowing under it.

Win

UMd

The most durable wire yet used has been imported from
Great Britain. It is specially woven with an extra twist,
and has a selvedge of three wires on the ends as well
as the sides. In the smaller sizes a triple tiu-n i? made. The galvania-
mg, which is done after weaving, practically solders the joints. It
comes in bales of 150 feet length and is of various widths. The best
wire will last only from eight to twelve years underground. Figures
submitted by a hardware firm which has made a specialty of handling
wire netting for ranches, prove that they alone, sold wire enough to
build more than sixty miles of fox-proof fence.

The following table shows the comparative cost of the various
meshed wires manufactured. The Canadian price can be determmed
by discounting the list price for all sizes under gauge No. 14 by about
15 per cent. On account of a lower rate of duty, the list price of gauge
No. 14 and larger gauges may be discounted by about 22 per cent.

FOX-FARMING IN CANADA

Tlio following list gives the prevailing prices of IJritish-made
diamond mesh ranch wire. They are from 10 to 20 per cent lower than
the prices of ranch wire of United States manufacture:

Price

List

OF Ranch

WlHE

Width

Mesh

Gauge No.

Price

per 150 lineal feet

$ 2.65

3.50

4.25

4.83

6.40

«e

8.00

9.65

6.10

8.15

flO

10.15

' 5.20

6.20

7.25

9.40

11.85

8.50

11.00

16.50

7.25

10.25

■5

Id u

B
u
z

I*,
o

(d g,

s 5

A. o

O 3
fid '■

il"

.9^

•s

•g -g

•g -g I 1 "S

-T j:i3
c »

S" N « -" — N « -" f» rt«~r« rt-"-H —-< "«

sss3sssss?;?2sg3t2;?s§sssssss

O i!^ o o «5 o M -1" S -^ « >'5 "5 f- N "C in o "2 N c "2 i' S 2 2
«c<;3C3dc-r«x--'':!bi^d->i>"3!Oo!)>-i->j'iO'^i-M"f«nt-

ci — ■^r.cip)'^i-^d'S'>ndeicq'*>ci~e5M-t>-'3aMccoo

o I- S S 5 CO S M- 1- © I- X 00 m t~ « o N c * 35 « 1- -T -r o

l»C:NtOr-d'<5CDCC'3>'»'iOh-de<5-*tOXMM-rt5M?5-r'n

dxd-f'Xad^ini^MKi^dxrcM'odMeC'f'SfJN-i-r

2 12 2 3 1- S N -5 «; S £ S 6 !-• ■* o 05 M C-. T M -^ X ^l X o
i';tcxM-i'dM-r'<5NP5«'cdN«ccio-<'NM'* — ?)?>«

•0 S i-i 00 cc ffl N M OS X — to >o t» •- -^ '~ '" M t^ ^< ■* ^. "". '". ^

ficc N©o>p»«oa>«t-«eixi>-«*xi2225St:2

5 3 3 .S3 3

3 3 3 3 .£ 3

'J
z

2 g
S 2

S I

Q O

Made up to

120inche«

wide

Made up to

96 inches

wide

Made up to

120 inches

wide

Mesh

2 inch

2} inch

3 inch

t inch

ffi3Cr^50»c-*'OiX!r^xiocxi*-no-*'aor^C':-T

108
inches
wide

8^223 : : : : : iiSSSSSS^SSS

addwt-^-- ■ ■ • • ■ « 1- oi f 1 -ri» « 1- 3C — «

72
inches
wide

J§SSS3:S3?§:?Si=S3S38Si2S§35:3

lOcoaoOfM-fi-i^c; — -i"-i"«ocec-. — -ri-ici-o

60
inches

wide

CO 00 o c5 r» in >': -c p o >n p f > i-; -/3 p a: p ^^ » C c;

•r 't i» a> — u? « -T d t« C5 N -r "t tc i» C! fc -r -r --: 1'

So
^1*

1^ 15 1 'M i^ w » p M 1': p p p ■■: >■: •-: ■•: p o p P X
lO «5 oe cc o M p 2C p m X 55 « c) c: rt p Z M 5 — P

N T). 115 1^ es M M M >o « 1- f) M -1" ic p r^ ri M r5 o p

42
inches
wide

N p M 1- 1^ M p P P I-: P rt Tl P y) lO P iC z p ;o ?3

-H O — p M X 1- M -r "rj 35 -r P 1- P O 1- -! iO -:• -r CO

« f'C p ic P c< M -r -c p M r 1 :■: -f rt o M f 1 r: « "1

36
inches
wide

cepy!fiXrtPfr-.rt-rPi-P3rtppr-M«p
cj M i> rt 1- si ?i ri r: -t" rt ?i C) ^5 -i< -!• rt ri c>i ri M -!•

30
inchc
wide

rt 'jO •* p » P Ti c p -i> p -r I- M P rt rt — 1» rt p p

MpSlS^^«P^;m — — Ob — jO'^MpM — rtMS

Mfie<5rtOa0M(M~;-»>>(5-<«NC0'*>0-«NNM"r

inches

wide

r-(NrtPOPPr»p05a!'t'QPa'0>'N'^-"'v;"'
0srtMfj'MXr*Pi^'^Wrt35MpfC^rtXF-j5M

--c^elS■<J'rtP-^^^c■>co1•-•-c?l^^^5-1•'" — ciMM

18
inches
wide

rt 1^ f p rt — f C5 p -1< rt M CO rt M -Ji CO C^ M P P f

rtPrt?»-"5oeop«i-eoM-!-XMr.eowrp — P
— — ' fi .-o -r rt' -- — ci M CO — ' -« — ' ?j M CO -" -« -• f < ^i

12
inches
wide

oopr'-ppc^ic-i-rpp-frtpxcj ■ -rt-^p • ■
pcot~eoMi-a — lOdOcoxpwp ■ -aocort ■ ■

-Hi-irtNMeO «-!— M — — -« • ■ i-l— ■ •

poot^Prt-rpxt>.«rta5cci^«rt"l<aot»«rtf

Mesh

.S33 333.S333;t.S33'3?3.S333 3

4fJ

nOMMISSlON OF CONSERVATION

Construction
of Pens

.•.; leqiiiicimiit- uf un ideal pen may be suinmarizud
follows :

1. It .-liould be ]'\Tgc enough for foxes to run in at full speed
when playing.

2. Purl of it should be shaded overhead and it should pro-
vide pood hiding cover.

3. It sliould have warm, well-drained, sunny areas in which
the young pups may play.

4. Turfy or mossy ground cover is desiiable. Leaves, oi'
spruce or pine needles, make a good ground cover. Sand is good,
but mud is objectionable.

The sniallt'.st pens used by the best ranchers enclose an area of
at least 9,000 square feet. One rancher has a highly-valued pair in
an enclosure of over 4,000 square feet. The usual size is a pen enclosed
by one bale of vvire, which is 150 feet long. Thus the area is S7 feet
by 37 feet, or 30 feet by 42 feet, or 25 feet by 50 feet. In some cases
the last-named dimensions are adopted and a cross fence is used, so
that the male is shut in one end and the femiile in the other during
the latter pd t of the period of gestation and while the pups are young.

Inasmuch as they must be extended into the ground to prevent
the foxes from burrowing under them, the paddock fences are harder
to build than the exterior. When a solid hardpan exists, the fence
may be laid on it, even if it is only one foot from the surface. If the
subsoil is light and open, paddocks are not fox-proof unle.-s tiie fence
is buried over four feet. In light soil, additional precautions maybe
taken by digging the trench wide and by rough-concicting the base
a couple of feet inwards from the fence. One rancher, on a sandy
area, planned to concrete the whole floor area of his paddocks and
cover it wi\h a font of sand. When it interferes with the drainage,
this use of (■oniiet(! is objectionable.

The ca!-pi>t wire should be used on the paddock fence as well as
on the cxteriur. It prevents the fox from burrowing alongside the
fence where digJiing out is always attempted.

The following material is necessary for the construction of a
paddock fence 9 feet high and extending three feet into the ground.

12 posts, each 13 feet long.
150 lineal feet of 1-inch board. 5 inches wide.
150 lineal feet of overhang wire, 24 inches wide, 2-inch mesh,

gauge No. IC.
150 lineal feet of fence wire, 5 feet wide, 2-inch mesh, gauge No. 16.
150 lineal foet of fence wire, 4 feet wide, 2-inch mesh, gauge No. 15.

Usual Type of Kennel and Pen

Cheap Kennel Ccnsthucted from a Packing Box

FOX-FARMINO IN CANADA

150 iiiieai feet of ground wire, 2i or 3 foet wiile or uvea iiiorc,

2-inch mesh, gauge No. 14.
150 lineal feet of carpet wire, 30 inches wide, 2-inch mesh, gauge

No. 14.
Nails, spikes, staples, hinges, locks for door and No. 16 soft lacing

wire.
It is not customary to use a smaller meshed wire at the ground
level, but cases are known of the death of fox pups caused by having
their heads caught in the two-inch mesh. A smaller mesh, therefore,
if it could be procured in No. 15 gauge, furnishes an additional precau-
tion against the death of the valuable animals.

A new type of paddock fence, which is evidently an improvement,
is being put up in some of the newest ranches. Instead of the two-
inch mesh No. 16 wire, a strip of galvanized sheet iron three feet wide
is fastened at a height of four or five feet from the ground. Joist
pieces 2 inches by 4 inches are placed from post to post to nail to.
The advantage of the sheet iron is that foxes cannot climb to the top
of the fence and fall, breaking their legs or producing a rupture or an
abortion. One pen was seen where the sheet iron was placed at the
top of the posts and no overhang was required. Foxes climb fences
only when badly frightened. Such a state of fear is to be avoided,
but with some animals, may be impossible to control. Sharp sticks
and stumps near the fence should be taken out lest the fallmg fox
be ruptured or otherwise hurt. The middle toe nails of the fox may
be cut off every few months to prevent climbing, or the sheet iron used
as described above. It should not be placed near the ground as it
would interfere with the circulation of air in the paddock. The obj ection
to the iron is that the reflected heat makes the pens warmer in summer.
The door into the paddock should be placed from eighteen
Paddock ^^ twenty-four inches above the ground level and should
be provided with good hinges and a good lock. If no
exterior fence is used, make a double door entrance, so that one door
is closed and locked before the other is opened. If foxes have the
run of two pens, a door between the pens set up two feet high and
with a sloping platform on each side from the sill to the ground, should
be provided. Doors should be about 2 feet by 4 foet in dimensions.
Many ranchers have a small passageway between pens, which foxes
are obliged to crawl through. When playing, they do this so often
that they wear off the guard hair over the hips and shoulders.

In the earlier days, the houses were of logs, which were

C<»"*™e**on buried in the soil to simulate fox burrows. Later, a

small box was placed within a larger one and the inter-

COMMISSION OF CON8KRVATION

vening space packed with nawdust or chaff. An entrance waa provided
by a passageway constructed of boards. The roof was made water-
tight by a piece of sheet iron. Such houses are still in use, but have
the disadvantage of being easily robbed.

Mr. Burrowman, and some other Ontario ranchers, attempt to
imitate nature more closely by constructing solid one-piece cement
dens built mostly underground and in well drained spots. They can
be made quite thief-proof and, indeed, there is apparently no way
for the keeper to get access to the nest. In the case of one den, it
tvas only possible to crawl in by shovelling out the small entrance used

by the fox.

The most generally approved houses are wooden constructions,
placed in the centre of each paddock. The interior consists of an
inner and an outer kennel, and the entrance for the foxes is through
a passageway of rectangular cross-section constructed with four boards.
The interior dimensions of this passageway should be about 7i in.
by 10 in., and it should slope from the building down to within 6 inches
of tlio ground or even less, in order that very young foxes may be
able to climb in easily. The entrance for the keeper is through a
door in the end, or else by means of a hinged roof. The door or hinged
roof is, of course, always kept locked. The house is usually made
with a floor area 3 feet by 4i feet, or slightly larger. The posts are
about 3 feet high; the walls are boarded, papered and shingled; the
floors are double boarded with paper between; the roof is boarded,
papered and shingled and ventilation is provided by openings in both
gables. All parts that the foxes rub agumst are smoothed and sand-
papered so as not to injure the overhair. The building should be
set on skids a foot off the ground so that the foxes cannot hide under it.

The inner kennel, or nest is to be the home of the young
Construction j^^^^ ^^ mugt be large enough to prevent crowding
of the ft ^^^ ^^^jj enough to bo warmed by the body heat of
the animals. The usual size of the nest is about 18 in. long by 18
in. wide by 20 in. in height, but some prefer to make thcin with floor
dimensions 16 in. by 18 in. or 20 in. The entrance, 8 in. in diometer,
is centred on one side; the floor corners are filled up with a triangular
piece of moulding; three or four half-inch holes are bored in the roof
to provide a slight ventilation and the roof or cover of the nest can
be lifted off so that the manager can see into the nest when necessary.
The nest is kept warm by being packed about on all sides with some
material of low thermal conductivity. The best yet discovered are
the ground cork in which the Spanish Malaga grapes are packed, dry
seaweed, sawdust, chaff and leaves. A space of four or five inches

C0MMI18I0W or COWatWVATICW

MEJT

IIHUUtTIOH

GROUND PLAN

Sc>U I inch . I fxl

roK
Cntrtnct

■ Stuttflt*
Paptr

y^y

/t£S<

entrance

Axt

SE.CTION on AB

Floor Plan and Vertical Section of a Fox Kennel

FOX-FARMINO IN CANADA

all about the six nides of the box, if packed witli insulating material,
will retain the heat sufficiently and will absorb dnmpnosH. In some
cases, a light bedding of earth, leaven, Hoaweod <>r inarshgras.s is given
in the winter.

It in usual to place pons side by side on both sides
Arrangmisnl of ^,f ^„ ^jgy ^bout six or eight feet wide,* the fences

at the ends of the alley being an additional safe-
guard against escape. The dog (or male) pen, aicoiding to one plan,
consists of one end of the common pen and the male is Mei;rogated by
simply cloning the door. According to another plan, the pen for
the male is several feet distant and segregation is effected by simply
closing the slide door in the passageway. The kennel provided for
the dog fox may be a box t)r barrel with a chute cntrunco. The dog
pen is becoming less used year by year. It should be constructed
near the other ptm and arrangements sluuld bo made so thiit the
pairB can be separated (piietly. No cimfusion or excitement whatever
in effecting a separation of the male and female at this critical period
.should lie permitted.

Tiio food of foxes in the wild state does not consist wholly
of ll(;.sh as many suppose; for, to u ccitain extent, the fox
is omnivorous, and will eut grass and bonies. If flesh
only were fed to a ranch fox the probability is that , after a time, digestion
would be greatly impaired and the whole intestinal tract would be-
come infested with worms.

The food varies so much in each locality that it is impossible to
do more than state the principles which should govern the feeding
of foxes. The very fact that success is achieved with so many kinds
of dieting proves that the fox, like the dog, can live well on almost
any kind of food. A prospectus of a ranch at Copper lliver, -Vlaska,
says that the pelts of their foxes have a magnificent sheen because
the animals are fed on oily salmon. Ontario ranchers have many
excuses to hunt rabbits and groundhogs, because they are 'natural'
food for the foxes. J. Bcetz of Piastre Baio, Que., finds fish and lobster
good, and his success in catching foxes is largely due to the fact that
they come down from the interior each winter to seek just such food
on the shore of the gulf of St. Lawrence. And who could tell an i,id
Prince Edward Island rancher how to feed his foxes? 'The best in
the house is none too good,' he says, and he will feed them almost
everything he would eat himself, and some gra.ss, minnows, mice,
crickets and berries besides.

Food and
Feeding

♦Sec diaf^ram facing this page.

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

Mtat

Di«t

Tlu! tluttli diet o( foxoH is hoiso moat, clioap boef, calves,
butcher Hcrafwi (livem, hearts, hoods, etc.), fish (both cured
and fresh), rabbits, KC'iundhogs, mice, rats, birds, squirrels,
lobKtcr bodies and old cfittlo and sheep. Tlio flosli is usually fed raw
but some feeders parlnjil it. It is salted slightly when parlwiled,
only a r^inall amount of salt being usoti. Frequently carcasises are
salted doAvn in canks, and, when riKjuired for food, a portion is freshened
by placing it in running water for a day or two. Some of the finest
foxes («ocn were fed with this kind of food and seemed to be in very
thrifty condition, possibly because of l)cing free from worms. Some
ranches have cold storage plants, and keep the meat packed with ice.
No storage houses similar to bait-froezer^ are iisod as yet, but the
bait-frcczer at Rustico, P.E.I,, might serve as a model for such a house.
Neither has any mechanical refrigeration of any kind boon attempted
on any ranch although local cold storage plants are extensively used.

Old cattle and horses are kept on the hoof and slaughtered from
time to time as required. As foxes have been known to die of tuber-
culosis, cattle should be subjected to the tuberculin test or, at least,
examined for tubercules after killing. The amount of meat fed should
be about one-fourth pound a day and, if any of it is buried by the fox,
this amount should be decreased.

The non-fle.sh food consists of biscuits, yeast bread, hoe
Jotet'***** '''•'"d, vegetables, porridge, grass, berries, apples, milk

and eggs. Patent dog biscuits are fed with good results,
one ranch using only Spratt's biscuits, with milk and water, as food.
The best ordinary biscuit is the plain hardtack. It is probable that
hard-baked non-yeast bread is better than leavened bread. Broad
is more relished if grease drippings are poured upon it. Tallow has
been used with good success as a butter on hoe bread.

Any rations are liable to fail unless the food is served properly.
The dishes should be frequently scalded and scrubbed and kept scrupu-
lously clean. The water vessel should be fastened to the fence v;ith
wire hooks so that the foxes cannot climb over it. The food must be
withheld when foxes an; observed to bury or hide it. In frosty wea-
ther in April or May, a' frozen meat would kill the young foxes,
it is necessary to feed it warm or parboiled in such weather. If one
fox dominates the other and takes too large a share of the food, a large
quantity must be supplied at night and removed when both have had
enough, e.g., a cow's head may be left in a pen for several days to
furnish the flesh diet.

cmW>0- or CONH»V*Tl(i>W

THE BtST TV^t or FOX RAMCM

SI ,

KOX-FARMINO IV CANADA

•15

A perfect fox diet can Ijo sufiiscd in tin; patent do'^ bi.-cuits.
B?scuitt These arc made with various kinds of food lontcint, so that

balant'cd rations can bo provided. The l)i.scuit iiicdicinea
have also been proved excellent, and are easy to adniiui^iter. It ia
possible that the manufacture of biscuit with meat or fish fil)re will
be an industry that will develop contemi)oraneously with fur-farminjr.
The meat can proljably be best preserved in this way and feeding made
easier and pleasanter.

Broken bone should not be fed lest some of it bo
?o*"FM(Hng""°" swallowed. Bone should be fed, especially to

young foxes, to assist in building up bone and in
removing the milk teeth. Some do not feed bony fish, e.<].. perch,
lest the bones rupture the delicate linings of the throat and intestines.
Observation, however, leads to the belief that such injury is not likely
to happen, as foxes are dainty feeders, and, unlike dogs, do not devour
their food greedily. In addition to bones, growing foxes are fed a
quantity of lime-water — about one teaspoonful a day — with their
milk. This food gives a substance to the bone and insures stronger
limbs. The pregnant mother should also be fed bone broth and limy
foods to insure strong limbs for her offspring.

Neither of the foxes should be allowed to become too fat for
breeding. When the foxes are less than a year old, they can be fed
almost as much as they will eat; after they arc older, a full diet may
make them too fat for good breeding condition. An average sir j fox
should weigh from ten to fifteen pounds. Some feeders stint foxes
in food in November and December and January, to got them into
breeding condition; others endeavour to keep them normal always.
In the mating season, foxes are very active, and fat pork is fed and
a full supply of food is given to keep them in condition. Some roll
the meat in sand and soil, claiming that soil is nature's medicine for
woims. Some feeders throw food into the pen over the fence; others,
in order to tame them, try to coax them to receive it from between
the meshes of the wire. A skilful feeder can do moie to tame his foxes
through feeding them than in any other way. If the food is always
delivered at the same place, the tendency will be for the animal to
approach nearer and nearer at each feeding. The science of foods is
of less importance than a knowledge of the art of feeding.

The mothei should be well fed on an attractive and stiengthen-
ing diet for several weeks before the young are born. Milk, eggs and
bone broth are good for the purpose . When the young are expected,
a large meal is provided, preferably of game, such as a newly-killed

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

I abbit; a live hen put into the pen is a standaiii feed on such on occasion.
It is said that a fox which eats the fresh brains and blood will never
destroy her young.

When the mother appears two or three days after the young
are bom she should be fed well several times a day with meat, eggs,
fresh new milk, meat broth, well-cooked oatmeal and other appetizing
and varied foods, while a supply of clean, wholesome water in a clean
trough should be constantly available. Live rabbits and poultry,
squirrel and other game may be used to give variety to her ration.

Failure in
Management

Despite the assertions of many experienced breeders
that feeding is the mos*. difficult of all operations in fox
lancliing, very little evidence was found to confirm
this opinion. Few cases of failure due to bad dieting were noted.
It is not difficult to keep foxes alive in captivity and, usually, the cause
of nearly every loss can be traced. Occasionally mature foxes die sud-
denly and no satisfactory cause of death can be found, even though
post-morten examinations have been carefully performed by qualified
operatoi-8. The proportion of deaths, however, is low, only four being
reported in Prince Edward Island in 1912, and a like proportion in
1913 though probably more took place.

In most cases, lack of success may be attributed to an inexpe-
rienced keeper. When men who have never UA even a horse or cow,
attempt to rear foxes, they may keep them alive, and may rear a
few young, but the probability of failure is great. The failures -ire
usually made in feeding to maintain good breeding condition, and in
the care and feeding at the critical period of whelping and rearing the
young. The keeper's own character and disposition will have much
to do with the success with shy and nervous foxes at this period. A
good manager is always studying his ^imals at the breeding season
and he carefully notes the dates of mating and whelping. He treats
each pair according to their disposcions. In some ca«es, he separates
the male and female before whelping and, in other <;a«es, he leaves
them together. He must bo observant, resourceful and faithful, for
he is dealing with animals which have had only several generations
of domestic breeding or possibly none at all.

The critical period of each year in breeding foxes is
Gettafion* between the dates January 1 and June 30. At this

time, as the wild nature of some of the foxes renders
them exceedingly sensitive to strange sights, noises and smells, all
ranches are closed to every one b'^t the keepers. All domestic animals
are kept at a distan^-e from even the outer fence. Strangers are warned

1. Fox KiTTENh Twu Weeks Old

2. A ThHEE-QUART

ER6 Black Fo< Badi.

Cover to Retbeat Into
;•<. KEEPiNi- Watt.h on the Strangers

4. A North Shore Que. Fox in August

Frightened. No Hiding

FOX-FARMINfi TN CANADA

not to approach the ranch piemises on pain of l>oing lined for trespass.
In New Brunswick, Prinw Edward Island and QueUec, laws have
been panned making it an offence punishable by a hoa\ y fine to approach
near a fur ranch.*

The keeper should move i-autiotwly and quietly about the pens
when feeding. He should have » post of observation from which he
can see the p<fns and yet not be seen. .V dark chamber with a hidden
approach and a small win«i<»w to look through may .serve. From this
p<»st an experienced hre<>iier can a.scertain when matinj; occurs. At the
earliest, whelpinp will take place fifty days after iiiiitin.<:, though it may
be fifty-two days, or, in i-are instances, fifty-three or fifty-four days,
espoi iiJly with th«' first litter. Fifty-one days is the usual jjcriotl of
gestation.

If the keejier plans to remove the male, he shoukl have the
teMaie* pens huilt in such a manner that the male may be shut out

Calmioc
£zcite4 MothMi

(away from the female, though with only a fence or double
wired fence i:.t(^rvening) without a suspicion on the part of the foxes
of design in sudi a removal. The action of .some bn^eders in entering
the pen and catching the dog with tongs or catching box is universally
condemnetl as verj* dangerous at this period. If the male is kept close
by, he will watch and warn whenever he fears danger and, moreover, he
takes an interest in the rearing of the young — frequently carrying his
food along the fence, apparently with the intention of giving it to the
female asd the young.

It is not usual for parent foxes to kill the young
intentionally, but, when they become nervous, they
sometimes remove the pups to another place. A mother
will freqvtently be<'onie greatly excited and, dashing into her nest, will
carry out the pups one by one and bury them in the snow or mud.
This frequently occurs and is the great fear of ranchers in tiie si)iing
months. It is difficult to tell what to do in such an emergency, except
to see that the foregoing preventive measures are taken. The measures
suggestetl in the following paragraph have been successfully carried
omt in more than one instance.

A crate of chickens or rabbits should be kept near at hand so that
if a mother carries her young alxnit, a live chicken or rabbit may be
put into the pen to attract her attention and turn her from her im-
pulse of hiding the young elsewhere. One breeder says that he stopped
one mother with an egg which he threu in front of her from outside
tlie fence \vhi«n she was carrying out her pups.

*."»»f .Vppen«lix Vlt.

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

Some ronehera, during the whelping season, always keep posted
regarding the whereabouts of at least one cat with young kittens. If the
mother fox, for any reason, proves to be incapable of rearing her
young they are taken from her and reared on the cat until four or
five weeks old, when the cat will usually desert them. They are then
able to lap milk. Young foxes have been found stiff and cold, but
by warming them in hot cotton wool and providing them with a feline
wet-nurse, have finally grown to maturity. A nursing bottle and a
medicine dropper also might be kept on hand to feed milk.

Data for
Breeders

The young are blind for fourteen to eighteen days and do not
leave the nest, but, when they are about four weeks old,
they venture out into the pen often in answer to the decoy
call of the keeper. They soon learn to lap milk and eat. When less
than three months old, the mother weans them and they may go to
quartets of their own.

Foxes have only one litter a year, each litter consisting of from
one to nine pups. The earliest noted litter came on March 12; the
latest, on June 4. No instances are yet recorded of two litters in one
year, but it is believed that it may occur within a few years when the
animals are more domestic in habit.

According to the best authorities, foxes in the wild state are
monogamous. In captivity, they are usually paired for life, and in
many instances re-mating is said to be impossible. In some cases,
however, foxes can be re-mated yearly. Some males will mate with
several females during the same winter. Two systems of double mating
are practised. Under one system, a male and two females of the same
litter are given the run of three pens. After mating they are all
separated into their respective pons. The other system also requires
the use of three pens, the male spending alternate days with each of the
two females. When mating is effected in these ways, success is not as
certain as with single maiiag.

The fox continues prolific until about ten or eleven years of age.
If a pair fail to produce young after the eighth year, they are usually
slaughtered. In the majority of cases foxes mate before they are a
year old. Some breeders endeavour to mate a young female with a
male a year older.

No serious diseases were observed in foxes on Canadian
ranches. No sick fox was .seen, except one that had
produced no overhair and appeared to bo in very poor
condition generally. It was probably the type known to hunters as
the Samson fox. Evidence furnLshed by R. E. Hamilton of Grand

jtene
an(
Diseases

kL^

FOX-FARMINQ IN CANADA

Valley, Ont., who ono had one in similar condition in hia posaeHsion,
indicates that the lack of fur and the poor condition is caused by a tape-
worm. Mr. Hamilton cured it by administering a violent vermifuge,
using a biscuit vermifuge, puppy doses.

Writers report that rabies and canker <)f the ear have been known,
but no evidence of those diseases was found during the present investi-
gation. Two cases of ntang-i wore reported in 1913. The usual remedies
applied in the case of dogs seem to be effective wherever used and they
are usually put up in a form easy to administer.

The following quotation from a letter from Spratt's Patent, Ltd.,
who manufacture dog biseuii • and medicines, contains a number of
useful suggestions for the rancher:

"In our pamphlet on dog culture, you will find chapters on
all the diseases mentioned in your letter. If f(>xes, also, are
subject to these diseases special precautions will have to bo taken.
Besides being wild animals, we presume they live in artificial or
natural earths, and you can readily understand that, wlum an
animal is suffering froiu ophthalmia, special precautions will have
to be taken.

"The same applies to mange; otherwise, all the animals will
soon contract the disea.se.

"When tlie animals are from four to six weeks old, tlioy
start changing their milk for permanent teeth and bone is a use-
ful article to give, as this helps the shedding of the milk teeth.
Sometimes, of course, they are so firmly imbedded in the gums
that forceps must be used, and should you find an animal's lioad
swelling, we strongly advise you to examine the mouth and re-
move the milk, especially the canine, or eye, teeth."

Dr. Alexander Ross, of Charlottetown, formerly of .\lberton,
P.E.I. , who has given much attention to fox diseases and thiur treat-
ment and has acquired a rare experience in treating foxes on tho numer-
ous ranclies situated within his prai'tisinf; territory at .\lbdon, has
written the following article on fox diseases and surgery for this report:

"Foxes bred in captivity are more liable to disease tlian those which
roam the wilds. In ccmfinement they are sliut off from various focnls
they seek in the wild state, particularly when thoy are not well. Tliey
are also limited as to exorcise, so their muscular t»tno is usually below
par. They often show malforin.ition in the bones of their limbs
(rickets) which, I think, is due principally to their foinl being deficient
in bone salts and to restricted exercise. On the whole, however, I iitive
found, in an exjxirience extending over fifteen years, that the colonies
of foxes in Prince Edward Island are remarkably free from disi'ases.

COMMISSION OF CON8KRVATION

Car* of
Pup FozM

young foxos when burn havo but little fur to protect
II from cold, the chief object among breeders was to
iiiuki- 1 ho pens warm enough. The provisions for ventilation
fCfiiH'd ado(iuato enough for the usual weather conditions that obtain
in Prince Edward Inland during the time the young foxes remain in
tlieir dens. La.st April, however, during a period of exceptionally hot
weather a number of pu|>8 were smothered owing to insufficient ventil-
ation. Now, many ranchers have a two-inch pipe leading horizontally
from the mner den to the outer kennel, .\lthough it is usually inad-
visable to enter the kennel and open the nest about the time of whelping,
yet, if the mother run.s about the enclosure in an excited manner,
the ne.st should be e.xamincd. During the examination the mother
fox should be shut out. When the '. -ing foxes die, the mother usually
eats them, and, as is the case with pigs, the mothers sometimes actually
destroy and eat their young. Foxmen assign various reasonw for this
practice. It may be due to a craving for some ingredient lacking
in the food supplied during gestation. The mother often destroys them
if she is disturbed and apparently fears she and her young are attacked
by enemies, or that her hiding place is discovered. It may also be due
to an inverted maternal instinct and is then a vice. This vice is liable
to occur in all animals that devour their placenta. When the pups
come out of the nest about four weeks after birth and any one of them
looks unthrifty it should be caught and examined for vermin. If lice
are found, it should be washed with an infusion of quassia chips, made
by pouring two quarts of boiling water on a half pound of quassia chips
and letting the mixture stand for twelve hours. This infusion is non-
poisonous. If fleas arc found, the pups should be washed in a creoline
bath — (one ounce to a gallon of water) . The kennel and the don should
also be washed with a stronger creoline solution and the mother should
be wi'shed with the infusion of quassia. Sometimes a pup is unthrifty
owing to his being abused by the others. He should then be placed in
a pen and fed by himself.

Disease* of "Quite a few show rickets which is due largely to deficiency
Malnutrition, in bone and tissue forming food. In those ranches where
Rickets, etc. |,|.„pc,. (.^re is taken, very few of them have this disease.
Where they are t)re(l simply for (piality of fur witliout due regard to
physique, where they are in-bied, and (specially when they are not
properly fed, they are apt to dcvelo|j ricket.s. 'I'he disease is characterized
by deformities in tlu; bony structures or by lack of growth. The legs
are the parts princi|)ally affected. The animal cannot stand straight
altiiough otherwise it seems active and hardy enough, (iroundbone,
lime-water or cod liver oil and hypophosphites of liino and .soda ad-

rOX.y A II M I N O IN CANADA

mini8torod with their Untd will lidp to arrost the ilisoa«o at its beginning.
Alnindiuico of fresh air and sunsliine .should alno ha provided.

OUordtrt of
Digtttion

"Foxes in confinement are prone to suffer esjx'iially from
di.sorder« of dijtestion due to hick of knovvleilgo In fetid-
iiiK them. The followiiij; are a numlier of the more com-
mon of tl»o di.><(uwe.s of the di^e.^tive orgaiLs, together with direction.s for
treating them.:

"Diurrhaca.—D'mn hoea is caus('d hy alMi.se of i)ur^'!itivi!s, prolinged
vegetable diet, feeding too mucii liver, e.xposiue and specific causes e.g.
germs, distemper, etc.

Treatment: First ascertain the cau.se. If severe, f,'ive a purw of
castor oil with a few drops of spirits of turpentine, followed by 10 to 20
grains of bismuth every two hours till the animal is better. The castor
oil dose may be repcatetl more than once in sm.iller doses if the diarriioea
pcisists. At the same tinrr, the food should al.so receive attention.
Meats should bo restricted, and milk, biscuits and ej;ji^ given. No
food should be left in the feeding-pans more than a few hours and the
pans should be scalded out frequently. If the animal .seems wcmk,
liberal do-sea of brandy should be given frecpK iitly. If the pups are
young, artificial heat must be i)rovided by the use of hot water l)ottles
or .some other efficient means. If the enclosures are dark and damp,
they must be removed to a dry, sunny place or indoors.

"Conttipation.— ^hoy do not suffer much from this disease. It
can be overcome largely by means of dieting. A dose of cascara acts
well, and, when needed, injections of soap suds may be given. The diet
should be of a laxative mi.\ture and .sloppy. Fet'd liver.

"Inflamation of the /<ou(/».— This is one of the commonest and
most fatal diseases that affect the fox. Cau.ses: Improper feeding, unhy-
gienic surroundings, worms, irritant poisons, specific agencies, e.g. germs,
distemper, etc. The symptoms are,— loss of appetite, diarrhoea, excreta
often blood-stained, mucus, fever, listlessness, loss of flesh, coat dry,
staring eyes, dull, pulse rapid. When the foxes show the allove symp-
toms a qualified veterinary surgeon should i)e immediately summoned.
A short delay may prove fatal. When a fox is taken in hand early
much can be done, but, if the disease has made much headway, it al-
most invariably proves fatal. In pups it is apt to cause fits. The
young ones will not eat; their coats lose sli^ekncss and they become
listless. If not promptly treated, they ilio quickly. Give castor oil
anil tui pontine and feed judiciously. This can only be done byseparating
the ill from the well. ,\fter death the bowel is found to be dark red
or black and gangrenous and, in some sections, a thin bloody fluid is
found. A.S tlie disease is infectious, the diseased animal should be sep-

COMMIBBION OF CON8ER V ATlQiN

»r»t. (1 from thoBe th»t we well, and the enclosures should be dainfected.
I am of the opinion that nearly all the half grown and fully grown foxee
that have died on Prince Edward Island, died from either this disease
or from intestinal parasites.

"Round Form*.— The commone''t round worm is the acarit mar-
qiiiatu. It is prt-sent in a large proportion of foxes. It is a very fre-
quent eauw^ of convulsions in puppies and, if abundant, causes obstruction
(.1 inflammation of the bowels. In fact, in yoiuig foxes, thin is the prin-
cipal cauHe of that disease. These worms are from half an inch to several
inches in length. They are cream coloured and tapering. Lastor oil
with a few drops of spirits of turpentine is a good and safe rem. iy.
Santonin in doses of about i grain for a pup, given every day or two is
also good; no food should bo given and the santonine should be followed
in three hours with a purge. Areca nut, in two grain doses is also fairly
safe to puppies.

"It is well to remember that all worm medicines are poisonous and
should be followed with a purge. It is claimed that the feeding of
moUassine dog biscuits will pj event intestinal parasites.

"Tape Worm.— Foxes n ay be infected with several vari.^ties of
tape worm. They come from eating meat or fish infected by the worm
in the larval stage. In this respect, they differ from the round worm
which grows directly frntn the egg. There is the marginatod tape-
worm, the serrated tape worm, the Unea coenuria (larval stage in the
brain of the sheep) and Unea cucumerina (larval stagf In the hare).
These worms are flat and in sections. They vary in length from several
inches to sever"' feet. It is rather difficult to rid foxes . f these pests
and a good veterinary surgeon should be called in. Many drugs have
been recommended but they are all dangerous. Dos<>s vary with the
condition of tlie animal.

"Sarcoptic and follicular mange, are caused by minute
DUeates """"'il organisms that mvade the skin structure. They can
**"*' bo .s(en only with a magnifying glass. The sarcoptic mite
has an oval body and four pairs of legs while the follicular mite has a
lol,.«i -shaped body. The sacroptic mite lives near the surface of the
skin and, for this rca.son, spreads much more rapidly over the animal
and is much more easily communicated from one animal to another
than the follicular. Sarcoptic mange u allowed to run its course, will,
in a short time, denude the animal of hair and the skin becomes thick-
ened and spongj'. Follicular mange spreads very slowly and occurs
in patches, usually about the head and along the back. Sarcoptic
mange if taken m hand early, yields to treatment much more readily
than follicular mange which can only be eradicated with difficulty.

rOX-FARMINO IN CAHADA

"Owing to the highly contagioua nftture of theie diaeMW, partic-
ularly the Harcoptic variety, the animal should be isolated and no
communication allowed with healthy animals. The keeper of healthy
foxes, it exposed to the disease, should disinfect himself and his clothes.
If an animal is badly affected, it should be killed and buried deep
in quick ! . me or burned. The kennel should be burned and the enclosure
left unused for a long titix The treatment of these diseases should
)iot be undertaken by au i.ntrained person. I have seen two casea
of sarcoptic mange in foxes* ; buth in a very advanced state. They
occured in a bati '> that were iiii{x>rted into Prinue Edward Island.
Since the disease wuh discovered in July, 1013, all foxes, when imported,
must remain three weeks in quarantine and be twice inspected more
particularly for mango and distemper.

"This contagious disease is caused by a vegetable parasite.
Ringworm There arc two forms: the circular or tonsurate and the honey-
comb. Foxee will take this disease from cattle. A circular
patch covered with branny scales and stubby hairs, appears over parts
infected with t;ie circului form. The name 'honey-comb' describe the
appearance of the other. Keep the fox isolated; anoint the sore with
an ointment of ulcate of mercury. Painting with ^ ncturo of iodine is
also good treatment.

ODhtbalmia "There is a specific or recurrent form of ophthalmia

or Inflammation that foxes are subject to and may cause total blindness.
^** It usually attiK 's puppies 6 to 8 weeks old and is not

accompanied by any of the signs of distemper. Cold, draughts, dirt,
distemper or any initatinjr substance introduced in the eye may cause
ophthalmia. liatho the eye fretiuently with a hot saturated solution
of boiMcic acid. Several limes daily instil drops of sulphate of zinc
solution yi grs. to the ounce) into the eye. Between the lids insert
night and morniim, Vm^. Hydrarg. ox. Flav. (4 grs. to the ounce lanolin)
the size oi a split | t.

Distempar

".Uthough no case of this disease has occurred among
foxes in Prince Edward Island, it has been reported in
othei localities among dogs and foxes and has almost decimated them.
I- is so highly contagious and so fatal that the below note has
been added that fox-breeders may detect the initial symptoms
and take it in time. Fortunately the quarantine adopted last .July
will be of the greatest service in excluding it from the colonies of foxes
in captivity here. As dogs readily communicate it directly, or indirectly,
to foxes they should not be allowed near ranches. The young are more

Miorocopr rboiution tist chait

(ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No 2)

A APPLIED IN/MGE Inc

^^ 16-^3 East Mam Street

S%S Rochester. New York 14609 USA

"■as (716) *82 - 0300 - Phone

^B (716) 288 - 5989 - Fa>

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

11 '

easily infected. Feeding utensils, hands and clothing of attendants,
bedding, water vessels, contact of diseased with the healthy, wind
carrying dried up discharges, etc., are the usual media of communica-
tion. The preliminary symptoms are dullness, loss of appetite, sneezing,
redness and heaviness of the eyes, slight husky cough, vomiting, con-
stipation if the animal is j'oung, or diarrhoea. Temperature in vagina
or rectum 103°F or 104°F. Following these symptoms is a profuse
discharge from the eyes and nose, — first watery, then creamy. The
disease may go no further than this, but it is frequently followed by
bronchitis, pneumonia, pleurisy, pericarditis, disordered liver, a fetid
breath, and pustular eruption on the belly and the inside of the thighs.
These symptoms should be sufficient to indicate the character and
gravity of this dreaded disease.

"I have met with no case of disease of the respiratory organs.

"There have been no epidemics of any kind among the foxes of
Prince Edward Island. Now and again, a grown fox has died suddenly.
Usually the fox seemed to be (juite lively, and in a few hours the keeper
found him dead. I performed autopsies on three or four of these and
could in no case be certain of the cause of death. In one case, I found
some congestion of the lung, which I regarded as post-mortem. In an-
other, the gall bladder was abnormally distended. Most of them showed
some redness of the alimentary tract. I am of opinion that death was
due to some food poisons— ptomaine. In one animal that died there
was a jelly-like fluid between the pelt and the flesh of the hind legs.

"When pups are shedding their milk teeth — usually at the age of
three months — abscesses are liable to form at the roots of the tusks.
The fox then swells around the snout. In such cases the tusks, which
are quite loose, should be extracted. Give them large bones to gnaw so
they can knock out these teeth. This will usually prevent the formation
of these abscesses.

Fox

"I have had more to do with foxes in a surgical than in a
Sureery medical way. They frequently break their limbs in fighting

among themselves or in an effort to escape by climbing their
enclosures. These fractures are usually compound and necessitate the
amputation of the limb. The flesh is stripped back and the protruding
bone is snipped off with bone forceps. The wound is dressed antisep-
tically and the flesh is stitched over the bone. The whole part is well
dusted with iodoform, and wrapped in gauze bound on with surgeon's
adhesive plaster. The fox will not touch the dressing when dusted with
iodoform. The operation is simple, no anaesthetic is needed and there
is no danger from bleeding, because, as a rule, no arteries have to be
tied. In fact, it is dangerous to give an anaesthetic.

FOX-FVRMINO IN CANADA

"When the fracture is not compound, the limh may ho .set in splints
of any li^ht wood; maple saplings make ^ood splints. Hind the splint
on with adhesive plaster and with rabbit wire; the fur n, ' s sufficient
padding for it. Dust with iodoform to keep the fox from tearing the
splint off. In winter, care must be taken that the leg does not freeze.

. "Judic 3US feeding can only be learned by c.Kperience.

Feeding"' '*" ^"'""'^ "^"^ ''t''*"' Sreen food and fresh earth should be
jjlaced in the enclosures at frequent intervals, as the an-
imals require something of that nature to keep them healthy. Their
kennels should be kopt as clean as possible and should ho washed out
once or twice a year with a hot solution of creolin, two drams to the pint.
One breeder dips all his fo.xes, after the pups are weaned, in a weak
solution of creolin to lid them of fleas and other vermin.

"In general, it is far better to take good hygienic precautions before
the foxes get sick, than to invite di-sease by permitting them to live in
filth in small enclosures."

■ m

In 1912, vague report.s were circulated among the
l>*g°|ges"' *** breeders of Prince Edward Island that a contagious

l)ar.asitic disea.se was being introduced by blue foxes
importeil from .Vlaska. A definite warning was furnished the Commis-
sion of Conservation by an eminent United States authority that such
a dangei-ous disease exists and would prove fatal to the fox industry if
introduced; but few details of the disease were presented. \ letter of
inquiry was sent to Mr. George M. Bowers, Commissioner of Fisheries,
Department of Commerce and Labour, who has charge of the conserva-
tion of foxes and seals at certain points in Alaska. The reply under
date of November 25, 1912, is as follows:

"The Bureau has not been informed of any particular para-
sitic disease as existing among the foxes of Alaska. So far as
known, fatal disease has been so rare as to be negligible in the con-
sideration of fox raising. Improper feeding, accidental poisoning
and tuberculosis have been known to cause the death of individual
foxes, but nothing in the nature of an epidemic has been reported."

Where in the cases reported, two ranches — one in Labrador and
the other in Maine — lost all, or nearly all their foxes, it is very probable
that the trouble was distemper.

Capturing

Escaped

Foxes

As already stated, the capturing of escaped foxes presents
little difficulty provided they do not get outside the ext ..ior
fence. They will often, of their own accord, return through

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

■i :

'■> ■■

I :
.1 1

I. -

the open door after a few hours. Or, in the cases where escape has been
over snow banks, they will usually return when hungry. They may be
driven into the alleys from the outer enclosure when a temporary fence
of meshed wire is stretched across from the pen to the outer fence.
They can also be caught in the box traps, or in steel traps which have the
jaws wrapped with muslin so that the limbs will not be injured. A live
hen or rabbit makes excellent bait. The latter method will often prove
effective when the fox has escaped to the woods, as they are likely,
especially if ranch-bred, to remain in the vicinity of the ranch.

The ownership of an escaped fox is a disputed point. Many people
contend that a fox roaming at largo is game for anyone, but, if the
ranchman can identify the live fox or the skin, he can recover it as his
personal property.

Ranchmen have given serious study to the question of
MentificaUon ">»^'"l'ii»g ^o"" identification. A numbered aluminum tag,

which may be seen at a considerable distance, is often
fastened into the ear. In some way, however, the fox manages to get
it off. Marking the teeth by filing or tattooing them is also resorted to,
and has, at least, proved practicable. But the disadvantage of not mark-
ing the skin is obvious. Tattooing the skin with the owner's number or
brand, could be done on the hide where it is least valuable; or, the ear
could be marked as with sheep and cattle. The brand could be regbtered
and the skin or the live animal thus identified. If such a method were
practised, it would have the additional advantage of being imdiscovered
by thieves and of rendering it possible to identify the skin on the open
market. Branding on the flank is also a possible method.

The catching and handling of foxes in their pens pre-
Handli"!"** ^®^* ^^**'® difficulty. Expert ranchers will catch and

handle them without gloves or instruments, but the
ordinary rancher provides himself with a pair of tongs the jaws of which
will close to a diameter of two and a half inches. The fox is shut into
his nest and when the cover is lifted, is grasped about the neck with
the tongs. The fox may then be carried away on the arm and the
rancher be in no danger of getting bitten. A catching box is also useful.
It is made just lar^o enough to admit the fox and has a slide door at
■ each end. When it is placed at the end of the entrance to a house with
one slide door opened, the fox may be driven out of the nest into it.
The slide door is closed and the fox is thus trapped in the box. If
the catching box be made of stiff wire-mesh sides and top, the fur can
be closely examined. In the case of the latter type of construction, how-

FOX-FARMING IN CANADA

ever, the fox might not readily enter it unless a blanket was placed over
the box to darken it. The usual method of handling them is with gloved
hands and no instruments.

When foxes are transpoited, they are put into a box which is lined
with meshed wire so that they cannot escape by gnawing their way out.
They can be kept without water or food for days, but are generally fed
water biscuits or a bone and are watered, a can being nailed on the in-
terior for that purpose. Express companies au^ obliged to feed them
if food is provided.

When foxes are brought to their pens for the first time, they should
be liberated by makin; a small opening in the box and holding it up to
the entrance of the kennel. They will then enter their nest and, ^ter
a minute's inspection, will come out into the pen. By this time, the
keeper can be away out of sight, and none, or very few, will attempt
to climb the wire or rush against if.. If pens are provided with cover
and built in secluded woodland, the wildest foxes will not climb the
wire if the keeper ia competent and no strangers are admitted.

Slaiwhtering
for Fur

No foxes except a few old ones and culls were killed in
Prince Edward Island for their pelts in 1910, 1911. 1912
or 1913. The pelt of a fox becomes prime in November, but
is not as heavy then as in December. They are kUled on Prince Edward
Island in the la.st week of December. A fox eight months old is said
to have as full and large a skin as an older one. Some breeders, how-
ever, disagree with this common opinion and say that one year and
eight months is the proper age for killing.

The fox when young, has less silver than in the later years and this
is an advantage in the present market, silver skins being more common
than pure black. It is hardly necessary to remark that no fox should
be slaughtered without a careful examination of his coat, an^, if it be
light and thin and the fox only a pup, he should be spared for a year
in order to improve his condition if possible.

Considerable care should be taken against injury to the coat dur-
ing the months previous to killing. They should not be allowed to lie
on damp places and thus have the guard hair frozen into the ground
or snow and broken. Smooth, large passage ways should be provided.
Fleas or mange o r skin affections or parasites should be prevented

as they would uiuuce scratching and thus wear off the hair on the
shoulders and hips.

It is claimed that heavy feeding of nutritious laxative food like
molasses, patent food preparations, boiled barley or oats, will fatten the
fox and improve the gloss of its coat. Some of the costliest skins
marketed were taken off foxes with one quarter of an inch of fat over

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

L .

! £

!i '-

their ribs. This is contrary to a popular, but incorrect, impression thtt
starving makes the hair longer and improves the coat.

Foxes are killed by crushing the chest walls. They are placed on
their sides, and the slaughterer places the sole of his foot immediately
behind the foreleg and bears down with his full weight. They are also
killed by forcmg the head back until the neck breaks. There is a
danger that the sheen of the overhair— especially the silver hairs— may
be somewhat injured with blood and dirt so that clean quarters and
methods of killing are essential.

The information available indicates that the adoption of some more
humane method of killing, such as the use of chloroform or ether, would
not injure th- fur and, at the same time, be far more merciful. A small
paddt J box with a wad of cotton batting in one of the upper corneis
upon which chloroform could be dropped from a hole in the corner of the
box would be all that would be required. As soon as it is dead, the ani-
mal si- uld be removed from the chamber. the case of such a valuable
animaj as this, it is not too much to expect of ranchers that they pro-
vide one of these inexpensive lethal chambers.

Poisons that are available are: cyanide of potassium, prussic mid,
strychnine a^.d white arsenic. A very small quantity of cyanide or of
prussic acid will kill the fox instantly, but, as these drugs are exces-
sively poisonous, it is dangerous to have them in one's possession unless
securely locked up. Strychnine and white arsenic do not kill imme-
diately, and, if another animal ate the flesh of an animal poisoned by
them, it would be poisoned in turn.

The cased method of skinning, described elsewhere, is used.* The
only diflSculty will be with the forelegs and tail. The forelegs bet nme
stiff and hard in a short time and should be turned fur side out after
a day or two. If the tail bone is not wholly removed in the first at-
tempt, the tail may be slit down the under side. The skins are mar-
keted fur side out and are sewed up in muslin and packed flat in a box.

The condition of the pelt in respect to primencss, proper
lUvfr"! ox Skin ^^j^S, skinning, drying and shipping is important.

Skins may be blue or unprime; springy, when the
hips and shoulders are worn and the hair loose; dirty, shot, chewed,
heated, or greasy. In such cases their value is largely decreased.

The skin value of the live animal may be judged from the follow-
ing standards:

Colour. — Glossy black on neck, and wherever no silver hairs are
found. The black must be of a bluish cast all over the body

♦Seepage 119.

FOX-FARMING IN CANADA

rather than p. reddish. The underfur must also be dark-
coloured. The fur of silver and black foxes is a dark slate
next to the skin.

Silver hai^-s. — Pure silver bands — not w' '.te nor very piominent.
In the costliest skms there are only a few silver hairs, which
are well scattered over the pelt. Flakiness, which is the ap-
pearance of whitish silver hairs placed close together in patches,
is objectionable.

Texture. — Buyers pass judRinent on the skins i)y drawing the hand
over the fur. The softest fur is the most valuable. The quality
of softness is refernid to as "silkincss".

Gloss. — ^Tho sheen must l)e evident. It is caused by the perfect
health of the animal and the fineness of the hair, as well as by
hereditary influences. Woods and humid atmosphere also
favour this important quality.

Weight. — A good fox skin will weigh at least one pound, the weight
usually varying from ten to nineteen ounces. The thick, long
fur makes the weight. This is a very important point, as
heavj' fur is more irable and handsome.

Size. — ^The value of silver fox pelts increases with the size.

FINANCIAL ASPECTS

The amount of capital required to finance a ranch containing even
three or four pairs of foxes, involves the organization of companies or ex-
tensive partnerships among people of experience and in a situation
suitable for fox ranching. In the autumn of 1912, at least S50,000
was required to build, equip, and stock a ranch in Prince Edward
Island with five pairs of first-class stock, and, in 1913, this amount of
money would hardly suffice to provide three pairs. Many ranches have
been equipped for less money, but either cheaper wild or unselected
stock iVom Newfoundland, western Canada or elsewhere was purcliased,
or options had been taken at an earlier date on pups for delivery at that
time.

Because of the keen demand for breeding stock, it has been
on Stock customary to sell options for future delivery. Usually the

options are taken on the unborn pups, and 10 per cent of
the price agreed upon is paid when the options are taken. Time of
delivery is made the essence of the contract and, if the rancher has not
as many pups as he has sold options for, the orders are filled con-secu-
tively, i.e., the earliest orders are filled first. In case delivery cannot be
made, the agreement provides that the deposit must be returned with
6 per cent interest per annum. In 1913, as in 1912, options were sold on

•r

,.i

fiO

COMMISSION OF CON 8E R V ATI O .V

Si:

Sales for
Breeding Stock

moro pups than could bo delivered because of the unexpectedly small
number of young bom. At the present time (December, 1913), many
options on 1014 stock at an average price of about $12,000 per pair have
been 8old. As large ranchers carefully number the options, the holder of
the first option has the best chance of securing the choice of pups when
thn deliveries are made.

All over North America, wherever the "ommon red fox is found,
agreements are being made with lumbermen, miners, missionaries,
fur traders, trappers, government officials and others for future
delivery of wild animals captured in their respective districts.
The supply of fur will be appreciably diminished by the capture of
wild fur-bearers alive, in 1913 and probably in succeeding years. More
trappers are working than ever before and practically all of them are
seeking to capture live animals.

In 1911, 1912 and 1013, all available foxes were sold for
breeders. The first general sales were made in 1910,
at prices not far above the fur-value, viz. about $3,000
to $4,000 a pair. In 1911 the price rose to $5,000 a pair, and, about
littering time in 1912, one pair was sold for $20,000. This, however,
wa.s for a pair of excellent proved breeders, which, a few weeks later,
produced five whelps which were sold for $20,000 in August, 1912. By
September 1, when the deliveries of stock began, the price was $8,000
a pair for pups and a month later, $11,000. By December, 1012, $12,000
and $13,000 was the ruling price, \ ith few sales. Old proved breeders
of good quality were valued during the last months of 1912 at from
S1S,000 to $35,000 a pair. In September, 1913, prices of pairs of young
silver foxc ranged from $12,000 to $17,000 and advanced but slightly
until Pocember when all exchanges of animals from one ranch to another
must cease. Options on deliveries for 1914 were selling at from $10,000
to $12,500 a pair.

It can thus be readily understood how highly speculative fox trad-
ing is at the present time. The tendency towards inflation is encour-
aged and fostered by many of the older breeders. Their optimism is
accounted for by the fact that they have become wealthy in the last
three years, whereas six or eight years ago, some of them possessed only
mortgaged farms and a few foxes. All but three or four have made
their fortunes by selling breeding stock and, with the exception of,
possiblj', $200,000, obtained for pelts, all of the million or more dollars
received by ranchers have been made in this way.

The present system of buying for future delivery is another

Futures indication of the optimism of investors. In December, 1912,

many of the unborn pups of 1913 were purchased and partly

FOX-FARMINC, IN CANADA

•I

paid for, delivery to be made in the first week of Septombor, 191 :<. Tlio
difference between purciiaaing futures in foxea and gambling ir. futures
in May wheat or October cotton is more apparent than real. Fdx ox-
ciianges were opened at various centres for trading in stocks and futures.

Craxe for
Ownartbip*

Naturally, the rapid rise of such an industry has unsettled
tho peaceful rural conditions in a country like Prince
ICilwurd Island. Farmers are using the credit of their
farms to purchase shares in silver foxes, or to buy outright cross foxes,
red foxes, blue foxes, minks and any other fur-bearer likely to p'ove
profitable. The banks report a serious withdrawal of deposits and real-
ization upon outside investments, while tho lawyers of tho little town of
Summorside, P.E.I., are reported to have recorded about $300,000 in
farm mortgages in 1912. A goodly share of tho savings banks deposits
made by these prosperous islanders has also been withdrawn.

Remarking on the great craze for shares of stock in fox ranches
and for fox ownership, Wesley Frost, the United States consul at Char-
lottetown, wrote to his government in January 1913:

"In adjudging the soundness of the present position of the fox
industry in Prince Edward Island it should be borne in mind that
the community is an intensely conservative one, composed of Scot-
tish and English farmers, intelligent and fairly educated, and with
a per capita savings deposit figure to compare with almost any
portion of the civilized world

"It is true that a large number of the foremost citizens of the
Island refuse to participate in the fox boom to any legree whatso-
ever. Every large ' \e by one of the big ranches is hailed as an
effort to imload ' ' ' ide turns. Investment at the present

time is regarded ' tive speculation — but with the specula-

tive element toi '(v \is. Granting nearly all that the fox

men say, the scc^ .»r that, in the readjustments involved in

getting back to the pelt basis, the industry will injure many of its
followers."

Pro and
Con

It is maintained by some that the present craze is similar to
the Belgian hare craze in America and the tulip craze in
Europe, both of which collapsed with a heavy slump. It is
contended that fox fur is only a poor quality; that silver fox has never
been bought in large quantities and that, if production is increased, it

♦Appendix XI of this report gives a list of the fur-farming companies and
licensees Ofioratins in each of the provinces. Practictilly all of tlie companies named
have been incorporated since the be(?inninK of 1912, whicli shows that the develop-
ment of the industry has bi-eu decidedly phenomenal.

COMMISSION OF CON8ERVATIOK

will hccmif UH choiip as rahhit; that wiiil foxes do not docroafo in num-
Imts wlicri a < oiintry is w-ttlcd; that invostmcnts usually yield from 2 to
10 per cent per annum and that, thertiforo, the lai^o profits made l.y fox
runihrM timing' the s.-ason of 1912 wcw ahnormal. A small.-r i)ropor-
tion rtatc that the fox boom \va;-i promoted by t'xajtj;<'fated .statements
rcspeciinj; the |)rii'ps received for pipits and by other mi.r-'pi{.s„ni.,tion8.
They assert that many of the skins marketed have not brought over
?r)0.0() or .SKMKOO each and that a largo proportion of the foxes now in
captivity is of little more value than red foxes. They also -tato that
the demand for -ilver fox has been supplied and that the Itussian nobility
and sonii' other ICuropeans are the only ones who will pay a high figure.
It is also maintained that skins of ranch-brod foxes have not the gloss
and <|U!dity of the product of the wilds.

On the other hand, it is stated that the supply of valuable wild
silver foxes cai)tured is decreasing, that the demand for costly natural
furs is rapidly increasing; that only a few htmdred silver fo.xes are in
ca|)tivity and that there is amjile time for readju.stmcnt of values before
enough are nmrrd to warrant marketing for fur. The fact is also
l)oi...od to that the domestication of fiu-bearers has been predicted and
attempted for centuries and that those who achieved the work are
entitled to reward. Furthermore, it is claimed that when fur is so
yalual)l<! no animals will be sold unless enormous prices ar" paid; that it
is proved that the fur is better in all respects than Mie wild product and
that the best foxes have not yet been sold and will bring higher prices
than the present high recoid, viz. 82,9(K).00. In addition, the best cus-
tomers are millionaires and not the iinljility.

A general comment is all that can be made on the aigumonts ad-
vanced. Some of the points are di.scusscd elsewhere in this report, nota-
bly those respecting the prices obtained for ranch-produced furs as com-
pared with the wild, the decline in numbers of the natural wild supply,
and the general excellent quality of ranch-bred stock as compared with
the wild stock.

The increased demand and its causes have already been discussed
and little remains to be said on that subject. It is possible that silver
fox will become even more fashionable than at present and that the
demand will thus be increased, but no one can forecast definitely what
fashion will do. It .should al.so be noted that the Russian sable, chin-
chilla, sea-otter and seal will be ofT the market for several years and, o'n
this account, an increased demand for the fur of the silver fox may be
created.

The imitation of silver fox is also impossible because of the colours
of the silver-banded black overhairs. The nearest imitation is the
Oerman-dyed pointed fox, made from a common red fox dyed black,

FOX-FAHMINii IN CXNAOA

which hiw white liuir.t from tiio bivdKor or othor anin als ncwu<l into it or
fastuned in by mihcsivcs. It is easily ilistingiii-iit-il from tlio silvor
fox fur and in not favourfij cxcopt as a incdiiiin-prici.'d articlo. It is
not noarly so beautiful as silver fox. The silver band in a Keiuiino
Hkin is not white, but silvery, and tin- whole skin |>ossess"s a gloss
not eciualled by a dyed jJriMluct. The dvrinj; pnn'c-ss, also, has the dis-
advantage of rendering the fur less dur.iiile.

With regard to the stalenu'nt that murh of .hi -tock is of poor
((uality arul low-prieed, it must be admitted that this is true. While
statisties of the low priees obtained for pelts obviously couhl not be
secured, it is (piite probable that at least HO per cent of the silver
fo.xes would bring a i)iice of from S.JO.OO to s.-)(H).00. At the present t|Uo-
tations, probably another 30 per cent, would be priced betwetjn SofMJ.OO
and $1,(K)0.00 an<! the other 40 per cent would bring from Sl,(MM).00 to
$4,000.00* each. The ability to recognize a cheap grade of fur instantly u
essential in the present .state ot the busine.ss as traders re|)rcsent a
silver fox as such regardless of quality; and, usually, only a short and
distant examination of the animal is possible. IJosides, the sales arc
made at a season when the fur is not in prime condition.

If wild foxes do not decrease when a country is settled, it is not
recorded that they increase. The number in un.settled regions, how-
ever, is diminishing.

Thus far, profits in the industry have been largo, but, except from the
point of view of the individual, the dividend on the money invested is
not the main consideration. From the : .)cial and economic viewpoint,
the discovery of how to breed high-grade foxes is what is important.
It is akin to an invention; but, as it cannot be patented, tl e neighbours
of ♦he in'ontois have become the promoters of a new method of pro-
dui. a remarkable commodity. No huge factories can be built
in a few months to manufacture the article to the limit of demand;
only the natural law of increase of fo vhich is not much over 100
per cent per annum can be utilized. us, it will be several years

before the supply will meet the demanu, as it is sure to do eventually.
If the investing public can be made to believe that future profits are
nssured, it is human nature to ask as large a premium on the shares
of fox-ranching companies as can be obtained.

The stories of the predilection of the nobility of Russia and of
other countries for expensive furs like silver fox, sea-otter and sal)!e
are mo.stly drawn from the imagination. Th- current story that gold
is tipped on silver fox overhair was unkmn.j to any of the furriers
interviewed, some of whom have been purchasing furs in Evrope and

*Ina.smuch as Mr. Jones states (p. 62) th.it tlio record prico of a skin is $2,90),
the upper limit— $4,000— sttms too li\-^\i.—i:<l.

0OMMI8BION OP CONSERVATION

II!

[Ill:

America for many ycani. Tlie utory of tho Itjyul UuMriiaii fur;* im
(loubtloitH dorived from tho fact that certain mil)l(> unj other co.Hly
furs were formerly jtivon m tribute to royalty. Kriiiimi hii|>p<'n.<< to be
a royul fur ami w U«!raande<t at coronutionH and Knat court coroinonieM.
yet it ix stutini that much of the »o-cnllt'd 'crinino' ut tho coronation of
Kinji (ioorgo V was really rabbit. Thu best cu.nioiiK'rfi of nilvcr fox
will be fashionable ladies who will use it in trimminjjs, stolen and muffs.
MecauiK. of tho reniovul of foxe.s to now ranches in

In'SiVtiTity'''"**'*'!'**''"''''" '^>it"l"«'"' "111 November while this inves-
tigation was proceeding, no very exact data could be
procured regarding tho numi.er of silver foxes. The following is an
estimate of the number in captivity in each province in October, 1912:

Foxes in C.vptivity in Canada in 1912

nantnnl .\o. of

Silver Crns^ ami Rpil Itanches

P. E. Ixland 650 150 l.OOO 200

Nova Scotia 32 30 1.10 13

New Hrunswiclc 30 10 .'JO 8

8ucboc 40 10 50

ntario 30 40 150 14

Otiier provinces and territorie* 18 10 50

Total 800 250 1,450 241

The Hilver fox industry is centred about the following poiiu.-,: Al-
berton, Summersidc, Charlottctown and Montague in Prince Kdward
Island; Port Elgin in New Bnm.swick; Pia.stro Baie on the nortii shore
of the gulf of St. Lawrence, Quebec city in Quebec, and Wyoming in On-
tario. In November, 1913, the number oi .silver foxes within driving
distance of each point wa.s approxinuitely us follows: Alhcrton, .")00;
Sunimerside, 3tX); Chailottetown, IJlM); Monta^rue, 50; Muiiiy Harbour,
40; Port Elgin, N.l}., GO; Quebec city, 30; Piastre Haie, 20; Wyoming,
20. In the United States there arc several ranches in Maine, one in
New Hampshire and one in Minnesota. In Rus.sia, a number of fox a "
sable farms have been establislied since M. Vladimir Generosoff aroused
interest by his report on Canadian fox farms.

Since, under present ranching conditions, silver foxes
in Numbers' inf'wi'^o in numbers approximately X'O >o>- cent each

year, it seems evident that tho present » for founda-

tion stock must tledine to near tho pelt value beforu many years.
The price of tho scrub stock and of specimens with tho poorer grade
of skins will tloclino first. It is likely that this inferior stock will be
used for matin;: with red t. id cros.s foxes which, by tho year 1916,
should be producing a largo number of silvers, mostly of poor quality,
however.

I ox- I A I! M INC. |\ 'AVADA

\\itl» 14'nuitl ti) ^tllU!llHMlts frt>.|ijciitly iimdo thut .silvir
ol Silvtr Fo« ''"^ ''^''" ^" "*' •■''•'•'I> "■•< niMiit if iinxlucud ns* niiint-nnislv,
tiio point is not worth (liscii,M«in^', ninco produi'tion ill
not in'Tonho boyontl the point whtno u profit can 1m« iniuit'. Tin- Lon-
don impoitiition of iiil)liit.>t is now ovt-r S(),( OO.CKM) skins imnually and
Australia usos thousandn inoni wwkly in Iut ;ircat fcltinji industries.
An attempt was made to s<t«io expoit opirions from quuliticd furrii-rs
as to tho linal valtio of silver fox pelts when tlioy are produeed in as iai
numbers as tlioso of red foxes are now. Tiiu eomensus of opinion was
tliat.becausoof its greater Keauty and moru favoured eoiour, silvur fox
fur woiiUl 1)0 three times as vnhiaj.hi as red fox. natural Mark furs not
ocTurrins: eonunonly in nature. In this eonm-'t ion, it must lie ruinem-
i)er('d that all raucii .silver foxes are killed whi-n the fur is prime and
no injury whatever is done to the pelt, so that tluur pclis would he worth
from $10.00 to SSO.OO oaeh for No. 1 skins, at the present vaiu.ition of
tho iK'lts of red foxes from Northeast Can.ida. h< -t will lie a lotif: time
before the producticm of silver foxes will appro ,li to the number of
ev(!n high-j,'rnde red foxes marketed yearly. The total number of skins,
a-cording to tho estiuiutes of l). Brass is 1,;5:57,00() yearly for tho
rommon fox. Even if the pelts fell to .§.30.00, foxes eoui.j be riii-ed \)r>-
titably by a farmer who maintained other live stoek. In many di-it.ict8
the annual casji outlay per fox for food need not oxeeiMl ijii.'.OO, :ui<l attend-
ing to twenty foxes would not involve so much labour as attending': to ten
cattlo. If fox ri.npli fences cost more, tho land and houses . ost much
less. Tho fox, moreover, reproduces rapidly and conu-s to maturity iu
eight months.

Because the silver fox Las never been produced in cousidfraliK-
numbers, it has been impossible for furriers to carry a stock largo
enough to warrant advertising it and featuring its saie. It has been
difficult to obtain even two matched skins at one sale. I'mh-r the new-
conditions, when thousands of skins may come to t!>e market season
after season, matching will be ea.sy, and the best fur stores c: ,, r.Miy in
stock enough silver fox to warrant the featuring of it.

. . An opportunity is now prosente 1 to tho ranchmen to

Among"roducers ""'*'' '"*" "■ strong co-operative association to pro-
tect and promote tho industry. Frauds could bo cx-
po.scd, breeding records kept, thieves arrested and prosecuted, legis-
lation s-^cuicd, the product advcrtis(!il and the whole market situation
studied. Tho publication of inexact and fanciful statements by pro-
moters of stock companies is also injurious to the industiy's future.
The better protection of tho stock from thieves could be achieved by

rOM MISSION OF rONSRHVATIO\

amending the provincial trespass laws so as to increase the fine for
trespassing near fox ranch property.*

Because of the mixing of various strains of foxes, it is difiicult to
secure reliable "performance" records of stock. The only "perform-
ances" worth noting in foxes are the prices of the pelts of the an-
cestors, and such features as fecundity, beauty, size and weight of the
pelt. Well-organized provincial associations could keep perform-
ance records, and the various provincial organizations could co-oper-
ate with the Federal Department of Agriculture for registration.

Quarantine is a question that may, at any time, become of prime
importance. Thus, if disease breaks out in any district, the Fed-
eral Department of Agriculture, if requested by a strong association of
breeders, might be induced to undertake a quarantine.

The whole problem of the protection of wild animals and the pos-
sibility of propagating them in captivity are broad questions that re-
quire more attention than has been given them in the past. A Dominion
Furriers and Fur-farming Association organized along lines similar
to the Canadian Forestry Association, and like the latter, publishing its
own joui iiul, could do much to promote a healthy interest in protecting
and propagating wild life. The organization of provincial associations
would be the fust logical step in such a movement. To establish a per-
manent national organization, representatives of the fur trade, the
fur farms, the game wardens and commissioners, and the government
experts could be called together.

POLAR OR ARCTIC FOX

(Vulpes lagopus)

The polar fox is found in the high latitudes. It is of two colour
phases — white, and the so-called blue, which is really a drab gray re-
semblirg somewhat in colour a maltese cat. The white fox is brown in
summer with the under parts lighter or drab. The white winter coat
has a pure white long overfur with an underwool of a darker colour.
The blue phase is of a gray-brown colour all the year round and is found
more abundantlj' in the southern portion of the range of these foxes.
It is said to exist in Greenland and Iceland. The number of blue-fox
pelts sold annually is about one-tenth of the number of white-fox, and
they sell for several times as much, bringing, at present market prices,
from 820 to S75 each, ami even higher for clioice pelts.

*Soc Appendix VII.

I )

Polar Fox (White) Ranched in Russia. This Animal is of the same Species

AS THE Blue Fox which is Ranched in Alaska and Canada.

The Fox is in Summer Coat

A Russian Red Fox

POLAR OR ARCTIC FOX

«7

A considerable number of blue foxes were imported into Canada
during the season of 1912. Possibly a hundred or more were brought
into the Maritime Provinces from Alaska, where feeding is now dif-
ficult because the killing of seals is not permitted. One consignment
numbered thirty-two and arrived in very fair condition.

As no increase whatever was obtained from those imported in 1912,
not more than 40 or 50 blue foxes had been imported into Prince Edward
Island up to December 1, 1913. No authenticated instances of whelps
of blue foxes being raised to maturity are recorded. Statements were
made that a number of litters had been born, but investigation proved that
very few, if any, of the young were seen by the ranchmen and they sim-
ply surmised that birth had taken place because of the actions of t lie
vixen. It is difficult to understand why blue foxes have not produced
young in the Maritime Provinces. This failure can hardly be ascribed
to the removal of the animals to more southern latitudes as, in many
instances, common red foxes imported from Alaska have bred in Prince
Edward Island. The southern latitudes would hardly affect their
fecundity, though it might lessen their fur-value— partieulai-Iy in
weight of fur. The probability is that the facts concerning the feed, care,
and general management of blue foxes are not yet known. In Alaska
they are rarely, if ever, ranched in pens, but roam wild over the islands.
It is probable that those now ranching blue foxes, who have spent
considerable time studying their habits in Alaska will succeed in roaring
young in the spring of 1914.

The blue fox is a better climber than the red and an overhang wire
of 36 inches is required. Otherwise, the pens are built similarly to
those of the common fox.

Bl F ■^^^ following account of blue fox farming is taken from
Farming "'^^^ Farming for Profit," published by the Fur News
Publishing Co., of New York.
"For some years past the blue fox has been successfully raised
in rather large numbers on several small islands off tiie coast of Alaska,
and for a shorter period on the mainland. The blue fox thrives and
multiplies in captivity, and can be raised with rather more satisfaction
than the other members of the fox family, as it is more tractable and
easily managed. An island makes an excellent blue fox farm for
various reasons: there is no large outlay in cash for fencing; as the is-
lands are surrounded by the sea, the water does not freeze over in
winter and the foxes cannot leave the farm; no danger is to be appre-
hended from the intrusion of other animals; a considerable supply of
food may be obtained from the sea, which is to a considerable extent
self-supplied; crabs are found along the shore, fish are washed up on

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

the beach from time to time, and other food is found on the islands.
While a number of the islands are now occupied by blue fox farmers,
there are many more that are available for the purpose, and which
can be leased from the United States government on reasonable terms.
Farms on the mainland may oe enclosed with wire fencing, and rfeed
not be larger than 50 feet by 50 feet. For raising the foxes on a larger
scale than would be possible in an enclosure of the above-mentioned area,
several little farms, adjoining each other, may be fenced off.

"Blue foxes breed once a year, mating about February 1, and the
young are born near the end of May, the litter comprising from three
to seven. Artificial dens or hiding places in which the foxes may le-
main secluded at will are provided.

"Food for the blue fox includes fresh, dried and cured fish, crabs,
fresh meats obtainable in the vicinity of the farms, cooked corn-meal
cakes made of a mixture of corn-meal and chopped dried fish, and meal,
tallow and fish preserved in oil.

"Food should be supplied to the animals most abundantly from
the first of July to August, as, at that period, the care of the young
foxes makes it necessary for the old foxes to be better fed than at other
times.

"The price of blue fox skins is about ?']0.00 each, and even more is
paid for well-coloured, full-furred and properly handled pelts.

"Stock for beginning may be procured from persons raising blue
foxes on the islands at a cost of somewhere near $200.00 per pair.

"The Secretary of Commerce and Labor has authority to lease
for the purpose of propagating foxes, such islands in the waters of
Alaska, excepting the Pribilof group, as have been so leased by the
Secretary of the Treasury prior to May, 1898. The rental in the past
has been one himdred dollars per annum for each island."

The rate of increase of blue foxes is said by Ernest Thompson
Seton to be good index to th5 increase of red foxes. He
says: "St. George island, about 36 square miles, has about
270 pairs of foxes, and although chey are fed and protected and the
species has 5 to 12 in a litter, not more than 400 to 500 can be marketed
each year without reducing the stock." The figures are about cor-
rect for the annual increase of the silver fox, despite the claims of some
ranchers of an average annual increase of from 200 to 300 per cent.

Maj. Gen. A. Greely, in his Handbook of Alaska, published in
1909, writes:

"Unwise exploitation has veiy greatly reduced the fur-

Details"*' bearing productivity of the land animals of the Aleutian

islands, as well as of the interior of Alaska. With the early

Rate of
Increase

BLUE FO::.FARMING

exterininution of foxes in prospect, there was organized about 181)4 tiie
Semidi Propa^'ation Company, to domesticate and laiso foxes on un-
inhabited islands. Tlie original fox farm was stocked from the Pribi-
lof group and was situated on North Semidi island, whence the in-
dustry has extended to thirty or more islands to the eastward, far the
greater number being situated in Prince William sound, though theio
are seven in the Kodiak group. Most of the islands are occupied under
lease from the United .States, and, under the law, are not open for
horaesteading. The companies and several individuals have followed
this industry, which lias been only moderately successful from the
financial standpoint. Considerable investment is necessary, it takes
at least four years before any revenue is obtained, the life is most
isolated, and skins are not very productive, usually varying in value
from SIO to 820, according to quality and demand. In some instances
natives have become fox breeders and, where private parties are so
engaged, they have supplemented their fox breeding by fishing, farm-
ing, or lumbering.

"The largest fox farm is at Long island, near Kodiak, where
there are nearly 1,000 blue foxes. Tlie largest number of skins comes,
however, from the Pribilof group, where about 700 foxes are annually
taken by the natives, supplementary to the fur-seal catch. These foxes
are not domesticated.

"The very valuable silver-gray fox is too thoroughly savage to
accept conditions necessary for profitable lox breeding and, in conse-
quence, fox farming is confined almost entirely to the blue fox. The
fox is monogamous, and an average of four foxes come to maturity from
each litter. It is necessary to feed them the greater part of the
year, and careful supervision is essential to their successful raising.

"The blue fox thrives wild on the extreme easterly isle of Attu,
and from that point several of the Shumagin islands, Chernabura,
Simeonof, etc., have been stocked with moderate success. The ex-
tension and development of this industry is desirable as one of the much
needed means to enable the Aleuts the more successfully to meet
changed conditions of Ala.skan life."

^ !

COMMISSION OK CONS F, Fl V A T I O N

Blue Fox Bheeders i\ Alaska''

I :

* 1

i;F:

Island

Locality

Name of Breeder

Post-office Address

Little Naked. . .

Pr. William sound .

Woltcr Story

C/o Alaska Packers
Assoc., San Fran-
cisco, Cal.

Olaf Carlson

Louis Carlson

Fred Lilyogren

James AicPherson.. . .

EUamar, Alaska.

Big Naked

u u

Edward Elk

U 1

Fairmount

William Byers

u u

Bliith

u u

WiUiam Busby

George Donaldson. . . .

U M

Goose

u a

u u

Greene

Peterson & Brewer . .

U If

George Fleming

A W Lind

II 14

Gage

14 a

Pond

u u

Smith

James Hetties

a u

Squirrel

John L. Johnson

Orca, Alaska.

Perry

Small, near

Kendall &Stering....

Ellaraar, Alaska.

Perry

Christ Christensen... .

M 44

Glacier

Peter Jackson

14 14

An island (no

name)

Resurrection bay.. .
Kachemak bay. . . .

Alfr ed Law

14 a

Yukon

A. R. Ritchie

Homer, Alaska.

Cape Elizabeth.

M. F.Wright

S<>Att]p Wash

Chirikof

Southwest of

Kod^ak

Semidi Propagating
Co

Kodiak, Alaska.

North Semidi.. .

w «

South Semidi.. .

a u

Chemobura

Near Unga

a M

Little Konuigi..

u u

Simeonof

u a

Marmot

A u

Whale

Near Kodiak

u tt

Andronica

Near Unga

W.L. Washburn

(administrator)

San Francisco, Cal.

Long

Semidi Propagating
Co

Near Cape
Elizabeth

Kodiak. Alaska.

Pearl

Alaska i ox Co

u u

Dr>-

Near Kodiak

West of Unalaska. .

Semidi Proj.'!igating
Co

a u

Samalga

Not occupied.

Peak

Pr. William sound .

McPherson & Elk. . . .

Ellamar, Alaska.

• I

There are also two small islands near Prince of Wales sound not
now occupied. The following islands, also, are no longer occupied:
Demidof, Eastern Chugatz, Praznik and Near islands.

♦From Report of U. S. Department of the Interior, Public Lands Section, House
Documents, oSth Congress, 2nd Session.

BLUE FOX- FARMING

Additional lij^ht is tiiruwn on tho liroodiiifr of bluo foxos bv the
followinK aitiilo on " Tli.; Blue Foxes of tlie Prihilof Islands," by
James Judse:

The Blue Foxes of the Pkibilof Islands

"The Pribilof islands have many natural advantages as a home
for foxes. The innumerable caves and subterranean passa^'es uffonl
the best protection possible against the eleinonta or natural enemies,
while the bird, seal, and sea-lion life, with what may be picked up on
the beach, have, in the past, afTorded a supply of food rarely found else-
where. At tne present time foxes are about extinct on St. Paul and
Otter islands and have been preserved on St. George only through a
system of artificial feeding adopted several years ago. This paper deals
with St. George foxes only.

Former

Former '?" former times the annual quota of seals killed on St.

Food Supply George island varied between 20,000 and 25,000. Hun-
dreds of soa-Iions also were killed annually. With the
exception of what the natives took for food, these vast quantities of
meat were left on the ground M'here the animals were killed, and, during
the long period from September to May, these seal and sea-lion fields
furnished the foxes with food, when other and more palatable food was
not obtainable. Frequently dead whales, walruses, sea-lions, or fi.sh were
washed ashore and, when this occurred, the killing fields were aban-
doned by the foxes, and only resorted to again when this temporary
food supply was exhausted. These were practically the conditions under
which the St. George foxes lived from the time of Russian occupancy of
the island down to 1890. During this long interval, no attention was
paid to the animals, except that trapping was indulged in by the native
residents, from one to two months each winter when the skins were
prime.

Present
Food Supply

"During the summer of 1896, 1 had the natives salt 500
seal carcar-M.-, the meat being preserved in an old silo
formerly used by the sealing company. During the fol-
lowing winter, these carcasses wore taken out, a few at a time, freshened,
and thrown out for fox food. The rapidity with which the foxes
learned that food would be set out daily at a certain place and time,
and the numbers in which they came for it, surprised everyone on the
island. They not only ate the- meat but nearly all the bones as well.
For an hour before feeding time they could be seen coming from all
directions to participate in the feast. While waiting, they prowled

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

around the villaf^o picking up evurytliing uf an odiblc nnturo and many
things not odiblo. Thoy came in groatost numbers when the weather
was clear and cold.

"Since tliat time all seal meat on St. George, lot used by the
natives, has been salted within two or three days of the killing, and fed
to the foxes during the succeeding winter. When taken from the silo
it is half rotten, most of the brine having escaped, but the foxes prefer
it to fresh beef, mutton, or fish of any kind, as has been learned by
experiment. With the exception of three seasons, the catch of seals has
been under 2,500 and, as fully half the meat is required by the natives,
it has been necessary to supplement the amount allowed the foxes with
other food.

"In the spring and summer, thousands of sea birds make the islands
their home. This is the time the foxes enjoy life to the utmost. The
birds are very numerous and, in the early part of the season, many meet
death or injury accidentally and, of course, fall a ready prey to the
foxes. During the month of May, hundreds of small auklets or ' ehooch-
kies' in flying to and from the sea, strike the telephone wire and are
killed or injured. No sooner do they reach the ground, however, than
the foxes are there to pick them up. For the first fewdays, reynard will
eat the entire bird, but, later on, as he becomes surfeited, he cats only
the head and leaves the body untouched. The eggs of birds are a deli-
cacy enjoyed by the foxes. The 'arrie' or murre and other large birds
lay their eggs on shelving rocks on the cliffs ; and it is astonishing to see
a fox climb around an almost inaccessible place, secure an egg and carry
it away for its young, to return shortly and repeat the operation.

"By September 1, the birds, their breeding season being over, have
mostly left the island, the deaths among seals on the rookeries are few,
and marine food is not abundant, so it behooves the foxes to seek food
in other quarters.

"One season a mush of either corn-meal or middlings was used;
but, while readily eaten by the foxes, it was not good for them. Dried
fish was tried and found excellent food, and, during the last two years,
salt fish has been in use. Salt itself is deadly to the foxes, so that in
feeding salted food, care must be taken to thoroughly freshen it.

"Seal killing begins in June and, as the carcasses are left on the
ground, a good supply of food becomes available. It appears, however,
that, at that season, the eggs and meat of birds are preferred to seal
meat, as the latter is seldom touched, while bird feathers and egg shells
are to be found along the trails and at the mouth of every fox warren.
With the departure of the birds in the fall the foxes follow the shore

BLUE F O X - F A R M I \- O

line in search of food thrown up by the sou, and pay pniticulnr attention
to seal rookeries, on the lookout for dead pups, wliicii seem to bo rel-
ished, and are dragged off for tlio young.

"While the animals eat a preat deal of grass and other land and
marine vegetation, it is evident that they cannot long survive on a diet
that does not include animal food.

Modtrn

"The year ISOO may be considered the turning point in
Condi«oni ^''^ ^^^ °" ^'"^ I'r'lji'of islands, which, of course, include

St. George. At that time, or soon after, a scarcity of fo.\es
was everywhere ai)parent, and the government agents in char;:;!!,
wrongly attributing the diminution to over-trapping, forbade all trap-
ping for throe different wmters in the early nineties, with the result
that the total catch for the seven years ending with 1807 was only
2,198. The real trouble was a shortage of substantial food, such as tlie
foxes had always been accustomed to, but this was not tiien under-
stood, or at least no steps were taken to supply the deficiency.

"The slaughter of seals upon the ocean by pelagic hunters had so
decimated the seal herd, that, in 1890, only 6,139 were secured on St.
George island, instead of the regular quota of 25,000. In 1891, 1802
and 1893, owing to the modus vivendi, the number of seals killed on
this island was further reduced to 2,500. The sea-lion herd of the i.-iland
had likewise been greatly depleted, so that but few of those animals
were killed, and, consequently, there was little or none of that meat for
the foxes.

"With the departure of the birds in the fall, the foxes, as usual,
scoured the beach for food, and that source proving insufficient, recourse
to the seal fields, where formerly they were sure of something when
driven to extremities, proved unavailing. The limited amount of seal
meat was soon cleaned up. After vhat, there was nothing for them
but starvation, and those that succumbed were quickly devoured by the
survivors.

"Coincident with the regular feeding of foxes, the experi-
Tttpping ^^^^ of catching them in small box traps was made. This

was successful fi'om the beginning, as the foxes did not
hesitate to enter for the bait, and sometimes two would get in before
the trap was sprung, although it was intended only for one. The foxes
came in such numbers that at least 50 box traps would be needed to
accommodate them. This sugrested the erection of a house trap, and
accordingly a rough corral or house trap 8 by 14 feet was cons-
Rtructed beside the coal house. Three or four seal carcasses were placed
in the trap for bait. The foxes entered with little hesitation and soon

COMMIHSION OF CONHKRVATIOX

40 or moro would Ih! itisido. Tho iiiiin o|)orutin^ thu trup HtuuU iiiHuio
thd colli hoiiHi!, uml by pullin;; a rop«, cauMOil tho dour to drop, and tlio
foxes woro pri.sonorM. Suhmiqucntly a wire-mosh trap or fiijio 14 by 10
by 8 f(!ot was procured and placed at one end of ii Iiouho especially
for tho fu\ business. This houso is divided into tliroo rooms, in tho
larpir of which is a vat for freshening salt meat or fish. Tho other
rooms are designated as trapping and examination rooms, respectively.
Tho cago adjoins thu trapping room. All food set out for foxes is
placed in tho cago, tho door !>■ ng alwaj s oncn. Week after week before
trapping begins tho foxes ft d in this trap, and of course have no fear
of it.

"When trapping time arrives, food is placed in the trap as usual
and 8 or 10 men repair to tho fox houso. The door of the wire cage is
adjusted and the man who operates it is stationed in the trapping room,
in a position to observe what is going on in tho cage; and whun a suffi-
cient number of foxes have entered, ho closes the door by pulling s
small rope. Ho then goes into the cage and drives the animals into
the trapping room, where two men with largo leather mittens pick the
foxes up and pass them, one at a time, into the hands of others waiting
in the examination room.

"When the foxes are numerous in'the trapping room, they run be-
tween the legs of the men attempting to catch them, climb up their bodies
and jump from their shoulders, but very seldom bite except wh3n they
are taken hold of. If they get a good hold of a man's hand they hang on
with bull-dog tenacity until their jaws are pried apart. They seem to
realize their inability to bite thror^h the mittens, and with few ex-
ceptions are easily handled. Major JIark reports one last year as lying
inert in the native's arms, making no struggle whatever, and apparently
enjoying the smoothing it reci iyed.

"The Government Agent is stationed in tho examination
Breedert room, and when a fox is passed in he decides whether it

shall be killed, or branded and dismissed as a breeder.
The elements on which his decision is based are the colour and quality
of the fur, the age, length of brush, and live weight of the animal.
All white foxes, runts, those off colour, crippled, bob-tailed, in poor con-
dition physically, suffering from mange, or otherwise unfit to be left as
breeders, are despatched at once. All animals left as breeders must be
in good physical condition, of good colour, and either young or in the
prime of life; males must weigh at least 10 pounds, and females at
least 7i pounds.

"The age is determined by a dental examinr /hich is made by

opening the animal's mouth with a soft gag, anu inspecting the teeth.

BLUE F U X • F A R M I N ( i

7ft

"In taking tin- live \vii};!it, a stiap two ini-luw wide in loopotl aruund
the aniinul's tail and the other end of the ntinp attii- liiil to u ftpiiiij;
bulanc-u suBpcndud from tlic loilin;; of tho ro<.m. When the aniimd
bncomcH quiot th« weijiht U usrortaint'd and entorml.

"If tho hoaHf in to ho liift as a bioeder, a i inj? ono inch wide in cut
in the fur of tlio tail with a pair of m-i.x.sorH after which it is dropped
into a hopper and findM itself out of doorH. Mahm arc branded near tho
end of tho tail, femuUis near tho rump. About four-fifths of those dis-
misHcd aH brinsders aro caught tho second time, and some i .em aro
ro-caupht ten times or more in the course of tho season. HiMcntly, Mr.
Chichester installed so- •jral automatic traps, auxiliary to tho renular
traps, which havo done good work.

"When the animal is to bo killed, tho man who has it in hand
bends the head backwards until tho neck is broken. Tho dead anitnal is
then thrown into the adjoining room, waero other men remove tho pelt
This is done by nmning a sharp knife up the inside of the l<!;js, and
down tho length of tho tail, and drawing tho pelt off, leaving tho fur
side in. After the breeding quota is secured, all unbrandtxl foxes enter-
ing tho trap aro killed. All .rapping is done at night wun light from
lanterns. Tho next day the skins are cleansed and stretched on frames
to dry. Later on they aro whipp-jd and combed, and, the following
summer, barrelled and shipped to London.

"Tho skins are prime from November 15 to Januar}- 15, approxi-
mately. About the latter date the fur begins changing colour, und tho
skin shows signs of 'staginoss.'

" As indicated, the animals' ages are ascertained by dental exami-
nation. In this work no pretense to absolute accuracy is made. Dental
examination of a hundred or moro dead foxes of both sexos showed a
division of the animals into throe classes, which classification has since
been followed in making the annual census. These are: first, yearling or
approximately one year old; second, middle-aged or approximately two
years or three years old; third, over three years old. Tho young and
the advanced in life are easily distinguished, but tho intervening ages
are more difficult to determme. It is doubtful if tho life of St. CJeorge
foxes ordinarily exceeds five years.

* 7

_ . "On examination of 334 stomachs, seal meat formed the

Stomachs entire contents of 64, and tlie partial contents of 100 others.
Tiiis meat of course was gotten in traps, and was what the
animals came for. The contents of 17 full stomachs varied in weight
between 14 and 20 ounces. Tiiese animals were still feeding when
trapped and how much more they would have eaten if unmolested, can-
not be determined. The stomach, when empty, weiglis from IJ to 2

COMMISSION OF <;oNHi;u V \TIo\

ouncOT, but its cupacjty of ilmtoiitiiin for the roroption of fiMiJ is a-itoji-
iiihtnK- It IN doubtful if an animal after gnr;;inK ^'tb no much meat
wouUl feed the next day, but it is known that certain foxes livinj< in
the vicinity of tlm village do come for food daily.

"GraHH was found in 88 Btoinachn, foather8 in 57, wild parunip in
12, fixh bones in 8, bird or seal bones in 'JH, dirt or suiid in 22, tunicatos
in t)G, sea cpffs in 4, and fox fur in 8. Hoven stomachs contained only
water, and 14 were empty.

C t 1 I "^''° intestines varied in length from OJ to 10 feet, no
latMtinas difTorence being f ^und in this particular between the sexes.
On examination of the intestines of 240 foxos killed in
trapping, grass was found in 02, feathers in 20, wild parsnip in 10,
tunitates in 5. Neither of these things undergoes any apparent cliomical
change in tiie .'.tomach or intestines, and can Imj identified upon evacua-
tion in the excrement. Those small circular tunicatos are swallowed
without mastication and passed without digestion. Dirt was found in
24 intostinofl, gravel in 11, bones in 12, fox fur in 10. Two varieties
of intestinal worms were found in the nitestines of 20. Specimens sent
to Dr. Stiles were identified as speties that affect domestic animair, and
not particularly harmful. The distribution of the worms was general,
all ages and sexes containing them. Excepting lice in the fur, these
worms wore the only parasites discovered.

p. . . ' 'The live weights of 198 males loft for breeders varied

Characterittlei between 10 to 20 pounds each. Of this number 180
weighed between 10 and 13i pounds.
"Tlio live weights of 225 females varied between 7 J and 11 J
pounds, Of this number, 18 weighed less than 8 pounds and 13 over
lOJ pounds. Of 180 males killed, 101 woigh.ed 10 pounds and under,
while 17 .veighed over 13 pounds, the heaviest weighing 19i pounds.

"Of 80 fomalc- killed, 55 weighed 8 pounds and under, and 9
w.'ighed 11 pounds, and over. The heaviest female killed weighed 13i
pounds, the lightest 4 J.

"The average length of 180 nale skins, after being dried and
ready for shipment, was 30 inches plus; average breadth, 11 inches
plus; avorap;e length of tail, 15 inches plus.

" When the skins of male and female are placed side by side ,' nd
compared, the fur of the former is generally found to be superior to
that of the latter. As a rule, the fur of the two and three year old
males is the choice of all.

n L U K FOX- V \ II M I X n

" AiwuiiiiriK that tito hoxum uru U(|ual in numbur ut birth, titu ovi<
denco at my comninnd ton<U to thu euncluiiion timt thn nialon arc nioro
vigurouM anil Ixittor ubio tu survive advonM) cliiiiutic ur uther cunditiona
than thi) fomuluM.

"Kxcopt for afuwt'awoM, mufinf:, accorilinj! to my obnorva-
Brtttfiag tion, u confinuil to tlu) niontli of March and th» firtit half uf
April. Tlio ourlioNt birtli of |)ii|)s notinl by tiio was May 17,
the latest Juno 0. Altojiuthor I Imvo neon 22 lit tors of nov Sorn foxos.
The largest of those consisted of 11, the .inudlest of 5 ni(;iiibers. Throe
litters contained I white ouch; throe, 2 <''•:. d ei ch; and six, 1 doad ou' li.
These discoveries '.voro mado shortly nftor the young wore born and
before somo of them were dry. In ail thofo cases the mother mado no
preparation, but pave birth in slight dopressicms im the surface of tho
ground. In every case tho mother was much concernwl by my presonco,
and immediately transferred her young to some subterranean spot in
tho neighbourhood. She removed the dead as well as tho living. Tho
male consort wns not present at any of these births. I am inclined to
think tho mother always gives birth on the surface of tho ground, and
•.vithin a day or so trnnsfers tho young underground for protection and
security.

"As a general thing, the young arc not observed until about tho
miadle of Juno. Thoy are then of protty good size and play f)r food
about the mouths of their burrows, on food brought by tlioir jjiuonts.
When the young are thus playing or feeding, one and occasionally two
old foxes are in tho vicinity. Those are supposed to 1m) parents when
two are present; but gcnoro'' only one, presumably tho moth'!r, is
about and the approach of a pc.son causes the^mission of a sluill note
from her which sends the young scampering under tho ground.

"The number of young poen at the mouths of their burrows vario^
between 1 and 4, according to my observation. Major Clark saw
12 at the mouth of one warren, but he was under the impression that
more than one family was ^oprosented. During the summer of lOOfi,
Mr. Chichester observed daily for many weeks a family of eleven, all
of which were eventually brought up by tho mother. I am inclined
to consider thi.s litter a very exceptional one. If it were not, we would
have a great many more foxes at trapping time.

"The infant mortality, which is very great, takes place shortly
after birth and is pmbably attributable to want of nourishment, cold,
and inclement ■.voatiicr. As soon as the young can oat meat, they thrive
rapidly and, under ordinary conditions, reach maturity.

"On one occasion a native found a family of 12 young th.at had
just been born. One he thought was dead and brought it to mo, but

rOMMTSSTOX OF OONfEUVATION

after bcinj: in tho house ton minutes tiic little thing showed signs of
life. It wiis placed on a hot water bottle, where it soon revived and
began to squeal. Mrs. Judge administeied milk with a medicine drop-
per and it soon settled down and went into a healthy .sleep. When it
awoke, the medicine dropper was again brought into use; and, later
on, it learned to nurse one end of a bunch of cotton, the other end of
which was immersed in milk. It improved steadily on a milk diet
until it was three weeks old. It then grew less ravenous, probably as
a result of overfeeding, and, at times, refused to nurse. At the age of
four weeks it died. Its eyes opened on the 1.5th day. When brought in,
it weighed 2 J oxmces; when three weeks old, it weighed .six ounces.

B . J » . ^^ hite foxes are occasionallv found in litters of blue.
Reduced Number,,., ,, ,.',,. , . ,

of White Foxes iww is no record of a litter of wlute foxes. -Vsthe

white skins are of comparativeh* little value, continued
effort to exterminate white foxes has been pursued since 1897. Every
white fox entering the trap since that time has been killed at once
and, in addition, the natives are permitted to shoot them any time
during tlii! winter. The total number killed in 1897 was 40, in ISOS it
was 18, and, since that time, the number killed per year has varied
between G and 12, with the exception of the winter of 1903-1904, when
15 were killed. La.st winter 8 white skins were secured, but Major
Clark, who was then in charge of St. George, says that only three of
these were pure white, the others being either marred or mottled with
faint blue spots. During the summer of 190G, Mr. Cliichester observed
a number of foxes that were part blue and part wiilto. After Septem-
ber, ho saw but one of these and therefore concluded that as winter
approachel the parti-coloured coats became white.

" Evidence of di.sease among foxes on the island is scanty.
Diseases Foxes found dead at any season are always autopsied, the

local physician assisting, but it is seldom that the cause of
death can be definitely ascertained. Dr. Mills and I found a fox in
spasms, which on post mortem was found to have been suffering from
ura;mic poisoning. One death was due to hemorrhage of the kidney,
and another to tuberculosis. This latter case was found by us on May
28, 190.5. The animal was a female, 3 years old, carrying one brand.
She was void of fat and weighed not more than 4 jxiunds. The loss
of flesh had occurred since the time of trapping, a few months previous.
Tubercr.lar nodules were found in both lungs. Death, on one occa-
sion, resulted from a sac of pus which hatl formed on the intestine.

Another dead fox showed all
kidneys, which was atrophied.

tho organs normal except one of tho

■■

BLUE FOX. FARM IN O

" Mr. Chichester reports three dying of kidney disease and one of
tuberculosis in 190G, and one of jiorforation of the stomach caused by
an ulcer in 1907. In that year, he killed four that were suffering from
mange, and in 1908, Major Clark killed nine that he found afflicted
with the same disease.

"An unusual number of dead on St. Paul island the vinter of
1902-03, taken in connection with symptoms of mania noticed by Mr.
Lembkey, led him to believe that an epidemic of some sort affected the
foxes- that year.

"When foxes starve to death a dark discharge issues from the
anus.

Y" Id f "Statistics of the catches prior to 1840 are not available.
Fox Skins I'O'" the 19 years ending with 18G0, the average annual
catch for St. George island was 1,278.

"For the 19 years ending with 1889, according to figures kindly
furnished me by the Alaska Commercial Company — the former lessees
of the sealing privileges — the average annual yield was 1,074.

"The following table shows concisely the entire trajiping since
steel traps were abandoned, which is coincident with the inauguration
of regular feeding.

Rlue Foxes Trappf.d

Number of tr.^ppings

Killed,
inc. white

Uf.le.\sed
AS Hrekdeus

♦Total
trapped

Fox-liouse

Elsewhere

Male

reinale

1S97-<)S

346

102

324

772

1898-99

386

110

389

885

1899-00,....

418

498

981

I9(M)-01....

441

204

090

1,335

1901-02. . . .

246

202

6.50

1,098

1902-03....

511

250

1,011

1903-04

491

284

286

1.061

1904-05. . . .

272

244

250

706

1905-06. . . .

481

279

302

1,062

190t)-07. . . .

380

232

270

882

1907-08. . . .

446

267

272

1,0(J5

" During the first three years .sliown in the above table, the work
was under the supervision of the government agents, tlio next five un-
der that of the company agents, and, since 1900, again under the gov-
(^i-nment agents. The cbl.> and flow in fox life as sliown by the trapping
is capable of explanation, but the details cannot hero 1)0 considered.

♦Occasionally the eolumji "Total trapped" includes skins of animals found dead.

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

i '

"Females were immune from killing during the first six
Summary years; since then, approximately an equal number of males
and females have been released for breeding purposes, and
the remainder killed, regardless of sex. It was thought, in the first
instance, that, by saving all females and a small number of males,
polygamy would become general among the foxes as is the case with
domestic animals. Results not meeting with expectations, tho scheme
of leaving a number of pairs and savmg them for breeders was adopted.

"Evidence of promiscuous sexual intercourse among the foxes is
confined to a very few cases, none of which appear in the printed re-
ports of the agents of the Department of Commerce and Labor. Only
one case has come under my observation. The different method of
branding males and females is reported by Mr. Chichester as showing
that pairs of foxes often seen playing together in the spring are not
always male and female. He also observed a female fox bring up a
litter of young alone and unaided. Later on, h i^.ever, the same
gentleman found the first authentic case of paired foxes jointly engaged
in feeding and guarding the same litter of young.

"It is possible that some of the females do not mate or become
impregnated, and there is evidence that others abort; so, on the whole,
it would seem wise to leave a surplus of healthy vigorous females, in-
stead of adhering rigidly to the rules now in vogue.

" At present the business is carried on under a contract, by which
the North American Commercial Co. gets all the skins taken, com-
pensates the natives for their labour, and furnishes a, certain amount of
fox food; but the feeding, trapping and entire conduct of fox affairs
is in the hands of the government agents.

" While tho regular annual catch of f . skins on St. George island
since the present methods were adopted is less than half what it was
from 1870 to 1890, as herein shown, it is evident that the herd, and
with it the annual catch of skins, can be indefinitely increased. Tho
fact that on St. Paul island, where nothing was done to perpetuate
fox life, the species is about extinct, justifies tho opinion that the
measures taken on St. George island have preserved the foxes thereon.
Summing it up, it may be stated that the preservation and increase of
the foxes on St. George island depend, primarily, upon the bountiful
feeding of proper food for about eight months every year; and second-
arily, upon the careful and methodical selection of the animals reserved
for breeding purposes."

! i

0.
^ -

•jO

KARAKUL SHEEP

(Of the Ovis platyuru or broadtail class)

THE information respecting the breeaing of karakul sheep for Per-
sian lamb and astrakhan fur production has been, in large part, ex-
tracted from a Russian Govemment bulletin LyMr. M. Karpov, published
in 191U and entitled "Facts concerning KaraKu! Broedmg"; from the
United States Department of Agriculture which experimented for two
years with karakul sheep supplied by Dr. C. C. Young; from Dr. Young
himself; from the article of Prof. Wallace of Edinborough University
in the Pastoralist magazine published in 1909; from Herr Carl Thorer
of Leipzig, the largest importer of karakul sheep fur in the world; from
Mr. Vladimir Generosoff, Russian Agricultural Commissioner in Amer-
ica; from Consul Emil Brass' book "Aus dem Reiche der Pelzo"; from
the American Breeders Association ; from daily personal observation of
the kar-kul sheep recently imported to Charlottetown, P.E.L, and
from tho examination of skins produced on the ranch of the Middle-
water Cattle Co. of Middlewater, Texas, whose herd was recently
imported into Prince Edward Island.

7 5

C :

The khanate of Bokhara, West Turkestan, Central Asia
Karakuls — especially the districts of Karakul, Karshi, Kerki, and

Tcharjui on the Amu-Darya river — is the original home of
the karakul breeds of sheep which produce the furs known to commerce
as Persian lamb, astrakhan, baby lamb, or broadtail and gray krimmer.
From these centres the industry- has, in recent years, extended to the
klianate of Khiva, lying immediately north of Bokhara; southerly
to Northern Persia and Afghanistan, westo-'v to Transcaspia, the
Caucasus, and the Crimea, and to the eastern provinces of West
Turkestan, Syr-Darya, Ferghana, and aemiryetchensk. A few small
outlying herds have very recently been established in southern Russia,
Germany, Hungary, Africa, and America.

The karakul ccmsists of six classes which mav Ijc roughly
Karakuls referred to as distinct lireeds. These, Dr. Young asserts,
are all descended from the 'danadar'— now practically
extinct — and from which they have derived their black colour, lustre
of wool, and tendencies to produce tightly-curled lambs. The breeds
that produce the most highly valued fur are:

1. The small arabi — a small sheep with coartj, long, gray wool
when mature; small head, with small, erect ears- nnd straisrht nnse line;
6

COMMISSION OF CON.SKRVATIO.V

thin feet, long, broad tail of 18 or 20 vertebrte; at birth, jet black,
with lustrous, close, tight curls, which, soon after, open out on all parta
of the body and become gray except on the fact, neck, legs, abdomen,
and end of tail; rams are horned.

2. The 'large arabi,' or 'doozbai'— a larger sheep than any common
breeds in America and Great Britain; same coarse, gray wool as the
small arabi or somewhat coarser; largo head with long, drooping ears
and convex nose line; strong, thick feet; enormous broad tail of about
16 yertebrsc. The wool characteristics at birth and at maturity, are
similar to those of the small arabi, except that an occasional specimen
is fawn-coloured at birth graduall\' changing to white and whitish-
gray at maturity; rams often homed.

3. The 'intermediate class' is a cross between the email arabi
and the doozbai and pos.sesses one or the other characteristics of each
breed.

4. and 5. The 'gray shiraz' and the 'zigai' are too few in number
to merit description.

6. The 'karakul Afghan' (also known as the 'karakul finewool')
comprises probably 98 per cent of all karakul sheep in Bokhara.
They are characterized by the presence of fine, short, lustreless, merino-
like wool often completely hidden by the longer, coarse, gray arabi over-
wool. At birth, the skins have open, lustreless, curls, due to the presence
of the fine wool, and are practically worthless if a large quantity of fine
wool is present. It is this class of sheep that is usually sold to the
unsuspecting foreigner by the crafty natives who care little how they
treat the 'giaours,' or 'infidel dogs,' as they term Christians.

When, in 1908, Dr. Young made his first importation of fifteen
head to America, he found, after three years of breeding, that twelve
of the fifteen were karakul Afghans and produced almost worthless
skins when bred to one another. However, when they were crossed
with one good doozbai ram, the skins brought an average price, in whole-
sale lots, of $6.50 according to valuation furnished by United States
Government furriers. This mistake was avoided in the second importa-
tion from Bokhara in May, 1912, and the nine lambs born in transit,
none of which were slaughtered or died, possessed skins of magnificent
tight curls and gloss. It is not probable that any profit can be madd
by breeding the karakul Afghan type of sheep, though, because of the
mistake made in the choice of the first importation, they are in the
large majority even in America. Dr. Young largely retrieved himself
in the choice of his second importation, but unsuspecting fur farmers
will almost certainly be disappointed if they depend on the fine-wool
karakul strains of his first purchase in Bokhara. Descendants of the
first karakul Afghan sheep imported are in the possession of several

KARAKUL SHEEP

American breeders who, themselves, may bo in ignorance of the ina-
bility of their sheep to produce lamb.s with valuable skins.

When the vogue for black Russian furs arose one or two
and Attrakhan^-'Te years ago the first traders to secure the raw furs and

market them were the Persians, hence the trade name
of the karakul sheep lambs became 'Persian lamb.' Their proximity
to Bokhara, because they were Mohammedans and because they could
enter a land, at that time, closed to Christians, enabled the Persians to
monopolise this trade. The skins were brought out by caravans
through Transcaspia to Asun-da on the Caspian sea and were shipped
by water to Astrakhan. Hence the trade name of 'astrakhan' waa
also attached to these pelts by the European merchants who traded
there. Thus, for a time, the terms 'astrakhan' and 'Persian lamb'
were used indiscriminately to describe all lamb pelts used as fur, except
gray ones, which were called shiraz and, later, krimmer. In the last
dozen years, the term 'Persian lamb' is applied to all black, lustrous,
tight-curled skins; 'astrakhan' or 'karakul' has been applied to open-
curled skins or skins with no curl whatever, of any colour except gray,
and includes the skins of fawn-coloured kids and kalmuck, khirgiz, mon-
gol, tshimtuk, Persian or other fat-rump sheep as well as to the skins of
karakul Afghan or karakul sheep with fine underwool. All gray lamb-
skirj with tight curls are named 'krimmer' by the furriers; the gray
skins with only slight curl or no curl are 'astrakhan.' It should be
distinctly borne in mind that the terms 'Persian lamb,' 'astrakhan,'
and 'krimmer' are trade names used by furriers and tradesmen. These
names are never applied to the live animals, but to the skins only.

According to Karpov, "kara-kul" is a Tartar term,
Their Meanings signifying "black rose" or "black lake" to which

the native in his enthusiasm likens the black tight-
curled skin known as 'Persian lamb'. 'Arabi' is a Tadjik word meaning
'black' and should not be confounded etymologically with Arabia,
which coimtry, according to Consul Emil Brass, possesses no fur-bearing
sheep. 'Koordiuk' in Tartar, signifies 'fat rump' and is applied by the
Russians to some thirty different breeds of fat-rump, coarse-wool
sheep {ovis steotopyga) whose lambs are not killed for fur purposes.
The skins of the still-born and yomig lambs which have unavoidably
died are styled 'astrakhan' and are practically valueless outside of the
country of their origin. As the fur is of the poorest class, it Is re-
ferred to as 'peasant fur,' and is, generally, fawn-coloured,
j^ It was noted above that the presence of fine wool

5ur Producers in the karakul Afghan sheep destroyed their value

for the production of the costlier skins. This sug-

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

gosted tho possibility that our long and coaree-woolled sheep, a.g.,
the Lincoln, Cotswold, and tho Highland black-face might produce
lambs with tight curls of considerable gloss. These skins could then
bo dyed and sold as 'Persian lamb.' But experiments have shown
that the curl is rather open— not possessing enough horny substance
in the wool fibre to produce and maintain a close, tight curl. If a
karakul ram with an entire absence of fine-wool blood, be bred to coarse-
woolled native sheep, the lamb-skin produced is the equal of tho best
skins produced in Bokhara from full blood karakuls. This has been
well proven in America and is certified by officials of the United States
Department of Agriculture, who had such skins valued by New York
furriers. It has also been proven that the half-blood karakul rams,
produced by the above cross, will, if mated with the coarsest-woolled
native sheep, again produce the same character of fur. A karakul
of the requi-site quality, when crossed with any coarse-woolled breed
of Asia, Africa or elsewhere, always produces valuable lambs. The
most valuable skins yet produced in America (wholesale value $12.00)
were from a cross of a coarse-woolled karakul ram with coarse-woolled,
fawn, Persian fat-rump ewes, which themselves possess no inherent
fur qualities. The successful production of Persian lamb fur of high
quality seems to depend on both parents possessing (1) practically
no fine underwool, (2) very coarse wool, (.3) the proper strain of karakul
blood.

Preparing and ^^^ '*'"^'' designed for killing are slaughtered before
Marketing Skins they are two weeks old. If a fine, close curl is deman-
ded by the market, killing should take place within three
days of birth; if open curl is desired, the lambs may run for six weeks
but, when size is increased, the price decreases greatly. The half-
blood and quarter-blood karakul-Lincoln and karakul-Cotswold crosses
produced in the United States, which were bred from coarse-woolled
parents with an almost entire absence of fine wool, and which were
killed at the proper time, were priced at from S8. 00 to SI 2. GO each in
bale lots of two hundred or less. A considerable number of cheaper
skins were produced bringing from $5.00 down. These low prices
are due to fine wool in the parents, to killing too late or too early, to
improper salting of skins, to deaths of lambs out of season and to
teariufT of skins. Experience will probably correct these errors and raise
the avorase price. If sheep raising will pay in a district where six
months' old lambs are sold for $3.00 each, it is obvious that a profit
can be made if only $5.00 each were obtained for three-day-old lambs,
but the average price foi Persian lamb fur would probably be much
higher than $5.00. M. Karpov states that: "In the last 15 years
the increase in price of these furs in Asia and Southern Russia was

Karakul Ram. The Fl«ce is Gray. Coarse uonq and P"" "°^,f' ^',^°°'"

The Face and Legs are Covered with Black. Stiff. Lustrious Hair

WITH NO Wool, Intermixed

Full Blood. Coarse-wool Karakul Ewes and Lambs at Foot

K A H A K U L rt li K R l>

Importinc
Karakul Shaap

140 per cent," which iutrettsu, if iiittiiuuiiied, will mnm louvo uvuii
« larger margin of profit.

An appreciable profit over oriiinnry Mhoop ruining u also Motiirod
l»ecau80 the Vlinkn' or Htill-born lun»l)M, uh woll as the iambs that die
xoon after birth, produce nkim often vuluuble, and sometimes more
valuable, than tluwe of lambft born hoaltliy and killed afterwardj.
The 'baby lamlj' or 'liroadtail' fur, which is iiuido from the still-born
lambs is one of the costliest furs on .he market, ranking among the
precious furs. It i.. by far the costliest fur produced by a herbivorous
animal.

Tiio wool of the karakul is uscil in Mokhara for the manufacture
of valuable rugs— an industry in which Hokharans excel.

B T.....»i.. When the large margin of |)rofit obtained iiirearing lambs

which will 'etch from S5.00 to «12.00 each at birth,
us comjjared with ordinary sheep farming, is considered,
the imjjortation and rearing of karakul sheep would appear to be a profit-
able industry. Unfortunately for America, the difficulties of securing
these animals are practically insurmountable. The Hokharan.* are
Mohammedans who do not hesitate to cheat, or even to kill, a Christian.
A passport and permits from the Russian Minister of War and from
the Vice-Emir of Bokhara are required before entering the khanate,
and the djigits, or Bokharan police, will accompany the foreigner
only a short distance from the military posts. Caravans to remote
oases .,re necessary. The health of the foreigner is liable to break ilown
because of the absence of pure water, the unsiwakable filth in which
the natives live, and because of dangerous diseases such as
reshta. bubonic plague, -Vsiatic cholera and pondinka. In his
bulletin, Karpov says: "The natives, especially the Tenkintze and
Sarts, are greatly averse to selling any siicep, and, if they do, they will
try to dispose of those known to them as not producing the best of fur.
Sometimes, after covering great distances on camels, one finally meets
the herd owner, and, he is informed that the sheep are not for sale
at all, or is asked prohibitive prices. I do not deem it best to describe
the sale of sheep when they are commanded to do so by the Emir's
higher officials . . The cost of delivery of the sheep to the railroad
station when bought, for instance, in the interior of the Ker'ii desert,
is enormous, even though they cost only $60.00 each at the ranch.
Several sheep have been exported to Germany, also to Hungary and
Africa. The fifteen head taken to Texas by Dr. C. C. Young, assisted
by the Poltava Agricultural Society, are especially noteworthy. The
success obtained in America is a movement that may in future give
tremendous competition and disrupt the industry in Bokhara. It

COMMISSION or CO.*flERVATIO!f

may bo a little earl/ m yet to make these predictiona. To overcome
this pending danger, the mcwt gtringont moa«ur«Mi munt bo taken imme-
diately. Already, tlui Kmir haa taken steps prohibiting the exportation
of karakuls from Bokhara into couotrie* other than KuHsia. Already,
Persia and Afghanistan have some karakuls and theno brought to
America wore socurwl by a third (Russian) party who acted as a go-
between to overcome these laws of the Emir. This proves that they
are somewhat ineffective. There are taken out of Bokhara 1,600,000
skins yearly."

The laws of European Hussia now prohibit the exportation of kara-
kuls and the quaran'^ne laws of Canada, England and the United States
provide very strict regulations, guarding against the possible intro-
duction of Asiatic sheep diseases.

These facts, together with the difficult language, demonstrate
the seeming hopelessness of securing more sheep for America.

If the Persian lamb fur can be economically produced in America,
it will lessen the importations and would ensure a very important
industry supplying a market capable of absorbing about a million
skins yearly. Only six known distinct blood lines of Bokharan karakul
sheop arb in America and a number of these are represented in the
Prince Edward Island herd. If uuccess can be achieved with them,
Canada will be an important distributing point for these animals.
The successful production of Persian lamb would also supply the market
with breeding stock at high prices.

The following circular on karakul sheop has been issued by the
United States Department of Agriculture.*

KARAKUL OR ARABI SHEEP
"The numerous inquirie.s directed to the Department of Agriculture
concerning the Persian lamb industry have led to the compilation of
the following information.

"Persian lamb skins are the product of the young of the karakul
or arabi sheep and not of the Persian breed of sheep. These sheep
are native of Bokhara, in Russian Turkestan, and are not found in
Arabia, and only to a small extent in Persie. A number of other
terms have been used in connection with the industry some of these
being used interchangeably with Persian lamb. Among those are
'broadtail,' 'astrakhan,' and 'krimmer.' The term 'broadtail' is ap-
plied to skins of lambs of karakul blood bom before the close of
the regular gestation period. Astrakhan and krimmer skins are sup-
posed to pomo from sheep of somewhat different brocdin!:.

♦In the letter accompanyin)^ the karakul sheep circular, it is stated that: "We
nave not felt justified in publishing a bulletin upon karakul sheep raising. In-
<iuine« have been so niitnrrnsis, however, that we prepared a circular, copy of which
IB enclosed, embtdying what little we feel safe in saying at the present time."

KARAKUL RHREP

»7

"The demftnd for Poniian lamb skins has inoroiMod wondorfully
during the past fifteen or twenty years and is still expanding. A mem-
ber of the largest importing brm in America is uf the opinion that there
is no immediate indication that the supply will exceeti 'he demand.
The higher prices paid for skins, has lud to a groat dual . cnwsing fur
the purpose of procuring a greater supply of skins, and it is held by some
authorities that the very existence of the bro<<d in Bokhara is threatened.

"The skins imported to this country come over in the raw state
in bales containing about 100 skins each. Thuy are unsortod and some
of thorn ore not worth more than twenty-five cents each, but most of
them range m value between S3 . 50 and S15 . 00. It has been estimated
that $14,000,000.00* are spent abroad annually for skins and this
may indeed be possible, for one New York house alone handles from
200,000 to 250,000 skins per season.

"The possibility of establishing the industry in America lod to two
importations being made in 1908 and 1012, respectively. These
•heep were brought over by Dr. C. C. Young of Belon, Texas.
The first lot consisted of five rams and twelve ewes and the second
of twelve rams and seven ewes. From this stock and its ofrspring,
flocks have been established in Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, Maryland
and Prince Edward Island.

"The karakul is a hardy, broad-tailed, medium sized sheep of con-
siderable length. The rump is characteristically rounded and usually
steep. The rams are homed but the ewes are usually hornless. The
oars are small and pendulous. The face is narrow and much rounded
and fogotber with the logs is covered with short, glossy hair. The
body of the adult bears a coarse, long, hair-like wool, vaiyinR in colour
from light gray to black. The absence of soft imder-wool is said to be
an indication of purity of blood. The mutton of the karakul is said
to be of a very high quality.

"The lambs, when dropped, are usually a glossy black but, rarely,
golden brown ones occur. The wool of the lamb is tightly curled over
the body and well over the head and down over the legs. The qualities
that determine the value of a skin are tightnoss and size of curl, the
lustre, and size of the skin. The lustre is improved by tho dyeing
process which is essential in preparing tho skin for use. Tho curls
rapidly lose character and the lamb should be killed when not older
than ten days, though there is much variation in the age at which the
skins arc of proatcr value.

*Foreign Commerce and Xavigation of the United Staten, 19lt, states that, in
the year ending June 3Uth. 1912, furs, with a total value of $25,438,8.'<4, were im-
ported into the United States. Deducting seal-skins imported, gives a total for all
other fufs u( $25,000,000. It seems improbable that Persian lamb skins account
for fi6 per cent of this sum.

wiiir

C O M M I S S I () y OP CONSERVATION-

)

■4'

.11.

"TJie industry is »f ... n. infamy in America and much is yet
to be learned cone viuiv^^ it. l sent indications point out a gradual
progress which is m.^\ ii,;-ira',:

"The U. S. Departii..iit of Agriculture, in its work at the Experi-
mental Farm at Beltsville, Maryland, found that the karakul cross upon
the American merino was unsatisfactory from a fur standpoint. Ilesults
from private (locks confirm this finding. This crossing has extended
to mdude more of the breeds, and indications are that none of the
doso-wool sheep give satisfactory results, especially in the first crosses.
Good icsult-i have been reported from breeding karakul rams to
coarser wooUed ewes of the Lincoln and Cotswold breeds. What can
be developed from higher crosses containing a higher percentage of
karakul blood remains to be seen. The karakul-barbado cross was
also tried at Beltsville. The barbado is called the woolless sheep and
the first cross resulted in a failure so far as curl was concerned, although
the lustre was all that could bo desired. In November, 1913, the skins
of eight lambs sired by a karakul ram, and out of first cross karakul-
barbado ewes, were sent to New York for valuation. One skin was
appraised at fifty cents and one at $10. 00. The average value of the
eight skins was $4.75. The work is being continued and the higher
karakul crosses are being produced. If the high fecundity of the bar-
bado can be maintained in these crosses and the fur improved by con-
tinually using pure bred karakul sires, this may prove the means of in-
crea.sing the amount of karakul blood in America. Some Cotswold and
Lincoln ewes are now being bred to a karakul ram.

"The method of removal and treatment of the lamb skin should be
as follows :-Cut a straight line down the belly, and also cut down
on the inside of the legs to meet the centre line. Do not cut ofT any
portion of the skin, leave on the ears, nose and tail to the tip. Be
careful not to make unnecessary cuts. Stretch skin evenly on a board,
fur side down, and dry in a cool place. Do not salt the skin or double
It up for shipment purposes. The principal object is to avoid cracking
the skm. See that it is properly shaped when nailed down to the
board and thoroughly dried before shipping. Do not sun-dry the skm.
"The high price of breeding stock is, at the present time, a deterrent
mfluence upon the industry. Such pure bred rams as are available
have sold at from $500.00 to $1,000.00 each. Ewes are somewhat
cheaper. When buying breeding rams be careful to get pure bred
animals. Some breeders claim that as good results can be obtained
by the use of half-blood stock, but this has not yet been established.
It IS ad^ • .le to buy only such rams as have already demonstrated their
ability to sire skins of value."

RACCOON

{Procyon lotor)

THi; raccoon belongs to the Carnivora and is doselj- related to the
bears. It weighs from 10 to 25 pounds, is of a brownish-gray
folr'ur with black tipped hairs over the back and dark rings on the
tail, iind, when captured as a cub, is easily tamed. It does not appear
to ha\e the fighting characteristics peculiar to the mustelidce and, there-
fore, might, possibly, be easily kept in a wooded area where numerous
dens and hollow trees are found. Its habits are somewhat similar to
those of the bear. It hibernates in winter, so that mating probably
takes place in the fall, and the young are born about May 1. It will
eat meat of all kinds, frogs, corn and vegetables. One breeder said
that ho had fed his pair almost wholly on wheat shorts supplemented
with table scraps.

A heavily-wooded area, several acres in extent, with a creek run-
ning through, affords a favourable site for a raccoon ranch. The fence
enclosing it should be of No. 14 galvanized woven wire, 2-inch mesh,
with a substantially constractcd overhang. A sheet of iron around the
top of the fence would also help to prevent escape. It is probable
that a pen for each pair is unnecessary.

Brass estimates the yearly production of pelts at 600,000 — all from
America. The northern pelts are best and No. 1 large northern are
now quoted at $4.50 each, with price icing sharply. Near large

cities the flesh also may be sold for fi' or more.

If the rich mahogany-coloured racci i . juld be secured and bred
true to colour, and if present prices were maintained, a profitable
industry could probably be built up in northern districts after the
necessary experience had been acquired.

The fact that raccoons are found in only a few portions of Canada
does not mean that they cannot be successfully raised in more northern
regions if food is provided. In general, it is safer to move a fur-bearer
from a warmer to a colder home than to reverse the process.

WEASEL FAMILY

(Musldidce)

; i

■J^HE weasel family includes the mi .k, marten, otter, weasel, fislier,
I wolverene, sea-otter, skunk and badger, all of which aro very
valuable for their fur. The Russian sable, sea-otter, P^udson Bay
sable, ermine, black marten, fisher, Alaska sable, otter and mink furs
are derived from the animals mentioned above and are among the most
expensive skins. Russian sable skins are frequently sold at $500.00 or
more. As some sable skins are only about eight inches long, exclu-
sive of the five-inch tail, they cost more than silver fox, area for area.
The pelt of the wild sea-otter brings a higher price, on the average,
than the wild sUver fox. The Hudson Bay, or American marten,'
sometimes has almost as beautiful fur as the poorer Russian saole, but
the finest pelts sell for less than $100.00. The Canadian weasel, or ermine,
18 usually inferior to the Russian, often having a yellowish white or
gray colour. The most expensive mink pelts are those from the Lauren-
tian plateau and the Maritime Provinces. The price of fisher skins
has recently advanced gieatly and prime skins sell for as much as $75.00
each. The price of sktmk pelts has also advanced and black skins
from northern districts now bring from $8 to $12 for the finest specimens.
If the domestication of the marten, fisher otter, mink and skunk,
or, in other words, the family of the mu^.^idai, were accomplished^
there is no doubt that a market for more than 110,000,000 worth
of raw fur annually could be found. The annual production of all
American pelts is between $26,000,000 and $50,000,000, and
the above-mentioned family, with the Russian sable included, would
supply a large proportion of the demand for high-priced furs— probably
well over one half. It is worth noting in this connection that the
recently established fur-farming experiment stations in the United
States will experiment first with this family of animals. They wOl
probably keep the marten and the mink, these two being considered, by
experts, among the most desirable for domestication.

■ '

MINK

{Putorius Vison)

There are two well-known species which resemble each other closely
the European mink or marsh otter of Europe (P. lutreola) and the'
American mink (P. vison). The latter is found over a large portion

MINK

of North America, the finest and darkest being the small minks of
Quebec and the Maritime Provinces of Canada. While it lives on the
water a large part of its time and makes its home near streams, it can
live on the land away from the water and has even been found in trees.

The fur is dense and soft and the over hair is of stiff, lustrous water
hairs. The darkest colour extends down the back and tail. The dyers
usually accentuate the dark colour by brush dyeing or tipping the fur.

Brass estimates the world's yearly supply as follows: America,
600,000 skins; Europe, 20,000; and A'ia, 20,000. They do not seem
to be decreasing rapidly, but the price is advancing and, owing to the
excellent quality and durability of the fur, is likely to remain high.
Some fancy ranch skins have been sold for S13.00 and the best skins bring
about $10.00 each wholesale. Some conception of the extra value of
north-eastern mink can be formed when it is known that Quebec furriers
sold their mink to New York in 1911 at J9 each, and purchased mink
of the same quality mixed with the best eastern United States skins
at S8 each.

MlNK-»ARMING

The farming of the mink is still in the experimental stage. It
has been. demonstrated that mmk can be kept in captivity and its
young reared successfully. As for the quality of pelt, only a few state-
ments could be secured. All attempts to rear this animal in Canada
are too recent to furnish data for a general conclusion, or else were
made over thirty years ago when mink was ' Igh-prieed, and accurate
records were not kept. The statements of sales of skins received were
highly satisfactory, and indicate that pelts from stock bred in ranches
are, imder certain conditions, better than the wild stock. It was also de-
monstrated that rapid improvement in the stock is possible because of
the opportunity for selection of sires — an opportunity not possible in fox
rearuig at the present time because of the latter animal's monogamous
habits. Thus, one male out of every four or five can be chosen for
his size, beauty of colour or quiet disposition, and a rapid improvement
towards a good stock made.

There have been hundreds of mink ranches in America and there
are probably about fifty in Canada at the present time. None of them
are very pretentious except, possibly, that of La Compagnie Zootech-
nique de Labelle, Ltd., the head office of which is in Montreal and the
ranch at Lac Chaud, in the Laurentian highlands of Quebec. The
capital of the company is $49,000.00. As soon as the success of mink-
ranching is assured, it is proposed to proceed with the breeding of the
otter along similar lines.

COMMIriSIoy OF coy s e r v a T I o n

Tho whole ,,ue«ti..u of mink-ranching in one that need* more

thorough mve«tigat.on and probably the establishment of experimental

arms under experienced ranchn.en. A somewhat vague classification

mto tiiree typc.i of farming can be made from tho information gathered:

1. The Natural Plan.-Tlie minks are given an extensive
range and the conditions under which they live differ from the
natural conditions only in that the animals are fed and occasional
nosts provided. All catching is by trapping.

2. The Colony Method.-The families are kept in colony
Jiouses with a runway to a creek.

3. The Pen System.-Each mink is kept in a separate pen.

TheHatural ^^® ^"^^'^^ °^ ^'^ Compagnie Zootechnique de Labelle
Wan was the only one of this type visited; and the examina-

tion was made in 1912 when the ranch had been in opera-
tion only one year. In 1911, some two dozen mink were placed in the
area .hown in the illustration, comprising about one-quarter acre.
They increased about 100 per cent in number in 1912. The manager
explained the small increase as being due to the limited quarters whh
which they were provided. Another possible explanation is that 1912
appeared to be a poor year for both mink and fox. It is alsd possible
that the old wild animals captured did not take kindly to their new
loca ,on or to the artificial nests. The last cause wUl disappear, partic-
ularly as soon as ranch-bred mink are available.

As stated, the total area enclosed in the ranch in 19J1 was about
one-quarter acre. In 1912, work was under way to enclose an area 2 000
feet long and 1,500 feet ..ide at the widest point. The larger range 'will
probably insure considerable success.

The situation of the ranch is on an island in Lac Chaud in an
uninhabited section of c-untry in the Laurentians. It is hi-h and
rocky and covered with bi. h and spruce. The ranch is enclosed with
one continuous fence about 12 feet high, set on solid rock on land and on
sunken piers in the water. The chief difficulty is in the construction of

prevent this by droppmg a plank fence three feet wide into the pie.s to
protect the wire during the icy season. In spring the planks will be
ZTTa u^ ™°'« than a dozen feet of the margin of Lac Chaud are
Deluded withm the fence. To prevent the escape of the mink imder
the fence, a wide carpet wire is turned in on the lake bottom To
prevent high climbing, a strip of sheet iron a foot wide is fastened half
way up the fence. There is also an overhang of iron.

ro.'«wr,<;ioi^ ■.. roNSCRV/ iirir,

KKV TO MINKERY

1. Oumide pen 12ft. x 4lt. liy .<;ft. high

.i. Inside pen 2fl, 3in. x 4h. hy L'tt. high

■i. Passage hulei3iin. x 3}in.

4. Inside nesis are 12in. x llin., with litter

5. Outsiile nests are ISin. x 12in., no litter

'i. Elevated feed platform llin. x llin. I)y ISIn high

7. Tin can for feed dish

Feed platfurni which can be ilrawn out to facilitate
feeding

The pen walls are constructed of lin. mesh, No. 17
wire, except the dividing walls, which are of wood for the
lower two feet and are buried a foot deep. I' here is a
cellar under each ptn to which the minks have access.
There is wattf in the trough at the end of the pen, but in
winter only snow is given.

m
o

3 3

■* s. a

Z
n

I \*

■!> 3

~HA

-iC

lltr Irn^li

rUOOR PUAN OF MINKERY

Size 7 X. 3'^. with ^zns 12X4- Scale linch.^fmet

' I

MINK

Horn* of
tbt MaU

Th« bmU are nmdo aLout U\ inch.m l.y 10 inrho« and
ll2!.'ii"" inthe- high, and aro pu-hwl into a largo box (similarly to

a drawer in a chcHt of drawon*) , whiih in placed in n hank of
earth and covered up. Thus, if it » nec««ary t«. exan.ine the ne«t.
it nmy be drawn out. A pioro of rne^hcd wire over the 'nncr box
will lirmit a view of the whole interior. The entrances .hould be
a fooVor more long and from three to four m.-hen m diameter Mr
l)«,ormoau. the manager at Lac Chaud, reported that once a female
took po««CH.ion of a nest, no other mink wan allowed to «"»«■•.'»'«;;;
being mot at th.* entrance to the pa^nag.way and beaten back. I no
food is always curried to the entrance and m taken from thoj.an.l an
nuickly as offered. As many nentn a. there are females in the ranch,
iul probably a few more, are required to prevent fighting for p««-
go«*i<.ii ..r the making of neats in burrows.

The males are provided with large caves roofed over with
planks or concrete. Food is thrown in through a hatch in
the roof. In summer the mink obtains a considerable quan-
tity of food in the water, as small fish can get through the meshed
fence. Because of the free range, only flesh food is fed.

It could not be ascertained how the mother and young aro .anul
for during the several months when the latter are dependent on their
mother for food and protection. It is the intention of Mr. Desormeau to
separate the young from the old each year and place them in one end o
hi. fenced area, having a fence cro.ssing the island to divide them It
is likely that when they are about two mo. .hs o d or '»'^"; * ^ J-
the separation of the young from the mother could be eas.l effe «d
bv simply carrying them away in their box. They would be "I ^ «"' "^»'
at that time to live on .solid food and would be tamer and gentler than
if left with their mother. . .

The food is almost wholly fish, supplied from the lake. P^-rm'^ion
has been received from the Quebec authorities to capture the fish by
any metho<l. It is proposed to restock the lake with fry.

It is estimated that six men can manage the ranch and that about
two thousand females and one quarter as many males can be accom-
modated as breedmg stock.

No ranches of this type were examined, but proof that such
Th. Colony ^^.^^ was furnished by owners who did not wish to rovea

to the public the methods they used. The promoters of
this method claim to be highly successful and have sJ-^^J^-f 7^*^;:
study to the habits of the mink, a fact which is proved by their intcl
ligent discussions of mink-ranching problems.

COMMISSION OF ( ' O X S E K V A T I O N

« • i

The chief difficulties appear to be in secuiing the first litter from
the wild animals and in getting suitable food. The wild mink is usually
wholly unsusceptible to domestication or even semi-domestication.
They frequently kill themselves by hanging, cutting their throats
or beating their heads against a wall. Most of them will commit
suicide or die of fear on the near approach of a dog. These facts have
been corroborated in the experience of 1912, a large proportion of
wild mmks havmg died while being shipped and a large number of those
caught for ranchmg purposes being found dead, sometimes badly cut
or lacerated.

If the young are taken from the mother as early as possible— say
■;x weeks or seven weeks old— in Eastern Canada about June 15—
they become very tame and according to the advocates of this new
method of ranching, can be reared in family colonies afterwards. A
colony house, or large box, can be provided and a considerable runway
or paddock may extend in front to include a portion of a stream.

The usual food is bread and milk, meat twice the size of an egg
fish and dog biscuit. One experienced breeder who feeds rabbits the
whole year round recommended a meat diet of one quarter pound a day
He also states that mUk should be fed to mother minks twice a day"
Fish, he considers unsuitable for a steady diet, and pork should not
be fed at all. The young are fed new milk. The English sparrow
w a great favourite for mink food and frogs and eels are also supplied.
It 18 noteworthy that minks will frequently eat food with avidity
when thrown mto the water, whereas they might refuse to eat it if
placed m a feeding trough. Food should be given twice a day.

The Single '^^^ method of ranching mink which has been used almost
Pea System exclusively in America is one which employs a small pen

•into ^"^ ^^''^ '^'""^- '^^^ *^° '"8^* establishments visited
m 1912 consisted of an ordmary bam about 20 feet wide and 30 feet long
The walls were open under the eaves to make the interior as airy as
possible. On either side of a central alley were pens about 4 feet wide
and 8 feet long, provided with a nest box on a slight elevation, and havmg
a crooked passage for entrance. Water ran through troughs at the
ends of the pen, or was pumped in daily. The partitions were of
wire above and boards near the floor. If wire is used for the walls
an overhang is necessary to prevent climbing out, or the wire might be
made to extend over the pens completely. Very little light is required,
as the mmk usually sleeps during the day.

Mink can be reared in such pens, but there are grave doubts of the
permanency of the good health of the animals. In a Nova Scotia ranch
there was no difficulty in rearing an average of three and a half to

mm 1

Minks Den. Artificial

M I \ K

a litter. The young minks hail litters of from two to four and the
older breeders sometimes had six. With such satisfactory results,
when every pair raised could be sold for $40.00 and food could bo protured
freely, it is inconceivable why development of the business did not
proceed. The managers were continually selling off their stock and
capturing more wild ones. They also admitted that they would not
again use board floors for mink, but would have pens enclosing a large
area of ground. From these facts, it may readily be concluded that
there were considerable difficulties of some kind.

Proper Site
for Pens

A study of the literature available leads to the conclusion
that it will be possible to rear mink in secluded wooded
areas on the banks of f 'am or pond. The method adopted
at Lac Chaud is sure to be, at 1 p? llv successful and may prove

to be profitable. The cost of bu . .. k-proof fence in the water

is high, compared with the cost of buildmg on land. For this reason
a site on an island is not considered as good as a site on a pond; for
the whole pond or lake can be enclosed with a land fence. Thus a
email lake, a dam, or a stream can be utilized for a ranch of any of
the above-mentioned types. A shed could be built on the banks
of a stream and the pens extended outside the walls of the building
across the stream. The pens need not be wider than 3 or 4 feet nor
longer than 5 or 6 feet inside the building, but should be twice as long
outside. To prevent burrowing, the outside walls should be sunk in
the ground about 18 inches, except where in the water. If the natural
method of ranching is used, two water areas would be necessary to
provide two fenced areas.

It is advisable to double fence a mink ranch, similarly to a fox
ranch, in order to prevent their escape and to keep off intruders, es-
pecially dogs and other wQd animals, the smell or sight of which seems
to inspire the mink with great fear.

In the natural method of ranching, the sexes seek each other out,
but, when one animal is placed in each pen, the keeper has to be very
watchful during the latter part of February and up to the middle of
March. The male mink can be admitted through chutes or by a box
trap and has to be withdrawn at once if the two begin to quarrel and
returned at intervals of two days. If no quarrelling occurs, the male is
not withdrawn for two days. When as many males as females are
kept they are placed in the same pen about the last of February and
left together until about April loth. Single mating is preferable.
Mating usually takes place in March, and constant watchfulness has to
be exercised to prevent fights when the male is admitted at the wrong
time. Some males are very vicious and will fight other animals of

COMMISSION OV rONSERVATIOX

either sex which come near them. They should bo slauKlitorod. In
one case the canine teeth of a vicious male were cut off and he became
quite docile. Mink may bo safely handled if two pairs of woollen
mitts are worn or one pair of heavy leather gloves.

The period of gestation is about six weeks. The litters are from
two to nine and averajje five. The tiny younfr, which are blind for about
five weeks, should not be handled. Before they are six weeks old,
the mother leads them out and they begin eating solid food. .\.t eight
or ten weeks of age they should be taken from the mother, unless she
i.« of a very quiot and gentle temperament. They should be weaned
at about 3 months of age. At first take out all but one.

Practical Hints

i-i-ciicBi nmn '^^^ following practical liints on mink-farming have
on Hink-fanning l>een recently published in circular form by the Bio-
logical Survey of the United States Department
of Agriculture:

(1) Minks should be kept in the proportion of one male to five or
six females.

(2) Each breeding female should have a separate pen. The male
should be kept by himself except at mating time. The females begin to
rut about the middle of February. The male should bo admitted to the
female for about one h-.y. The young are born about the middle of
April.

(3) The females must be kept alone or they will be likely to kill
each other's young. The male would also kill them if he had an
opportunity.

(4) Food: The best steady food for minks is bread and sweet
milk, com-mush and milk, or corn-mush cooked with bits of meat in
it. The animals should have meat or fish al)out twice a week. The
meat may be a very cheap kind. Keep pans clean and feed only as
much as the mink will eat up clean at each feeding. Feed once a day,
except females that are suckling young. These .should be fe<l twice.
Provide fresh wo' regularly. Do not salt the food.

(5) Pens: Pens should be 5 or 6 feet square, the sides of •smooth,
wide boards cut 4 feet long and set up with the lower end resting on a
footing of stone or concrete 18 inches in the ground. The floor of the
pen should be the bare ground. The pens can be built econoinically in
groups of four or more. The sides can be of heavy wire netting instead
of boards, but, In that case, the top would need to be netted or the
animals would climb out.

(6) Boxes: Boxes about 2 feet by IJ foot by IJ foot in size should
be provided for nests. 'I'hey should have hinged lids so as to allow

MARTEN OR AMERICAN SABLE

their being opened and examined. Fine straw or hay should be pro-
vided. The boxes may be outside tlie pens, bolted to the fence; a
hole in the fence and box admits the animals, the box to be 3 or 4 inches
above the ground. The boxes should be as dark as possible, with a hole
4 inches in diameter for the entrance of the minks.

In 1913, continued reports of success in breeding minks, were
cu-culated and prices rose until they ruled at from $80.00 to $200.00 r
pair according to quality and disposition. Ranch-bred minks are re-
puted to be more tractable than old wild ones and bring double prices.
The rapidly growing interest in mink-ranching might, at first blush, be
described to the enthusiasm in Eastern Canada for fox-farming and to
the successes achieved in that industry. A visit to one or two ranches
however, furnished conclusive evidence that, when the initial difficulties
have been overcome, mink-ranching will become an important industry.

MARTEN OR AMERICAN SABLE
{Mustela Americana)

No marten farms were found in operation in 1912 although ranch-
men were attempting to secure specimens, but, in 1913, a number of
farms were stocked.

The experience of only one person in breeding marten was obtain-
able, that of A. H. Cocks, of Henley-on-Thames, England.* Mr. Cocks,
who has raised five litters of marten in captivity, states that the prin-
cipal difficulty is to ascertain when the female is in season. If a pair
are put together when the female is not in season, it is very apt to end
in the death of the female from a sudden snap through her brain by
the male.

Habits of "^^^ ^^^ marten is one of the most blood-thirsty of animals,
the Kartell being inferior only to the weasel and possibly the fisher,
in this respect. In captivity, however, it becomes quite
docile and may even become a pet. It mates promiscuously like the
rest of the weasel family and, because of its savage nature, two wild
marten can not safely be placed in one pen. The pens should be similar
to the mink pens, but constructed of No. 14 or not ligliter than No. 16,
one-inch mesh wire, but higher and wired all over. The g und may
be covered with wire to prevent burrowing or the fence may be sunk
into the ground at least three feet and should have an inhang of one
foot. Mr. E. T. Seton says: "I prefer a carpet wire and have carpet
wire or concrete floor in all my marten pens." Trees and brush may
be pla ced in the pen, or the pen placed in the woods. They are ac-

♦An account of his experiences has been published in The Zoologist for 1883, p.
203; and in the Proceeding! of the Zoological Society of London for 1900, p. 836.

Further notes on the young of the species arc to be found in The Zoologist, 1881, 1897,
etc.

i m-

•8 COMMISSION OP C0W8ERVATI0W

customed to an exceedingly active life in the trees and must have an
opportunity provided for exercise or they will not remain long in breed-
ing); condition. The nest should be about the size of that advised for
the mink, or, possibly, slightly larger.

The difficulty with the marten, as with the mink, comes at
Mating mating time; only it is much harder to control the difficulties
in the marten's case, as mating takes place at night, whereas
minks mate at any time. The placing of crossed straws about the pens
by the females gives the keeper his clue to the time for the admittance
of the male. He should be left in several days. The litter of ranch-
bred marten, if removed from the mother when about two months old,
will be much tamer. The marten was domesticated by the ancient
Romans and used for the same purposes as a ferret.

Mating takes place in January or February. The period of gesta-
tion is a little more than three months. The young are seen outside the
nest when about eight weeks of age. They are full grown at six months
and breed when a year old. The number of young in a litter ranges
from one to five.

Directions for feeding are the same as for mink, but it is well to
remember that one-half of the marten's food is fruit and vegetable
matter. Two meals a day reduced at times to one meal are sufficient
for either in order to keep them in good breeding condition.

Marten should be transported in metal-lined boxes, because they
will eat their way through a sound inch board. If the Hudson Bay
marten can be bred as a domestic animal, there will be no difficulty in
finding a market for the skins. At the present time, Asia produces
75,000 sable skins annually, and North America 120,000. The ex-
perience of rearing the Hudson Bay marten would probably lead to
the domestication of the Siberian marten or Russian sable, which is a
smaller animal, but whose fur is much more valuable. As the fi.r would
be more generally favoured and fashionable, besides being more durable,
there can be no doubt that the total trade possible in marten skins
would be as great as in all kinds of fox skins combined.

Mr. Ernest Thompson Seton says: "Of all the animals in my fur
ranch, which include mink, marten, skunk, otter and wild-cats, none
has responded more quickly to attempts at taming than has the mar-
ten. I have great expectations of developing a most manageable
strain."

FISHER, PEKAN, OR PENNANT MARTEN
{Mustela Pennanli)

Only two ranches were found in which the fisher, or pekan, or
pennant marten, was kept. The experiments at one of these appeared

'sill

5 li

i^Sl

S 3333

aia!:«ai

CANADIAN OTTKR

to be quite Buccessful as far as conducted, the animals being quite tract-
able and in good condition. The owners a. '• confident of final success,
but no young have yet been produced.

The fisher is about two feet long and has a large bushy tail. At
first sight, it resembles a black cat, and hence has received that name
locally. It is the swiftest and fiercest of the weasel family and can
catch a marten in an open chase, jumping from limbs even 30 or 40
feet high to the ground. When it is known that the marten can catch
the squirrel, the significance of this feut can be appreciated.

Ranching methods should be the same as for marten, but on a scale
of twite the dimensions. Mating takes place about March 1. Young,
numbering from one to five, are born about May 1. It is believed by
many that they pair in the wild state, but it is probable thpt one male
will serve for several females in ranches.

The rapidly rising-prices of fisher pelts make the possibility of
rearing this valuable fur-bearer the more interesting. In March, 1914,
best dark Northern Canada skins sold at fi'om S20.00 to $40.00.

CANADIAN OTTER

(Lutra Canadensis)

The otter is very easily tamed and may even be given the run of
the premises without deserting its owner. The natural method of ranch-
ing described for mink, where a whole pond is enclosed and kept stocked
with fish, would certainly succeed with otter, especially if arrangements
were made to care for the female and the young.

About the time the young are expected, the mother could be caught
In a box-trap with a meshed-wire bottom and examined. If she is found
to be about to give birth to young, she could be placed in a pen similar
to that used for mink, and the young reared successfully. The quiet
disposition of the otter and skunk will allow of such treatment. No
otter ranches were examined, but the docility and good health of those
kept in zoological gardens make it quite evident that it will be 'easy
to rear them when we only know how.'

Though the otter b found almost everywhere, the Canadian otter
is most valuable. The Fur News Magazine for Marcli, 1914, quotes
large No. 1 otter from Eastern United States and Canada at $20.00;
medium at $15.00 any small at $10.00. In January, 1913, large No.
1 otter from Eastern Canada was quoted at $25.00.

A large, easily available supply of fish is necessary for success with
these animals if profits are to be made at the above-mentioned prices.
As there is undoubtedly a strong demand for live animals for parks and

101)

(»M MISSION OF roNSi; li VA rio.N

for foundation utock for ranchco, tho breeUur >f otter can probably
be prosecuted with profit.

The following article on the otter, by V««rn>>n Railoy was published
in the report of the American Breeders' Assoc; ti< ' Vol. 5:

The Otter as a Vvn Biuku

"Next to silver and blue fo.xe«, otteis aeeir !'> promise the best
results in fur-farming. They combine coa» . '■■ i and permanent
value with habits easily controlled and v '1 < u *"l > domestication.
They have cheerful dispositions, are plav ul .!Vt ti )'ii-,te, and intelli-
gent, and though, in their wild state, great y .Murf : h, 1 1, jy are contented
and thrive when confined in very limited < ari-r . Under ordinary
conditions they do not breed in captivity, it It i- i > 'ieved t'lat this
failing can be overcome by giving them sufic ■. tl^ i.i rupi c ''i- m.
Intheir wild state they are in no danger of ex '.I inHimi > .iieir

only enemy worth considering and, owing ti ii..i' . i' •■; ab its and
keen intelligence, they have little to fear f. i anj '. '» most ex-
perienced trapper. They have held their own >vcr th k. ttled parts
of the United States better than any other : imn' .it j ijti .ar value.
They still inhabit most of their original range over the country, never
in abundance, but scattered one or two in a stream or lake. They are
apparently as common around the suburbs of Washington and in settled
sections generally, as in most of the wilder but more trapped forest
areas of the country.

"Full-grown Canadian otters are about 4 feet in total
Characteristics length and weigh approximately 20 to 30 pounds.

Their striking characteristics are long, lithe bodies,
tapering into long, muscular, flattened tails; very short legs, fully
webbed hin! feet; short ears, keen little eyes and a beautiful coat of
dense, dark brown fur. They are weasel-like in their quickness, ex-
tremely muscular and, for their size, fearless and savage fighters.

"Many kinds of otter occur in different parts of the
and Variation ^'orld, but the largest and most valuable for fur are

those oi North America, Lutra Canadensis, and its
several closely related sub-species or geographic varieties. Considering
their wide range from Labrador to Alaska and from near the Arctic
const to Florida and Arizona, they show surprisingly little variation
in size or in colour or quality of fur. This is, of course, owing to
their aquatic habits and to tho nearly uniform temperature of water
in winter over almost the whole continent. The average lower price
of southern otter skins may be due largely to the fact that most are
caught before the midwinter cold has brought tiiem up to prime con-

Mink Sitting on His House, -he Cover of Which has been Removed

■^- !

Otter

CANADIAN OTTER

101

dition. It seems not improbable that, with dark otters from eastern
Canada to breed from, a high grade of fur might bo produced over most
of the southern states where no other high-priced fur could be success-
fully raised. The abundance of fish and crustaceans in many of the
southern streams would be a distinct advantage in the way of food
supply, and ideal situations for otter farms could be found on hundreds
of streams where a few of the animals now live in the wild state.

"For breeding purposes otters with the most valuable coats should
be selected, preferably the very dark individuals from eastern Canada,
Labrador, Newfoundland or Maine. Considerable individual variation
is shown and the grade of fur could doubtless be steadily improved by
selective breeding. The largest individuals are from Alaska and the
Northwest, but the skins of these are less valuable than those of the
smaller and darker animals of the Northeast. The highest quotations
are always for skins from Canada and the Eastern United States.

"The Fur Trade Review for December, 1908, and January, 1909,
quotes No. 1 otter skins as follows:

Canada and eastern S18 to $20

Northwestern and Pacific coast $12 to $14

Western and southwestern $10 to $12

Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia $10 to $12

"Otter fur in the north is at its beat in December, but keeps in
prime condition until March. In the southern states it probably does
not reach its best condition before January.

"The prime requisite for success in raising any fur-bearing
Habits' animals is a thorough knowledge of their habits, especially

breeding and food habits. The following notes are offered
as suggestions in conducting experiments with otters:

"Otters are semi-aquatic, are powerful and rapid swimmers, able to
stay under water for a considerable time in pursuit of prey or in escaping
from enemies, but they are also well adapted to dry land. They make
long journeys overland from one stream to another and especially de-
light in travelling over soft snow, on which they run and slide on their
silky bellies with apparent enjoyment. On freshly fallen or wet snow
they often prefer this method of travelling and will follow the banks
of a stream for miles; but the greater part of their travelling is in the
water where most of their food is procured. The long flattened tail
is a powerful propeller and the large webbed hind feet give additional
paddle surface for easy and rapid progress through the water. While
on dry land their motions are comparatively slow and awkward; in
the water, they are rapid, lithe and seal-like, almost as easy and graceful

>\ 1

102

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

and even more rapid than those of many fish. Fish are pursued and
caught, apparently in fair chase and with great case, though it is perhaps
not safe to say that all kinds are an easy prey. Otters seem to be
about equally active night or day, but most so in the morning and
evening hours.

Food
Habits

"Live fish, caught in the water and eaten on the banks or on
the ice seem to be the favourite food for otters, though it is
doubtful if they are more extensively eaten than crayfish.
Otter sign is more often composed largely of fish scales and bones and
crustacean shells than of any other food remains; but frogs, water fowl,
and small mammals or any fresh meats are eagerly eaten. Otters will
soon clear a pond or stream of muskrats, especially in winter when,
under the ice, they readily enter the houses and bank burrows. In
confinement they are usually fed on fish and fresh meat, about two
pounds each per day as an ordinary allowance. This is usually thrown
into the water and the animals seem to enjoy fishing it out.

"To raise otters at a profit, a locality should be selected where an
abundant supply of fish can be procured at small cost.

Breeding
Habits

"Otters are polygamous and, during the early spring months,
the males travel widely in search of mates, apparently re-
maining with each female no longer than the nuptial period
requires. They are soon of! in search of new mates and circumstantial
evidence mdicates that a male is successively paired with as many
females as he can find in condition to accept his attentions during the
season. The female finds or makes her den alone in burrows or hollow
banks, and raises, guards and feeds her family until the young are large
enough to hunt and fight for themselves. They follow her imtil nearly
full grown, but, by the time the first snow and ice have come, they have
usually scattered and each is living a mainly solitary life. However
often their paths may cross or friendly visits may occur, their hunt-
ing grounds are selected so far as possible on diCFerent streams or lakes ^
their wanderings are apparently determined by scarcity or abundance
of food, and they have no definite home. In confinement they are
usually not unfriendly. Two females in a small enclosure in the National
Zoological Park have been on good terms for eight years, but a male
put in the inclosure with them some years ago was soon killed. For
the past 18 months another female and a large male have been in the
pen with them and while the three females are usually romping and
playing together in the best spirits, one or all often pounce on the male
and bite him savagely. Although much larger than any of the females
he merely defends himself as best he can and backs away, refusing to

CANADIAN OTTER

109

either fight or run. It is evident that the males should be kept separate
from the females except during the mating season, and it would almost
certainly be necessary to isolate the females before the young were
bom and until they were well grown.

"The number of young in a litter is usually given as two or three,
but there are also records indicating four or five, and it seems probable
that the smaller numbers are those of the first year of breeding. Data
are extremely meagre on this point; but a number of records of families
of five or six otters seen together in summer would indicate four or
five young, while the uniform number of five mammae of the females
would further indicate four as the normal number.

"Whether females breed when a year old remains to be tested,
but it seems probable that they do.

" The fact that otters do not breed in zoological parks, where kept
on exhibition and under constant excitement and nervous strain, is
not surprising and probably does not mean that under more normal
conditions they would fail to reproduce at their usual rate.

"A large spring or section of a small stream, preferably in
Location the woods, should be selected for an otter yard. A pool at
least six feet deep and 20 or 30 feet across should be formed.
Steep banks down which the otter can slide into the water are an
advantage in furnishing exercise as are also a few old logs reachiag into
the water. If the banks are firm and stony the otter will be less in-
clined to burrow, and clear, cold, nmning water tends to keep them
in good health. A series of yards along a suitable stream could be
separated economically ir^o family enclosures with inexpensive partition
fences. A yard 50 feet square is ample for a family of otters if plenty
of food is provided.

"Smidl houses, hollow logs, shallow caveti or artificial burrows
should be provided for sleeping quarters where a cool, dark retreat can
be had at any time.

., I .

" Otter yards should be inclosed with a fence four feet high,
Fencing made of heavy woven wire of one-inch mesh and with a 16-
inch curved tin overhang on the inside. The fence should
be carried on iron uprights four feet apart, curved in at the top for
the tin overhang. These iron uprights should be set in a stone or con-
crete wall, laid one foot deep in the ground and carried across tiie stream
as dams above and below the otter pool. In place of the wall an addi-
tional foot of the woven wire can be bedded in the ground, but, aa it
rusts out, it will have to be renewed every few years. In the National
Zoological Park a welded wire fence with rectangular mesh one Inch

104

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

wide and four inches high, of No. 11 wire is used. This is not easily
climbed and is v(;ry strong and secure. The iron uprights are double
•straps one inch wide by J inch thick, one on each side of the netting
and riveted together.

" Otters do not dig extensively and are not inclined to burrow under
a fence. They do not usually climb trees, but can climb up a rough
barked or leaning tree to above the top of a fence.

"It seems higiily proliablo that, under favourable eon-
Conclusiont ditions, otter can be raised for fur at a profit, and that,

in course of time, a breed can be established combining
in th(! same animals quiet and domestic dispositions with fur of great
beauty and value. But the actual test has yet to be made and carried
over a term of several years before a decision can be reached as to the
degree of success and the profit to be expected. Many facts of vital
importance, such as methods of insuring breeding, the rate and dates
of breeding, the most satisfactory and economical food supply, improve-
ment of fur by selection of breeders, and age and date when fur reachea
its greatest perfection, remain to be worked out. If the necessary
experiments can be carried to a successful conclusion, a valuable in-
dustry will be added to our national resources."

SKUNK
{Mephitis)

No skunk-farms that were examined could be regarded as com-
mercial ventures, but two or three ranchers purposed building larger
pens when the animals increased in numbers sufficiently. In 1913
reports of nurnerous successful skunk-ranches were received. The
increase in all cases examined was an average of five to six young for
each female kept. One male was kept for each half dozen females.

The question always asked when skunk-farming is mentioned, is
concerning the difficulty of conducting such a business in any reputable
neighbourhood on account of scenting. Contrary to popular expecta-
tion the skunk appears to be least objectionable of all ranched animals,
the fox being the most objectionable. One might pass alongside a
hundred skunks and not observe any odour. They can be easily
handled as the accompanjring photograph shows. Concerninj; the
practice of cutting into the scent glands, Mr. Ernest Thompson Seton
says: "Skunks are commonly deodorized or disarmi>d when from one
to two months old, and the operation consists of cutting out entirely
the two scent glands. An expert can disarm twenty skunks in anhour."*

Skunks are graded according to the proportion of white hair on the

♦Letter from Mr. E. T. Seton, April 9, 1914.

a''

■o e

II
i

li
"i-g
II

5j-

mil

•2ESS-S
■a-- .=.3 ■3

k V I, U «(

SKUNK

105

skin, as: No. 1 with no Htripes or very short ones; No. 2, with more
white hair, and No. 3 when the white hair extends the full length of
the body. The white part is cut off the pelts and only the black fur
is used so that there is a larger area of good fur on No. 1 pelts than on
the whiter ones.

It is probable that the rapid advance in price of skunk in 1912
and 1913 will give an impetus to the skunk-raising industry. If the
present high prices — S8.00 to $12.00 for finest black northern — con-
tinue, there is a large profit to be made in skunk-farming.

Skunks can be kept in captivity under conditions similar to those
recommended for mink. On account, however, of the lower value of
the pelts and the less vicious and even harmless nature of the animal,
it is better to allow them a large run together. The males will not
injure the females, but the females will kill the males after mating if
they are kept enclosed with them. The females might be kept in pens,
before littering and while rearing the young. The young are weaned
when from 5 to 7 weeks old.

Skunks should have a considerable area to roam over in order that
they may secure varied food and exercise. Well insulated nests about
a cubic foot in size should be used so that the young may not be chilled
in very cold weather or heated in very warm weather. Nests should
be constructed in a bush. The outside fence can be effectively built
with galvanized roofing 4 feet wide, set one foot into the ground. It
is better to shut out all strange sights by a fence, especially during the
breeding season.

The methods used in skunk-raising are completely outlined in
the following extracts from letters written to the Hunter-Trader-Trap-
per Magazine by Mr. Brae:

Skunk-raising

"Skunk-raising is a failure if on a small scale, while on a large
scale it would be a paying business, giving from .')0 to 100 per cent
profit. I will give you my exptirience on a small scale. The first season,
I had 12 females and 3 males, all black; the average litter of young
was from 3 to 6; the average grade, about 85 per cent black, the
balance being Nos. 2, 3 and 4.

" Naturally, skunks live in holes in the ground, rocks, trees, stumps,
etc. Their food consists of mice, birds, bugs, crickets, grasshoppers,
bees, wasps, yellow jackets, angle worms, seeds, berries, ground roots
and bark. My pen was 14 feet by 36 feet, and 4 feet high with i-inch
mesh wire floor and 1-inch mesh wire top and covering. I had a num-
ber of boxes for harbours. My pen is secure against escape but entirely
too small for the purpose intended.

106

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

"In the first place, I wish to discuss the disadvantages of start-
ing on a small scale. Having a large number in a small place, will
cause them to crowd and fight and kill one another, while to have a
separate pen for each female is expensive. After the rutting season tho
female will kill the male, apparently to protect her young. Skunks are
liable to a fatal disease, similar to sore throat or diphtheria. I have
known females that had no young ones to take the young of other
mothers to their boxes and fight the real mothers away until the kid-
napped young starve to death. Others that had young would steal the
young of two or three others and then, having more than they could
care for, some would starve.

' ' Another disadvantage in a small enclosure is this, that they get
so tame they come out in the daytime to feed and the exposure to
sunlight fades the fur to a certain extent. As it is also almost impossible
to supply a lot of skunks with tho kind of food they get in the wild
state, it becomes necessary to substitute some other kind of food,
such as dead horses, cows, chickens, corn and various other things
which a man with a small lot cannot always have. If not fed properly,
they become cannibalistic.

"Liko every other business, skunk-raising requires capital; and
with some one who has capital, together with the experience and prac-
tical knowledge, I venture to say there i? 50 to 100 per cent profit
in the business. To make a success, a man should have at least $2,500
to start with. At least one acre of ground should be enclosed with a
3-foot concrete wall in the ground, and about a 6-foot board fence on
top. This would probably cost $1,500. One should then secure at
least 100 females and 25 males. These would probably cost $300.
The remaining $700 would be needed to pay for feed and for a man to
take care of them.

"The necessary attention would be to feed and water them and, in
the season of maternity, to see that the females do not steal one another's
young and crowd one another in the boxes. The males and females
should, of course, be separated. With good care 90 per cent of the
yoimg should be raised.

"Thirty years ago black skunk pelts sold at from 50 to 75 cents.
To-day they are one of the leading furs on the market, although they
are not known by their owr names, but by various assumed ones. At tin
present time, it is profitable to raise skunks for their fur. The demand
is now greater than the supply and is increasing because of tho heaviness
of the fur, its fine texture, its good wearing qualities and strength. On
the other hand, tho supply is decreasing for various reasons. Tho
large forest and prairie fires, devesting lare;e sections so that neither
bug, snake, nor fur-bearing animal can exist, and the high price which

Beaver

Live Skunks Lono-striped

SKUNK

t07

■pun every hunter uid trapper to his utmost effort, are the principal
reaauns. Then coon hunters coming from tho city with a pack of
hounds to hunt for sport, destroy a good many. In fact, they usually
get one coon and kUl six or eight skunks. You can follow their traU by
the smell and the dead bodies of skunks which they have wantonly

destroyed.

"Skunks can be rt-ed as easily as house cats, provided you have
an enclosure where they cannot dig out or climb over. For ovory hun-
dred mature skunks, you should have an acre of ground enclosed.

"I experimented for throe years on a small 8«ale. The first year, I
had one male and three females. They brought forth fifteen young.
One of the young ones died, leaving eighteen— eleven females and seven
males. Five of the young graded as No. 2, the balance star black.

"The second year, I started with twelve females and two males,
which brought forth forty-three young. Three of the young ones died,
■o I had fifty-four in all— fourteen old ones and forty young ones. I
disposed of seventeen males and five No. 2 females, leaving a balance
of thirty-two black ones.

"The third year the females had from three to six young. Unfor-
tunately, I could not attend them myself and had to entrust them to
a man who had no interest in them except the pay he received from roe
for his work. About the first of August, the skunks dug a hole m the
pen and made their escape. That veritably settled my skunk-raismg,
but, in the fall and winter, I do considerable night hunting with dogs,
which I have trained not to take hold of them. I catch them alive and
use the pen I have to keep them in untfl their fur is prime. In that
way I have live skunks from the first of November to about the first

of January." r i? ♦

The following notes are summariied from the accounts of tjTnesi
Thompson Seton, who has kept these animals in capti% ity:

Gestation is about six weeks. The young run from 4 to 9 m a
litter. The young come out to eat when two months old and can be
admitted to the general run when four months old. They should be
fed heavUy m autumn in order to produce the fat on which they mostly
exist in winter. Tho colder the weather, the better the fur. Not more
than 50 or 60 can be kept on an acre. A diet of all meat will kill
every skunk. Feed once a day in the evening. If the bodies of the
skinned animals are fed, they should be thoroughly boUed with vege-
tables. The oU rendered from the skunk fat is valuable.

The skunk is a burrowing animal and, therefore, like the

ttie^Sfcurit fox, requires a sunken fence around the enclosure in which

he is kept. Woven wire is best for all underground fences

COMMIgglOK OF CONSF.IlVATION

M it il<Mm not iiitorforo with tlm (Imumgo and in theapiwt. To 8top a
wkvink the fence need not oxtond more than a Uw fwt alnivi) ground, but
it Hhould bo built at l«aMt nix foot high witii av. overhang in order to
provide for snow bank* anti to keep other animab out. In northern
■ rogionH, where the bout fur can bo producod, a wooded aroa will be found
the best because it is nocluded, providos nhado and hocawMo the snow
there lies lovol. Tho nost should ho a warm insulated Imix with a pas-
sageway entrance similar to that of tho mink nest. .Ml nosts .should
bo only barely large enough for a mother to move a»K)ut in without
trampling her young and should not bo more than 6 or 7 inches high.
Thus tho interior will Ijo sufficiently warmed by the body heat.

A method of killing skunks by drowning is mentioned elsewhere.
They can also be dispatched easily and painlessly in a poison Imjx,
using carbon bi-sulphido gas or prussic acid. The latter is a dwidly
poison and is very dangerous in tho hands of an inexperienced person.
They can also be killed by a blow over the back, which paralyses the
muscles and destroys the power to scent. They are skinned by the
case method. Tho skins should bo carefully cleaned of fat to prevent
heating and should be packed separately for shipping.

Practical Hints "^^^ following practical hints on skunk-farming have

frmif'"'*'' ''*'*'" recently published in circular form by tho

•nnng Biological Survey, United States Dopartmont of
Agriculture:

In General:— Many attempts have boon made to raise skunks for
their fur, but the enterprises have usually been given up as unprofitable.
The chief causes of failure have been: cost of fencing inclosuros, cost of
maintenance, or lack of experience, leadmg to overcrowding and over-
feeding the animals. In many cases, whore tho animals were success-
fully roared, it was found that the expense of feeding them to maturity
exceeded the value of the fur, while in other instances, the antij athy
of neighbours led to tho abandonment of tho experiments. At present
the value of tho best black skins would probably allow a margin of
profit in rearing this class of skunks.

Foorf.— The chief aim is to supply a suitable and sufliciont diet
at reasonable cost. A certain proportion of meat is necessary, but the
animals eat also bread, green corn, clover, tomatoes, and many other
vegetable substances. Butcher ixnd table scraps given when fresh are
the main reliance. Tho food should not bo salted, and fresh water
should be supplied regularly. Skunks are especially fond of insects,
and, if the pens are large enough and favourably placed, the animals
will forage for a part of their food.

SKI* N K

Ptn$. — At least an acre of ground ahoulJ \)o encloaed fur eav i 50
akunlu, and, ovon then, there U danger of cannihaliam unlcM there are
plenty of separate dofi'^ for the females. I'he fence ahoulii Im) made of
poultry netting l^-inch mtmh. The postH should be sot in ditches 18
inches or more in depths, wttich should bo filled with broken Htonu or
concrete. Another plar, Ik to fxtond tho wire netting underground.
The fence should be three or four feet high and have an overhung at
the top to keep the animals from climbing over.

Skunks breed once a yuiar anil prouuce from to 8 young. They
are bom in May or June, and mature by Dmumber.

'h^

^iM

RODENTS

THE order of mammals known as rodents are nearly all small-sized
and are generally not valuable for their fur. They are distin-
guished by their chisel-edged teeth, of which they possess two in each
jaw. There are no canine teeth and a wide vacant space divides the in-
cisors from the grinders. The rabbit is an exception, having four in-
cisors in the upper jaw.

For furs, the most useful animals of this order are the beaver of the
beaver family, the muskrat of the mouse family and the rabbit of the
hare family. None except the rabbit can be domesticated, but they can
be kept under control to a certain extent, especially the muskrat.

MUSKRAT*
{Fiber Zibelhicus)

While muskrat is one of the lowest priced pelts, it has risen rapidly
in value in recent years. In 1911, the best northern muskrat cost the
furrier about 80 or 85 cents each, and, in 1912, the price of the best
skins was approaching $1.25 each. The price paid the trapper is, of
course, considerably less, being about 50 cents at the present time. The
demand has been increased by the new uses found for this fur. The
handsome and popular 'Hudson Ba^ leal,' which is made from the
muskrat, even in our own dressing and dyeing establishments, has given
the fur much of its present value. About ten millions of pelts are
used annually and the high prices are sure to spur trappers and hunt-
ers to greater efforts and, if the fur continues fashionable, may result
in the depletion of the species in some sections.

Because of the ease of stocking a marsh and feedmg the rat, it is
feasible for owners to take charge of their marshes, control the number
killed, improve the housing and nesting conditions and supply food
by planting suitable crops and feeding vegetables and fruits.

In the salt marshes around Delaware and Chesapeake bays, on the
Atlantic coast of the United States, a good quality of rat is produced
and the marshes are protected by the owners. The 'ratting' privileges
are rented, usually for one halt of the catch. Use is made of the fur,
the flesh and the musk bags. The flesh, known as marsh hare or marsh
rabbit, is sold in large quantities on the Baltimore, Philadelphia, Nor-
folk and Washington markets and is said to be very agreeable in the
fall and early winter, but to be unfit for food in the spring because
of the musky flavour, ■j'he Indians consider it a spleadid dish. In the

•For further information wi<h respect to the muskrat see Appendix VL

■•^'

.--H

MU8KRAT AND BEAVER

111

proper season, canning companies will purchase as much as can be
put up.

It IB said that the best salt marshes will furnish 50 rats a year per
acre. They may be fenced with H-inch mesh wire, 5 feet wide, by
bursring it a foot on dry land and deeper near water area. Not more
than 50 rat houses, or pairs, should be kept on an acre. It is necessary
to have an area of water which does not freexe to the bottom. This,
in many cases, could be secured by dredging and th* mud thrown up
would be used by the rats for making homes. Wild riee, water lilies,
cat-tails, and various roots, are their natural food. Carrots, beets,
turnips, apples, pumpkins and other cheap vegetables aad fruits may
be grown in nearby fields for summer food , or stored in pits for winter.
A small quantity of meat may also be fed.

The muskrat probably has two litters the first, and three each
succeeding season, and the first litters bear young in the autumn. The
first are born about the middle of May and each litter numbers from
four to nine, although as many as twelve have been reported.

BEAVEK
{Castor Canadensis)

The beaver formerly existed over nearly all the continent of North
America. It was also found in Europe and the greater part of Asia and
Northern Africa, but, in most of these, beoane extinct centuries ago.
There are only a few colonies in Europe at the present time and these
are preserved carefufty by the government authorities. It is rapidly
becoming extinct in America. The homes of the greatest numbers,
at the present time, are in the country between the Great lakes and
the St. Lawrence river northward to Hudson bay, and in northern
British Columbia.

No animal did more than the beaver to effect the colonization of
America. It lured men into the most remote wildernesses, furnished
him food and clothing, and was one of the chief articles of commerce
with Europe. So universal an article of trade did it become that, in
northern Canada, beaver skin becam*' the unit of currency.

Brass estimates the world's production as follows: America, 80,000
skins; Asia, 1,000; Europe, a few. Besides the skins, the castoreum,
or dry beaver castor, is traded in, bringing from $12 to $15 a pound
at the present time.

Because of its interesting habits, every schoolboy is well

th? BMTcr acquainted with most phases of the life of the beaver. Its

flesh, skins and castors are valuable, the latter being used

112

roMMissinx of conskrv axiom

u a base in perfume manufacture. The flesh is excellent and the
tail is considered a delicacy. The skin was formerly used in the manu-
facture of beaver hats, but, later, this uae declined owing to the advent
of the silk hat. At the present time, the fur is mostly plucked in dress-
ing and sold for use in coats, stoles and muiTH. Tbe largest and finest
skins are not worth more than $15 to 920, large No. 1 skins being
quoted at $12.

The beaver cannot be farmed because of the wide extent of terri-
tory required to furnish food and also because it usually makes trouble
for all neighbours in the same water area, whoec lands have uapen.
poplar, willow or other trees that furnish food. The only possible
method is to enclose a large tract for both the forest and beavers shat
could be produced on it. Patrolling would be necessary Mkd a certain
number of beaver would have to be taken each year to oiauntain tbe
proper supply. Possibly the range of the animals miieiat be limited
by fencing across the valleys. Trappers have said that tbe b*!aver w^
eat cultivated crops (e.g., turnips) but no proof of this sTAtement
could be found. If it eats such crops, ranching the beaver is ^taeible.

Rational

Game

PreMrres

The logical method to perpetuate the beaver is to create
national game preserves under constant patrol. This
plan has proved successful in the Algonqum Provincial
Park, Ontario, where a considerable revenue is now derived from the sale
of their skins. A system of national parks where the beaver and musk-
rat would be efficiently protected and where other wild life wo^d be
propagated, as well as protected, is advisable. Protective law.^, particu-
larly in the case of the beaver, do not protect. During the years when
the beaver was contraband in Ontario and Quebec, balef of fun- fre-
quently contained a number of beaver skins. The bale was sold as it was
packed, or another customer was sought. Thus, many Montreal furriers
testified that they purchased beaver skins continually and could not
avoid it, if they w^ished to continue to buy raw pclta.

For the information of those who desire to keep a few pairs of
these interesting animals, it may iw stated that when two years old,
the beaver mates for life, mating taking place in February. The period
of gestation is about thre • months. The litter usually consists of
two or three, but may be latTeer. The young are weaned before they
are two months old and taught to eat tender shoots of the raspberry
and other plants. Thry a<conipany their mother the whole sca.son.
Fouiuiation stock may be ol)tuined from the Department of Lands,
Forests and Mines, Toronto, Ont., at about $50 a pair. Success is
easily achieved wh»-re water aiui the proper food are available.

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REINDEER AND MOOSE

THE United States Congress, in 1892, at the instance of Dr.
Sheldon Jackson, appropriated $240,500 to establish herds of
reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in Alaska. Twelve hundred and eiglity
reindeer were imported before 1902, when the Russian government with-
drew its permission to make shipments from its territory. .More lately,
Dr. Grenfell has established herds in Labrador. Both herds are entirely
successful in providing labour, transportation, skins* and food for the
more primitive people of Canada and Alaska. The native reindeer of
Canada, comprising the woodland caribou {Rangifer caribou) and the
barren-ground caribou (Rangifer arctic is) might produce a domestic
animal of a type superior to its European cousin. In any event, the
European reindeer might possibly be improved by crossing with the
woodland caribou, which is stronger and larger.

The following interesting account of tiio introduction of reindeer
to Canada was contributed by R. H. Campbell, Director of the Forestry
Branch, Department of the Interior:

The Reindeer in Canada

"The earliest recorded attempt to domesticate reindeer on this con-
tinent is that of the United States government which, about 1892,
imported a herd of Siberian deer to Alaska for that purpose. Several
small herds have since been imported and, as the result of careful and
intelligent handling, there are now some lo.OOO domesticated reindeer
in Alaska. The deer are used for practically all the purposes for which
domestic cattle may be used and arc, in addition, very useful for trans-
portation purposes.

"The problem of transportation is, aside from the
in the'ikrctic***' severity of the weather, the most serious with which
dwellers in the arctic regions have to deal. The cost
of grain and hay, neither of which is grown in any considerable quan-
tity, precludes the use of horses or cattle for transportation purposes
and, prior to the introduction of reindeer, dogs were used almost
entirely. While Eskimo dogs make excellent beasts of burden, their
usefulness is seriously impaired by the necessity of hauling with them
sufficient fish or other food for their own subsistence. As on long trips
they can haul little, if any, load beyond their own food supply, this
seriously limits the sphere of a dog's usefulness. Reindeer, on the
other hand, while quite as hardy as the best train dogs and able to haul
Fomewhat larger loads, find their own subsistence in the moss which

♦Concerning t!ie price of 'nekskin, see pare 154.

i' I

ill

114

COMMISSION OF CONSKHVATION

covers practically all of the aub-arctic region. No matter how cold the
weather, or how deep the snow, the deer can paw their way down to
the moss and thus keep themselves in good condition on the longest
and roughest trips. Another point in favour of deer is that, should
misfortune overtake a party of Arctic travellers and it become necessary
to kill the transport animals for food, the flesh of the deer is palatable
and nourishing, while only dire necessity would impel anyone to use
dogs for food.

"It seems to have been the idea of the United States government
that the establishment of large herds of domesticated reindeer in Alaska
would be a long step in the direction of solving the transportation
problem of that district and, in addition, would, to a considerable
extent, provide a food supply for the natives who otherwise would, from
time to time, become charges upon the public treasury.

"This experiment by the United State.-^ ;'overnment was followed
with great interest by many Canadians who were interested in the de-
velopment of our northern territories, ar'l particularly by Dr. Wilfred
Grenfell, who, in connection with his medical missionary work on the
Labrador coast, found himself confronted by practically the same con-
ditions that obtained in Alaska, viz.: severe climate, absence of means
of winter tiansportation other than dogs, and scarcity of food supply
for natives and fishermen during periods of unusually severe weather.

"At Dr. Grenfell's request, the Dominion Government, in
The Reindeer 1907, purchased a herd of some 300 Norwegian reindeer.
in Labrador ,j,j^^g^ ^^^^ handed over to Dr. Grenfell to be used by him
in connection with his work. It was originally intended that the herd
should be established on the North shore of the gulf of St. liawrence,
but he finally decided that his missiou station at St. Anthony, on the
northeast coast of Newfoundland, was a more suitable place for the
experiment. There is an abundance of reindeer moss at, or near, St.
Anthony, the climate is in all respects suitable and, should occasion
require it, the deer can readily be shipped from there to any desired point
on the Labrador coast as conveniently as from the point first selected.
"Dr. Grenfell's experiment proved successful from the start
and his herd of reindeer now numbers over 1 ,200. A considerable num-
ber of stags and barren does have been killed for food and there have
been the usual unavoidable losses by death and accident. He reported
in May, 1911, that the meat is excellent and the skins valuable and that,
in his opinion, reindeer will, in the future, be as valuable in Labrador
as in Alaska and will afford an export industry of meat from a district
where it is not probable that wheat, corn or other cereals can ever ha
profitably produced.

REINDEER

115

RtlndMr ia

"During the summer of I'HO, His Excellency the Gov-
tht Horth-WMt emor-General, Earl Grey, viMitetl Dr. GrenfcU'a mission
station on his return journey fiDm Hudson bay. His
Excellency was greatly interested in the reindeer experiment, and having
just seen a considerable part of sub-arctic Canada, was impressed with
the desirability of further extending the experiment by the establishment
of herds in portions of the Northwest territories. He subsecjuently dis-
cussed the question with Hon. Frank Oliver, then Minister of the Interior,
with the result that an arrangement was made with Dr. Grenfell to
supply fifty reindeer to the Dominion Government at what the animals
had actually cost him. It was decided that the reindeer should be sent
to a suitable place near Fort Smith, on the Slave river, practically on the
northern boundary of Alberta. In addition to the reindeer, Dr. Grenfell
was to supply two herders and one apprentice to look after the herd,
three trained dogs and a supply of moss sufficient for the journey from
Newfoundland to our Northwest.

"There was no choice as to the time of year when the reindeer were
to be shipped. They could be not taken across the continent in summer
weather as they could not stand the heat. They could not be taken
across in winter unless provision were made for a supply of reindeer
moss near Edmonton, as the rivers are frozen and they could not be
transported beyond that point. They could not be moved in the spring
as that is the fawning season. There was, therefore, only the short
season left between the close of summer and the 'freeze-up' of the
northern rivers.

"It was arranged with the Pepartment of Marine and Fisheries
that one of their steamers should call at St. Anthony for the reindeer
early in September, 1911, and take them to Quebec, from which point
they would be sent by train to Edmonton. If the boat had prov^eeded
direct to Qiiebec, it is probable that tliere would have been very small
loss of deer, but the steamer had to stop on the way to take on board a
cargo of powdered gypsum, and the effect on the reindeer was serious.
Four deer died before the steamer reachei; Quebec and five more on the
train after leaving Quebec; and, from the symptoms it is practically
ctilain that death was caused by inlialation of gypaum dust.

"It was a somewhat difficult matter to transfer the reindeer from
the boats to the cars awaiting tliem at Quebec, but this was finally ac-
complished and the trip to Edmonton and from there, sixty miles further
on to the end of the steel, was made expeditiously, most of the reindeer
reaching this point in good condition.

"From the end of the steel to Athabaska Landing, something over
fifty miles, the deer were conveyed in waggons and were then loaded on
scows for the trip down to Fort Smith. This turned out to be the most

li:

ll«

COMMISSION OF CON9ERVATIOX

ilifficult part of the trip. The mowb were hard to manage and a groat
deal of i'-e wa§ encountered which hmdered progreu. In the end it
was fount. impoBsBJe to jtet as far as Fort Smith, and it was decided to
remain at a point seventy miles from the fort, where reindeer moss
was plenti/ul, untU such time as the deer rouUl be driven to their
destination, or until the spring, when they could be convoyed down the
river. The herd was kept here very comf<irtably until the spring, and
on tho 20th May, 1012, reached Fort Smith, the total loss of deer m
route being nineteen.

" The herd wintered satisfactorily and was in good condition m
the spring. The chief herder had selected a suitable place for them west
of Fort Smith on a point jutting out into a lake lying south of (.real
Slave lake. There is plenty of reindeer moss in this locality and it
seemed in evorj- way suitable for the keeping of the herd. H. . wevor, the
flics became so troublesome to the herd in tho summer that they stam-
peded.

"Early in 1913, a now range for the deer was selected on an island
in Great Slave lake. Attempts we;e mnde to move the herd thence in
the spring of 1913, but owing to flies, they wtampeded, and the attempt
ended in failure. In the fall, all hut three of the rein<lcer died, prob-
ably owing to too close confinem' at. A larger range was provided und
the remaining three are healtliy. It is planned to move them to the
island in the spring of 1 91 4.

"Considering tho difRcuMea of transportation, the shipment was
taken through with comparatively small loss until the fall of 1913; but
the success of the herd is not fully assured until it is certain ' iiat they
can be controUed and prevented from stampeding at the time when
the flies arc most n • ve. If matters go satisfactorily with thct i for an-
other year, it may he advisable to consider increasing the number by a

further shipment."

MOOSE
The European moose was formerly under domestication and proved
valuable for transportation purposes in tho cold northern countries. It
is on record that it once hauled a sleigh 234 miles in one d.iv. For
divers reasons— the chief one being that exiles used it to effect their
escape— it became unlawful to maintain the moose in captivity in some
countries. Probably it would have developed into a valuable do-
mestic animal for northern latitudes had this prohibition not been
imposed. It is possible also, that the Canadian moose, which is of
greater size and strength, could be developed into a domestic animal
of value. Several cases are recorded of Its being successfully used
for draught purposes, in the first generation from the wdd state. It
is but just to add, however, that the moose has not yet been bred in
captivity.

iV. Preparing Skins for /^&nuf*ciurc

MAMMALS which have a short, fine, soft coat of fur through which
grows hair, usually of greater length, variously called over-fur,
vwitor-fur, guard-hair, are known as fur-bearers. To provide more
warmth for the animal, ' he coat of fur and o.-erhair is usually thicker
and longer in the wiiittr; hence, furs taken in winter, or when prime,
are more valuable than those taken in warmer weather.

When the skin is uuprime, it has a Muish appearance on
Fur-bliTrar tl>e ^oA side down tiie back and sides; when prime, it is
of a whitish or creamy colour. An experienced furrier
can, by the appearance of the skin and of the ovorhair, determine the
season at which it was taken. It is desirable to capture fur-bearers
when prime, bocause the fur and ovorhair are fuller and heavier and
will not fall out easily, as commonly occurs in'springy' pelts. It is
also desirable to take skins shortly after becoming prime, which is
usually about tho first of December, imTiediately after the first winter
weather. When taken then, *he pelt is better coloured and less worn.
In a climate like that of Pruice Edward Island, where winter seta in
aboiit Christmas, the last week of the year is chosen for killini' the
fox. Jho pelts of the majority of animals become prime lute in
November.

The fur, or, .oa it is called in relation to the hair, theunderfur,
consists of soft, silky, downy, curly filaments. It is usually short and
thick, and towards the skin it grows lighter in colour. It is barbed
lengthwise and hence is capable of felting — a quality not possessed to so
great a degree by wool or silk, whi<h is best handled by spinning and
weavmg. In a prime pelt the underfur is hardly discernible unless
the overhair is blown apart. Then the light colour of the underfur
appears. If it were generally known that the undycd skin is whitish
and that the underfur close to the skin is a light drab, or pale blue
colour, it would not be se easy to t^ '! dyed skins as natural.

The overhair is straight, smo(uh and, usually, comparatively rigid.
It is scattered throughoMt thti fur and, on the livin-": animal, prevents
the fur from felting;. It serves as a protection against cold and storm
as well as apvinst mjury. In the case of the fox, wliich lies out in the
open, exposed o ;he coldest northern weather, the dense overliair,
usually three, but sometimes over six inches in leniith, protects the body,
while the toes and face are protected by the immense tail, which covers
them when the fox lies down. The beauty of a pelt is due largely to
the overhair. It is the plossy black or the amphimaculated silver-black

{'!

MKROCOPY MSOIUTION TBT CHART

(ANSI ond ISO TEST "HART No. 2)

A APPLIED ItVMGE Inc

^^ 1653 Eosi Main Street

S^S Rocn«3ter, New Yorh 14609 USA

^S (716) 482 - 0300 - Phone

^8 (716) 288 - 5989 - Fa*

lis

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

overhair that makes the silver fox one hundred times more valuable
than his red full-brother. Some kinds of animals, as, for example,
the beaver and the otter, have overhair which is not always considered
as beautiful as the underf ur alone. Thus, they are put through a process
of pulling and the manufactured skins are usually plucked.

Usually animals intended for slaughter are fed well and are
Killing carefully housed so that no injury can bo done the overhair,
such as from rubbing, the attachment of burrs or from lying
in dirt. The killing presents no difficulty except that it must be done
so as not to alarm the breeding animals. Therefore, in most cases, the
animals to be slaughtered should be removed to the finishing pens in
the autunm. The fox is usually killed by crushing the chest with the
foot, a man's v.eight applied just back of the foreleg being sufficient, or
a blow with a stick on the snout, or the head may be forced back until
the neck is broken.

The information avaDable indicates that the adoption of some more
humane method of killing, such as the use of chloroform or ether, would
not injure the fur and, at the same time, be far more merciful. A small
padded box with a wad of cotton batting in one of the upper comers
upon which chloroform could be dropped from a hole in the comer of the
box would be all that would be required. As soon as it is dead, the ani-
mal should be removed from the chamber. In the case of such a valuable
animal as this, it is not too much to expect of ranchers that they pro-
vide one of these inexpensive lethal chambers.

Poisons that are available are: cyanide of potassium, prussic acid,
strychnine and white arsenic. A very small quantity of cyanide or of
prussic acid will kill the fox instantly, but, as these drugs are exces-
sively poisonous, it is dangerous to have them in one's possession unless
securely locked up. Strychnine and white arsenic do not kill imme-
diately, and, if another animal ate the flesh of an animal poisoned by
them, it would be poisoned in turn.

Skunk, on account of its liability to scent, presents the greatest
problem. It can be removed from its regular pen, however, by a wire
snare placed on the end of a long pole. It is then dispatched outside
its pen by the usual method of clubbing. If scenting is feared, it may
be drowned in a tub of water.

Sklnninz '^^^'^^ ^^^ t^o distinct methods of removing the skin. Some
and C'iring animals are opened down the belly, as in skinning a sheep,
and the skins are stretched flat or 'open.' Others are
slit up the hind legs to the vent and the skin is stripped off the rest
of the body. These are stretched by a board wedged inside and are

>le
le,
ed

iSS

ire
ir,

ng
ne
he
in
he
or
tU

»re
lid
all
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he
li-
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■o-

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of

ffl-

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le-

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ire
de
ay

ire
;st
ire

COMMISSION or CONSEWVATION

BEAVER

(strttchcd in hoop)

V^ -. . .

L . Wr«IS€l 16 inchM

! Mink 30 inches

L.-- . Skunk 30 inchet-

. — , _ Fox 45 inches •

Otter 60 inches

STRETCHING BOARDS

STRETCHING BOARDS WITH CENTRE, WEOCC

''Stnttf

it-

BOXES FOR CATCHING LIVt ANIMALS

PREPARING SKINS FOR MANUFACTURf':

said to be 'cased.' The methods of skinning in use for common -

dian fur-bearers aro as follows:

Cased — Fox, marten, fisher, weasel, otter, skunk, lynx, cat,
muskrat.

Either Cased or Open — Raccoon, wildcat.
Open — Wolverene, badger, beaver, wolf, bear.

The process of removing a cased skin is well described by the Fxr
.Veu's Magazine as follows:

"Slit skin on both hind legs on tiie under side of animal from
the heel to the vent; skin out the legs to the feet, and in the case
of mink, skin out the toes and leave them and the claws on the
skin. Skin around the tail, leaving the tail on the back of the
skin, and after loosening the tail bono at the base, take hold of it
with your forefinger and pull it out of the tail. If the tail bono
is hard to remove, split a stock, insert the tail bone in split, and
with this to grip the bone, j'ou should have no trouble to pull it
out.

"Now turn the skin back and carefully pull it off the body.
Use a knife to start the skin if it does not come off easily, but be
careful not to cut the pelt. Skin so that as little flesh and fat
adhere to the skin as possible. When the front legs are reached,
skin around them near the body and then push them backward
out of the skin — turn them inside out, as we might say. Skin out
the legs to the paws in the case of mink, keeping them on the skin;
for the other animals cut off the legs at the i.:-st joint. Skin care-
fully around the head, pushing the skull back through the skin
until the ears are reached; these should be cut off as near the skull
as possible, so that they remain attached to the skin. Then care-
fully skin around the eyes, not cutting the eyelids, and when the
mouth and nose are reached use care also. Do not pull the skin
off the head, but remove carefully, for the heads of some animals are
used in manufacturing the furs, and all skins have a better ap-
pearance if the head is skinned out with care."

Skunks and raccoons present some special problems. They fatten
in the fall and go to their dens in cold weather. Therefore, those de-
signed for slaughter must be segregated from the breeders before cold
weather sets in or they cannot be captured without disturbing the nest.
After skinning, also, a large quantity of fat adheres to the skin. This
must be scraped off or it may heat and decompose the skin. Skunk
fat should be kept and rendered into oil. In balctl shipments, also,
the grease of these skins is liable to injure other skins in the same

■; 1.

120

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

pack They should be specially wrapped in burlap and, because of their
odour, it may be advisable to box the skunk skins separately.

The flesh and fat are removed from skins by a dull knife or hatchec.
The skin is slipped on a fleshing board with dulled comers, having one
end in a grease pan and the other against the skinner's chest. The fat
is pushed off the skin towards the tail. Much scraping of the skin
is injurious, it being necessary *o remove only the fat and loose flesh.
The tail may give trouble if it is not split and scraped. Sometimes
salt is dropped into it to prevent decomposition; but in no case is salt
nor any other preservative, applied to any other part of the skin. Often
the tip of the tail is cut off to allow circulation of air inside and to
drain out the fat.

Open skinning presents no difficulty. The legs are cut off at
the firpt joint and split up the inside to the slit which is cut along the
belly from the lower jaw to the vent. The tail is cut open to extract
the bone.

^^- I

The cased skins are stretched on a wedge-shaped board, fur
Stretching side inwards. The edges of the stretching board are along
the sides of the pelt, the dorsal surface of the p' being
wholly on one side of the board and the ventral on the other side. All
skins except fox are marketed fur side inwards, fox being turned fur out
after one day's drying, when the front legs are still pliable. Skins
should be dried without artificial h"Ht. A cool, dry place away from
the sun's rays is best. Beaver skins are stretched within an elliptical
hoop made of saplings. They are tied to the hoop with twine laced into
the skin at intervals of two inches. Bear skins are usually laced simi-
larly into a rectangular frame made from small sticks. Raccoon are
nailed on a wall or board and stretched into a rectangular shape. The
best nails are brass tacks or wire nails and they should be driven not
more than two inches apart.

Otter tails are always split and stretched by nailing to the stretch-
ing board.

Strttcbine ^''^'"'^^ should be made of soft wood, like white pine, which
Boards permits easy driving and withdrawal of nails. For smaller
animals, the stretching board should be about three-eighths
of an inch thick, and for the larger— otter and fcx— about five-eighths or
three-quarters of an inch. It should be nicely rounded on the edges.
Wedges are sometimes inserted down the sides of the board with advan-
tage. They permit the circulation of air on the inside. A steel wire
has served well in stretching muskrat on many occasions.

PREPARINO SKINS FOR MANTTFACTURE

121

The best stretched skina are those that are extended very slightly in
till directions. Mink and marten should be pulled slightly lengthwise
and the lines of the sides should be only slightly converging. A stretch-
ing board may be split and a wedge inserted between the two sides
will adjust it to any size of skin.

Markttiog

Valuable pelts are sewed up in muslin and expressed to

Skint " destination. When shipped by express care should be
taken to have the agent mark the full value of the skins on
the receipt to ensure recovery of value if lost. When packing skins do
not roll them; pack flat and then sew them up neatly in burlap. They
should be wrapped in paper first. Label the package inside and out-
side to make identification certain. Skins must be packed dry and
must be kept dry.

If all the pelts taken in Canada were prime and were properly
stretched, dried and marketed, the increase in value would amount to
millions. Nearly fifty per cent of the pelts of some species are blue,
or (springy) or with hair rubbed ofit oi falling out. The competition be-
tween trappers is producing more and more blue pelts, which cannot
grade above No. 2. Conservation of fur would be achieved if it were
illegal to kill except when the pelts are prime. It is probable, how-
ever, that only personal ownership of the fur-bearers would ensure nearly
100 per cent of the pelts marketed being prime.

The fur moth also causes immense losses. Modern refrigeration,
however, has solved this problem by providing cold storage chambers
for furs stored in the warm season.

^5: i

Dyeing
of Furs

All seal and Persian Iamb skins go through a process of
dyeing. Seal skin, after the water hair is plucked, is of a
drab colour, but expert English dyers make it a dark, brown-
ish black. As German dye excels in fastness of colour and in leaving
the skins supple after treatment, the Persian lamb skins are mostly
dyed in Germany. The French are very skillful in 'topping' where
the overhair is made to imitate sable. Latterly, the Germans have de-
veloped a large trade in 'pointed fox,' which is an ordinary cheap fox
dyed black, and afterwards 'pointed' by sewing in white hairs. The
German dyed article is quite durable in colour; but it, again, is imi-
tated by furriers in America, who colour with ordinary black dye and
glue in badger hairs. In a few months the difference in the quality of
the dye used is revealed. Good dyes — such as those developed in Eng-
land for seals and in Germany for lambs — are likely to remain trade
secrets.

The dressing id dyeing of furs in Canada is nearly all performed

122

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

by one firm which handles about 2,000,000 skins annually. The work-
men and experts are largely German and other Europeans and have
received their training in the old world. The dressing and dyeing of
furs in America is steadily improving and the proportion shipped to
Europe is decreasing.

_ , . The natural colours must be of a certain quality to

Esteemed . i • 1 1 , m, . • . .

Natural Colours "•' highly esteemed. Thus, pure white ermine is cost-
lier than the gray or yellowish-white kind.s. With
white furs, it is the purest and, with black furs, it is the densest that
are moat desired. A brownish colour in a silver fox is very objection-
able (although common in most districts), while a bluish cast is de-
cidedly to be preferred. In fact, it is almost axiomatic that a bluish
cast, instead of a rusty or brownish, is preferred. It is the brown cast
of Hudson Bay marten that makes it inferior to the Russian sable,
which often has a bluish-brown colour. The predominance on the mar-
ket of brown or rusty coloured skins can be readily accounted for when
it is remembered that most 'springy' skins are brownish, no matter how
blue-black, or blue-brown, or blue-gray they were when prime.

Dressing
Furs

The modern art of dressing and dyeing furs is a great im-
provement on pioneer methods, especially in dyeing and
finishing. For giving suppleness and durablity, the primi-
tive methods are excellent; thus, the North American Indians and
African Kaffirs are unrivalled dressers of leather.

The older method of dressing furs, used univeisally until the
Methods introduction of machinery, is to "place the skins n a lye of

alkali; when the pelt has become soft, the skins are tubbed,
and then shaved by passing them over a large knife an'' --' "n an

upright position; they are next buttered, and put in a la w-

dust by men half naked, who tread on them for some ,. ^leat

of their bodies rendering the leather soft and supple; ' ..len

beaten out and finished."

Modem methods of dressing and dyeing are much different.
Methods The work is done in large factories where an expert handles

every department and machinery does most of the tramping
and beating. Invention has made possible the use of many commoner
and cheaper skins which undergo many operations in the course of
their preparation. They may be beamed, scraped, tramped, soaked,
fleshed, tanned, dried, drummed, greased, kicked, drummed with saw-
duet, dyed, caged, shaved, pared and foot-tubbed before they are ready

PKEPATUNO SKINS FOU MAXUFACTURK

123

for the manufacturer. Most of this work ia done by machinery, and
the large numbers of skins put through at one time makes the product
unifoin* and the cost much lower per imit than by the oKl-fasliioned
hand and foot process.

Besides the engine or motor which supplies the pow' r, the
U^d following apparatus is used :

Washing tanks, which are made of wire mesh and revolve
in a tank of water;

Drying vats, which icvolve very rapidly, to throw moisture out of
the skins;

Clccning draws, which, with an exhaust air arrangement, remove
the sawdust or corn starch from the skins;

Polishing drums, which revolve the skins with sawdust to polish
the fur and hair;

Wooden tanks, for dyeing;

Revolving stone cylinder, for beaming;

Kicking machine, for pounding the skins;

Sewing machine, built especially for joining fur;

Clipping machines, for shearing the underfur even.

There are chambers for drying skins, where the air is kept con-
stantly in motion by exhaust fans, and many other tools or contrivances
for hand-work, such as crescent-shaped sharp knives, for fleshing, mpe
for roping, tubs for tramping, knives, combs, boards for stretching, etc.
As treatment varies so much, it is impossible to Hat the operations a
given skin goes through. Marten, for instance, has a tender skin and
has to be given hand treatment. Mink and fox are treated in a Cana-
dian fur-dressing establishment about as follows:

Fox
Pounded

Wet with wet sawdust
Fleshed

Salt water put on skin
Dried

Broken in foot-tub
Buttered or greased
Tubbed

Cleaned with sawdust in drum
Dried
Polished in drum with sawdust

Mink

Pounded

Soaked to soften head

Fleshed

Flesh pickled

Dried

Drummed with sawdust

Greased and pounded

Stretched

Drummed (sawdust)

Stretched

Drummed (sawdust)

Stretched and beaten

Dved

^■11

134

rOMMTRHION OF TO ^f SKR V ATION

At 'the fur dreswra' the ikiiu are fint dampened

of Mtnufactur** on the flesh side with salt water ami left all night

to soften. The following morning they are placed

in a tramping machine, where they are tramped for eight or ten

hours. The machine works about 2,000 pelts at a time.

The pelts are next covered with a mixture of sawdust and
salt water, and remain so overnight. The following morning they
are cut open down the front and arc then fleshed, one man being
able to flesh 200 to 300 in a day. The skins are next stretched and
hung up to dry. When thoroughly dry, they are again moistened
with salt water on the leather side, remaining so overnight. They
are next brushed on the flesh side with animal fat — butter or fish
oil and tallow— and laid in pairs, with fur side out. After remain-
ing overnight they are placed in tramping machines and worked
for six or eight hour!), or until thoroughly soft and pliable. They
are then stretched in every direction.

The next process is cleaning. The skins, to the number of
300 or 400, are placed with sawdust in revolving drums exposed
to steam heat. They are revolved for about three hours, when the
sawdust will have completely absorbed the grease. The skins are
next incased in a beating drum, where they are revolved for two or
three hours. On removul, they are beaten with rattans, and the
fur is cleaned with a c^ mb. The heavier pelts are fleshed down
thill, thus completing the operation of dressing for the majority of
skins.

Well-dressed furs afford a maximum of warmth for a
Weight of Furs iiiin^uQ^ weight, while theu- suppleness lends an ad-
ditional advantage to them for clothing purposes. The
warmest garments of manufactured mat> ' are made from the stiff
old-fashioned box cloth and, even where warioly lined, afford only two-
thirds as mu( h protection from the cold as fur, while being more than
■ :ur ounces per square foot heavier than raccoon. The following table
furnishes an approximate estimate of comparative weight and dura-
bility of the various furs when worn, tur outside, as body clothing:

*A summary from Chas. H. Stevenson's report in that of the United States
Commission on Fish and Fisheries for 1002.

nURAniLITY AND WEIGHT OF FVR8

135

COMPARATIVK DURABILITY AND WEIGHT OP PURS

Pointt of
Durability

Weiffht in OunoM
per »(]■ foot

The CotUy Fun — StandnnI, Seo-olttr

S«»-otter

Peal

Sable

Silver or lUack Fox

Ermine

Chinchilla

Th* Lei* ValuiMe Furi—
Standard. Unplueked OtUr

Otter (unptucked)

Otter (plucked)

Beaver Sheared)

Beaver (plucked)

Raccoon

Skunk

Mink

Peraian Lamb

Bauni Marten (natunil)

Sable

Stone Marten

Northern Fox (natural)

Muskrat (natural)

Opossum

Muskrat (plucked, shearei' aid dyed).

Nutria

Lynx (natural)

Squirrel

Fox (dyed black)

Lynx (dyed black)

Fox (dyed blue)

Broadtail

Marmot (dyed)

Moleskin

Hare

Kabbit

too

100

3 15/16

•>

i -t-r

V. The Commcrc* in Raw Fun

THK chief operatora in Cuiiuda are the Hudson 'h Bay Co. and Itc-
villon Frftieit, and, iii Lalirador, the Harmony Co. During the
punt ten years a change hua been taking place in marketinK and many
turn, particularly the more valuable ones, are consigned (lirect to
German or to French fur houses. In the v)ld World, furs are col-
lected at faiLs at the following places:

Town Timb or Fair

Fiankfort-on-the-Oder January

Irbit, Siberia February

Leipzig, Germany I'aster

Nijni-Novgorod, Russia \ugust

Tshim, Siberia Uocciiilicr

Many of the skins, particularly those of finer quality, are ulti-
mately offered at the London sales where the majority of the world's
fine furs are sold. In recent years, however, Germany and the United
States have been purchasing a larger proportion.

The total sales in London are otten utilized in estimat-
Sf sfci,.* * ing the quantities of furs a, the world's disposal. Of the

undressed skins not usually jold at London sales, there are
the Persian lambs, broadtails and ^.u-.akuls, of which Thorer estimates
that 2,900,000 come to Leipzig alone. A United States consular report of
191 1 estimate<l that Russia produces 4,525,000 squirrels, whose raw pelts
are valuetl at $2,000,000. Of squirrel tails, Russia, in 1911, produced
twenty-one tons, valued at $5.50 per pound. Owing to the groiving
popularity ot muskrat or 'Hudson Bay seal,' the use of this skin has
increased enormously and the sales now amount to over 9,000,000 an-
nv.ally, London selling 6,00v/,000, Leipzig, 1,000,000 and America re-
ttining 2,000,000. Two hundred thousand ermine pelts, valued at
$350,000, are sold annually in Russia. About 83,000,000 rabbit skins
are imported into Great Britain annually, while immense quantities of
skins are u." " in the felting industry in Australia.

Centre* of
the Fur Trade

Leipzig, Germany, is the most important city for the
dressing and dyeing cf furs. Its raw supplies are
drawn from all parts of the world but particularly from
^.ondon and Moscow storehouses and the Nijni-Novgorod fair. Mos-
•ow is the largest storehouse for Russian and Asiatic furs, whDe New
Vork, St. Louis and Montreal arc important American centres which
are rapidly increasing their facilitijs for fur-dressing and fur-dyeing.
London is the largest selling centre and is stiil of great importance in
the dressing, d3-eing and manufacturing of furs.

COjIMERli: IX KAW FURS

The Lo.nuon Fuk Mauket

_^ , . Many ikina are nmnufucturoU and luscil in tlie country
Th« London , ., • • • i . .■ , ., r . . ■. ,• ,

Auction 8al«t "' t'>*>>r or'KUi, but the l<ulk <>f tli<! world » tni<^ fun* am

^ (1 at auction in Londun. Those sales are hold in Juno,
Octobor, January and March, liut most skins nro sold at the wuitur salos,
particularly tho March italu, which attracts numerous buyers from a"
parts of tho world. A largo proportion of the imjUs aro purchased by
brokers on a commission basis. The Hudson's Bay Company's auction
sales aro held P'st and, as no reserve bids are placttd on tho skins of-
fered, the rosuitt, aro taken to represent tlif state of tho market. Messrs.
C. M. Lampson and Co., Messrs. A. and W. Nesbitt and Frederick
Huth and Co. aro the ohiof firms sdlinj: .Vtncriiun furs.

LONDON PVR SALB» FOR THE YEAR BNDI» v. v \rcH XUt, t«M

Slsein
inches

24x12

72x36
36x24

Qx A\
18x
30x15

Qx 4
12x 7

12 X 2)

30x12
12x 3
20x 7
24x 8
27x10

24 X 8
24 X 8
20x 7

Kind of Fur

24 X 9

12 X 2\

Badger.

Hear.
Beaver.

Japanese..

Cat, civet

" house

" wUd

Ciiincliilla, bastard.
" finest...

Deer, Ciiinese

Ermine

Fisher or Pekan . .

Fitch

Fox, Blue

" Cross

" Gray

" Japanest...

" Kit

" Reu

" Silver.

" AVhite

(.loats, Chinciie..-

Haros

Kangaroo

Kid, linings and

skins, equal to

Kolinsky

Lambs, linings and

skins, equal to.
Lamb, slink

No. of
Pelts

28,034

6,026

18,576

80,514

157,915

126,703

32,253

43,578

.5,603

124.355

40,041

5,04G

"-,578

■■ ?93

•76

. 61

. ,-19

4,023

138.961

2,510

27,463

261,190

41,256
7,115

5,080,047
114,231

214 ')72
16, 372

^\m in
inches

27x13

45x20
18x12

16 X
16x
16x
10 X

Kind of Fur

No. of
Pelts

30x15
12 X 8

20x12
18: 10
16x 8

50x25
20x12
17x
14 X 4J
15x 5
40x20

lox 8
lOx 5

.50 X 23
10 "18
20x12

Lumb, Tibet

Leopard

LVTLX

Marmot, liningit
and skins, e(|ual

Marten, Baum

" Japanese...

" Stone

Mink, American. . .
" Japanese... .

Mouflon

Muskrat, brown. . .
bUck . . .

Nutria

Upos8um,American

;»ustral'n.

Otter, land

sea

Roecoon

Sable, American. .

" Japanc^ic

" Russian ...
Seal, fur

- hair

Skunk

Squirrel

" linings.. . .

Tiger

Wallaby

\yoif

Wolverene.
Wombat.. .

7U4.130
3,574

88,822

1,600,000

4,.'J73

10.401

12,930

2U!»,234

300,373

23..'>04

5,120,330

41.788

Si,\li

4,101,083

21,235

522

310,712

97,282

.^.iO

20,3119

77,000

31,943

1,008,408

194,596

1,982,730

392

60,936

56,042

1.720

193,023

Note. — ^The Persian lambs, astrakhana and Russian squirrels are sold and
dressed in Russia and Germany.

128

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

A report made in the spring of 1911 by the United States com-
mercial agent at London, Mr. J. D. Whelpley, to his government at
Washington and published by the Bureau of Manufactures, De-
partment of Commerce and Labor, gives considerable information on
the London fur trade. The following extracts from it are informative:

"London is the fur market of the world, and the prices paid at its
famous auctions are the determining factors in making prices the world
over. A large portion cf the fur-skins gathered during the year is sold
at one or other of its five auction sales. The first is held in January, the
second in March (by far the largest and most important) , another in June,
and a fourth in October. In December is held the annual seal sale, at
which nearly all the seal furs taken during the previous 12 months are
oflfered. This selling of the furs in one market has its advantages, es-
pecially from the viewpoint of the sellers. With so many diverse inter-
ests, representing practically every country in the world, it is utterly im-
possible to form a dealers' 'ring,' as would almost inevitably result if
the furs were offered in a smaller and more restricted market. That,
probably, is one of the considerations that brings the furs over thou-
sands of miles of land and water at considerable expense to be sold in
London and returned for final disposal, perhaps, to places within a few
miles of their capture.

"There was a time when only dealers bought furs at these great
auctions. Now, however, several of the larger and richer wholesalers
bid, eliminating the dealers' profit. The principal reason why this is not
done to a larger extent is a financial one. Few of the wholesale houses
wish to tie up capital for the long period necessary if they buy direct
from the auctioneers. Buying for cash in January and March, it is in
many cases close on to a year, and in some cases, when business is poor,
two years before the wholesalers and manufacturers can hope to realize
on their investment. On the other hand, the dealers extend liberal
credit terms to their customers, and consequently the burden on the
latter is not such a heavy one.

"There are no detailed figures as to British imports or exports,
The only way in which the imports of any particular skin can bo deter-
mined is to totalize the sales. This is difiicult and unsatisfaotory,
as there are several small sales and some private offerings in adkiition
to the great fur auctions. The English trade returns for 1910 give the
imports of undressed fur skins as: 82,327,101 rabbit skins, value $3,675,-
483; 333,033 seal skins, value $1,491,573; and 18,515,682 other skins,
value $15,390,209. In 1909, when the total number of undressed rab-
bit skins imported was 66,135,374, valued at $2,548,537, the countries
supplying the larger quantities were: Germany, 39,462; Belgium,
11,255,772; France, ^,845,158; Australia, 43,442,559; New Zealand,

COMMERCE IN RAW FURS

120

7,379,900. Of tho umlressecl seal skins importotl' in tliiit yc:ir t iio United
States furnished 24,556; Itussia, 27,980; Norway, ()0,();t4: Japan
(includinji Formosa), 11,398; Cape of Good Hope, 15,061; Xewfound-
land and Labrador, 126,796; tiio total imports amountins to 288,055
skins, valued at $1,328,219. Undressed, unclassitit-ii skins ajifirogated
17,960,661, and had an import value of $11,285,180; of these tiie United
States supplied 6,426,851; Russia, 750,868; (ierniany, 3,370,525;
China (exclusive of Hong Kon^', Macao, and Wei-hai-wei), .")()7,637;
Japan (includinfi Formosa), 85,692; Chili, 40,.").")8; France. 47,754;
Australia, 5,499,814 and Canatla, 987,321. Dressed iai)l)it skins luim-
berinj; 537,051 and valued at $80,098; 18,608 dressed seal skins, value
$490,339; and 4,8.56,818 dressed skins, not classified in tlu; customs
returns but havinj; a value of $4,318,688, were also imported into the
United Kingdom during 1909. as well as manufactures of skins and furs
(including skin rugs) worth $5,005,122, thus giving a grand total for
tho 1909 import.s of dressed and undrcs.sed furs and manufactures of
furs and skins of $25,056,183.

_ . "Of late years some big firms, notably one French house,

Competition with branches in Lcmdon and the United States, and sev-
eral American hou.ses located in Philadelphia and else-
where, have been dealing direct with tho trappers, thus avoiding the
London auction sales altogether. Tho French firm is a determined
competitor of the great Hudson's Bay Co. in its own territory, and with
ships and frontier stores is making a serious eflfort to obtain a portion of
the Canadian fur trade. This firm does a wholesale and retail busi-
ness, but offers no skins at auction. The Hudson's Bay Co. sells all

"Figures from the Lnndon sales are now not safe. Frequently of late years
Con!jif!nment.s of some sorts of skins have been either withdrawn from these sales
or bouglit back by the owner-, and offered again in the next sale. This feature
was very noticeable in the January (1914) sales just held. I only wish some means
could be devised for obtaining reliable statistics. Before l.S'45 there used to be a
duty on all raw fur skins coming into Great Britain, and. as nearly tho whole of
the production of United States and Canada was shipped to London, the figures
thus obtained were of great value. Subsecjucnt to that year, the Lonilon sales
formed a fair index. But for some years past the practices I have referred to,
combined with the fact that many skins of irrtain kinds are either shipped to other
European countries direct, without the intervention of the London sales, or are
used by the American and Canadian fur trade withwit export, have made the
London public sale quantities of little use in computing the total numbers
produceil.

■In the word< of Mr. M;lls (fonnerly ICditor of the Fur Trade Keview of New
York I. who wrote me a long letter on the subject of figures, and whose word I en-
tirely endorse: he said, referring to a certain book on Furs and the Fur Trade:
'I have no patience with literature of that kind. Its errors are perpetuated and
magnified through the ages.'

"The Provincial (Jame Warden of British Columbia writes me that he has
succeeded in getting his government to introduce new measures, whereby a know-
letlge of the value of the fur trade there and the number of skins of each animal
taken may be accurately obtained. Perhaps this may lead to useful statistics in
the future." — From Corresimndnwe of Mr. Ernasl Poland. 110 Queen Victoria Street,
London, Kng., February W, I'JIi.

130

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATIOX

its furs at public auction in London. The extensive buying of tlie
American dealers in Siberia threatens to entirely nullify the impor-
tance of the Russian-Siberian fairs as fur marts.

"England maintains its position as the fur-seal skin dyeing and
dressing centre of the world, despite many attempts that have been made
to wrest away this supremacy. The French, especially, were determined
competitors and at one time had secured a fair share of the business.
One of the leading dyers of Groat Britain told me that five years ago
the French business amounted to about 25 per cent of the whole, and
its growth wiis a continual cause of alarm to those interested in the
industry in En'iland. The superiority of the English work has been
ascribed to various causes, notably to some peculiar and unique property
of the water used and to some secret processes and methods of handling.
The fact that for many years one man enjoyed a practical monopoly of
seal dyeing in England would appear to lend weight to the latter asser-
tion.

"The following table shows the Lampson sales for March,
S«Sf*1910 June, and October, 1910. Prices are given in British

poimds, shillings, and pence, the value in American money
being approximately §4.86, 24 1-3 cents, and 2 cents, respectively. The
highest and lowest prices are per skin, except where indicated otherwise.

"There weio 476 silver fox skins sold at the March, 1910,
auctions, which brought £540 as the highest and £1 as the
lowest price. In June, 64 of these skins were offered, the
prices ranging from £230 down to £2, and at the October sales, 167
skins brought prices from £150 to £1.

"At the March Lampson sales, there were also offered 3,315 white
hare skms, prices for which ranged from SJd- to 4d.; 1,311 Persian
lambskins, prices 23s. to 3s.; 307 sea-otter skins, prices £350 to £4;
2 bales and 733 skins of North American rabbit skins, prices 8d. to 3d.
per pound; eSOfurse.ilskins (dry), prices 13s. to 6d.; 2,124 hair seal skins
(dry), prices 6s. 9d. to Is.; 2,410 wombat skins, prices 2s. lid. to 7d.;
and 928 wolverene skins, prices 46s. to 4s. At the June auctions
237 brown bear skins brought prices varying from 90s. to 9s., and 4,100
marmot skins from 3s. Id. to Is. 9d.

"At the December seal auctions, 13,584 Alaska skins were offered
in 1910, against 14,350 ui 1909, and brought from 240s. to 90s., which
was somewhat lower than in the earlier j-ear. From the Northwest
Coast came 12,586 skins, against 13,972 in 1909, the prices averaging a
trifle higher in 1910 than the preceding year and ranging from 168s.
to 358. Prices were 10 per cent lower for South Sea skins, the number
sold being 1,060 in 1910, compared with 2,086 in 1909, and the returns

Other
Offerings

COMMERCE IN RAW FURS

131

being 1828. for the finest quality and 743. for lower grades. Cape Horn
skins numbered 1606 in 1910, compared with 611 in 1909.

"It w'll be realized that, in the valuation of furs, so much depends
on size, condition, colour, age, district, etc., that a mere list of prices
is no guide to the fluctuations of the auction-room value of the skii ''.' '

Btdger...

Bear;
Blaek..
Brawn
Otlnly

WblM

Beaver

Cat

Civet

HOKne

WUd

ClilnchUla:

BHtard

Real

ErralDe

FUher

lltch

Fox:

Blue

Cron

Gray

Jap

Red

Red Auatrallao .

White

Kaniaroo

Kolliuky

Lynx

Martea

Raum

JaoaDese

Stone

Mink

Mole

Muaquasli

BUck

Opoasum:

American

Auatrollan

Otter

Raccoon

Sable. Ruealan

Skunk

Squirrel

Wallaby

Woll

Number
nt Hklni

Hlghnt
price

4,830

4,290
513
81

I.SIS
ISO

8,708

89. M 2
12,473
12,466

1.820

8,294

lOS, 988

679

817

1,800

1,299

13,019

017

28, 469

3,883

2,097

1,S59

47.172

301

11,34S

778

1,167

2,864

82, 987

169, 618

651,164

14,820

302.920

452. 165

3.868

174. 225

574

M2, 216

124. 147

6A.981

22.617

>. d.

165

105

140

£32

3 6

2 11

700 On

780 Oa

:)10 05

175

5 9

66
30 Oe
64
58

4
21

260
31

800
27

190 Oe
8 8

Lowest
price

13
£1

18 Oa

13 Oa

13 Ob

17 Oe

Number
of skins

4.793

1,694

237

614

2,353

37,893
16, 261
15.499

1.825

2. 168

26,005

412

7,180

109

298

10, 632

15. 224

14.831

11.174

2.561

988

25.710

676

2.847

829

9,373

2.048

23,460

324, S28

627,440

14,015

302

77,

293,

74,

146,

195,

Hlihest
price

t. a.

136
90
42
96
£8
44

2 11

3 9
56

U80 Oa

400 Oa

400 Ob

280
76

8
18
70
10
80

4
140
130
80
20
32
46
40

50
50

4 4

145

280

210 Oc

l,owe8t
price

I .d.

1 3
9

9
£2

1 2
6
1

W Oa

60 Oa

lU 00

2
7

OCTOOtH

Number
o( skins

2,259

1,891
80

981

164

2,719

1,096
24, 235
4,456

2,995
1,474

28, 5U0

4,700

388

lei

2,064

12, 210

12, 278

24, 341

4,221

3,784

37, 934

872

1,993

2,247

1,012

12,613

308,711

478, 144

12. 380

28. 982

606. 264

3.600

9. 882

1,946

14,620

29.1, 804

183. 800

3.728

Highest
price

t. d.

no
66

90
£16
33

2 3
1 11

1.000 Oa

600 Oa

320 Oh

1 10

210

84
7

8 e

2 6

5 3

126

130

16 6

30 Oi;
42
41

4 7

100

360

15 6

150 Oc

Loweat
price

: d.

2
13

»
£1

1 7

140 Oa

20 Oa

1 06
17

1 «

•
9
1

2
6
S

S
10
5 Oe
2
18

'U-

bfa" timber," or 40 sklna.

Prices of Silver Fox Skins

Annual ^^^ Brass, a German c .timercial agent, who, for thirty-
Production five years, has been engaged in collecting statistics of the
fur trade, states that the average number of fox skins pro-
duced annually in the period from 1907 to 1909, was 2,042,300. The
following figures are based on his estimates:

Common Red Fox

{Vvlims vulpes)

] Red skins 1,515,000

[Cross skins 13,000

J Silver skins 4,300

.'•i

132

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

Polar Fox "I White sltins ^9?'522

{ViUpes lagopus) ; Blue " 11.000

Kit-Fox \ 64,000

{Vulpea velox) I

Ghay Fox I

{Urocyon cinebrensargentatua) j 80,000

The Japan fox or Raccoon clog, and a few thousand skins of two
South American species make up the balance.

Brass estimates the world's yeaily production of the various species
of foxes as follows :

FOX SKINS PRODUCED ANNUALLY

Continent

Common Red Fox

Kit-
Fox

Gray
Fox

Polar Fox

Red

Cross

Silver

White

Blue

Europe . . .
America . .

Asia

Australia..

200,000

775,000

160,000

30,000

15,000
3,000

4,000
300

6,000
60,000

50,000

30,000

5,000

70,000

6,000
1,000
4,000

Oeograpbieal The quotations published by fur-buyers make a geographi-
CUssiecation ^.^j elassification of furs, thus:

Red Fox No. 1, Largk:*

Alaska, Northern and Western Canada a ka

Newfoundland and Labrador 8 . 50

Minnesota, Wisconsin, Dakota, Missouri, Michigan 7.50

Eastern Canada, Michigan, New York, and Northeastern states. . . 6 . 00

Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois 5.00

Central and Southern states 3 . 50

Red Fox No. 1, Large:!

Eastern Canada, Nova Scotia, Labrador 9-00

Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Ontario 8.00

Northern New York, northern Michigan, Connecticut 7.00

Northern Pennsylvania, central New York, central Michigan 6.00

Central Pennsylvania, northern Ohio, W. Virginia, New York 5.00

Central Ohio, northern Indiana, Illinois 4 . 75

South Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, southern

Ohio, northern Kentucky 4-50

Southern and Southwestern states 4.25

The geographical classification reveals the fact that, in North Amer-
ica, the higher the altitude, or the lower the temperature, the heavier
the pelt. Mink descends steadily in value from Labrador to Florida,
Eastern Canada large No. 1 mink being quoted at $6.00 in March, 1914,
and Florida at ?4.00. A heavy pelt, if properly coloured, is usually the
most valuable. Canada, therefore, produces the best fur in the New
World as Russia does in the Old. It is quite possible, also, that the pelts

*Fvr News Mngatine, November, 1912.
tFur Trade Review, December, 1912.

A Collection of 34 Wild Silver-fox Skins. Wor pwards of $21,000

li ■

J I

COMMERCE IK RAW FURS

133

of raccoon, opossum, skunk and other animals not now iv>ui.d in north-
em Canada could be improved by domestication in colder regions.
Ranch-bred animals properly kept will develop as heavy pelts as wild
specimens, and they can always be killed when prime.

The average price for all silver fox skins sold in Lon-
of SilTtr Foz Skint cl<»i> including the wild stock and ranch stock, are
an follows:

Year Average Price

1905 $146.59

1906 166.93

1907 157.11

1908 168.91

1909 244.12

1910 414.37

1911 290.01

The high average price obtained for silver fox skins in 1910 is ac-
counted for by the better market. More than one half of the skins sell-
ing for $500.00 or more were from Prince Edward Island ranches.

At the present time, the average price of wild silver fox skins in
London is about S200.00 and, for ranch foxes such as are found with
the best ranchers, $1,200.00.

Wild silver fox are not always prime and they are frequently shot,
chewed, mangled and poorly dressed, while ranched foxes are usually
killed when their fur is in primest condition. The highest price ever
paid at the London sales for a silver fox skin was $2,900.00 It is said
that this skin was sold by a Paris firm which had bought it at a previous
sale for $1,930.00, and that it was from a ranched fox from Prince
Edward Island.

The next highest price was $2,700.00, and a half dozen have sold
for $2,500.00 or more, all being from Prince Edward Island ranches.
A rather remarkable .sale was made in March, 1912, when a pelt from
a fox that died in James Rayner's ranch at Kildare, P.E.I. , on October
12, 1911, brought the highest price, $2,050.00, although the skin would
not have been TuUy prime before December.

Pric«t of
P.E.I. Skins

It is a difficult matter to obti authentic records of sales
of silver fox skins from Prin Edward Island; farmers,
as a rule, do not give careful attention to correspondence
and records. Many reports are alleged to have been lost and those ex-
amined gave evidence of having been filed in an inside coat pocket for
a considerable period. Documentary proof of sales made in London was
also difficult to obtain. Below are reproduced the sales reports of Charles
Dalton and J. S. Gordon for the year 1910:

.ft:

134

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

»,

C. M. Lampson & Co.

64 Queen Street,
London, E.G., 7th April, 1910

Account Bale of Funs received on consignment
for account of C. Dalton, Esq., TiRnish, Prince Edward Island

CD.

Invoice Lot
Quantity

Mail
5 pels.
2 "
5 "
2 "

1 2105
I 2100
I 2107
I 2110
I 2120
i 2149
I 2150
2151
2152
2153
2166
2194
2195
2196
2197
2200
2230
2231
2232
2233
2234
2242

Skins

Fox, Silver

220
125

210

310
530
210
160
46
280
540
310
440
430
250
340
340
200
370
165
500
270
200
280
290
420

COMMERCE I.V RAW FUR8

C. M. LAMP80N & Co.

64 Queen Street,
London, E.C., 7th April, 1010

Account sale of Furs received on consignment
for account of J. S. Gordon, Esq., Alberton, Prince Edward Island

Prompt 7th April, 1910

J.S.G.

Invoice Lot
Quantity'

Skins

per
mail
Ipcl.
1 •'

2109
2150

Fox, Silver

490
ISO

COMMISSION OF CONHERVATIOX

A diBcount of 2i per cent off thc«e prices w jtivcn and the »clUng
comminsion of per cent ami the carriaRc and insurance chargos bring
the total cost of marketing furs in London up to about 9 per cent of
the selling price. .

Statistics for 1908 and 1909 are wholly lacking, the records being
reported lost. Satisfactory proof was furnished tiiat the following sales
were made, although possibly not more than one-half the total quantity
of skins sold in the period 190o-1912 are represented:

SALES OF P. E. I. SILVER FOX SKINS. IMS-IVU

Year

No. of Bklni

Total Value

Average Value

1005
1006
1007
1010
1011
1012

Total

8
28
27
10

t 5,037.33

0,733.33

22,802.80

36,748.20

10,862.67

1,005 33

188,150.66

t 530.76
1,216.67
817.60
1,. 361. 05
1,085.27
1,005.33

The average for the last seven years would probably be 8'.,ihtly
lower if reports of all sales were available. On the other hand, the price
has advanced since 1905, most noticeably so in 1910 and in 1912.

On account of the demand for breeding animals, but few skins have
been sold since 1910, and no ranches other than those on Prince Edward
Island have furnished proofs of the prices obtained for them.

■I-.;

[I I

ifcii J

z
a.

I
X

Appendix I

Value of Wild AnimAli*

C. D. RtcH.vRDAON, Weht HRooKrici.D, Mass.

TOSE beautiful wornJod iMU hHouM bo the iiaunts of the wild
creatures, as when firnt discovered by the white man. Too long
they, with their wild life, have been Riven over to the pot hunter and
to him who would deopoil them of their true charm. There is a growing
recognition that the strain of modem life can l>o best endured by often
fleeing to the wilds, which calls at times to all, but louder to some
than others.

All over this great country of ours there are vast stretches of
waste land, with their variety of wckkIm, Hwamps, and hillside, which
yield but little profit to the owner. Let uh look a little into the future.
Suppose we make something of this land, fence it in, reforest it, and
stock it with game. It will re<{uire little care and the average farmer
may realize from it more than he now doc8 from his tilled acres. The
fence problem is practically solved in the use of woven wire, and a large
tract may be enclosed at a comparatively small expense.

The food pi-oblem, too, is a simple one, as grouse, pheasants, quail,
etc., subsist almost wholly upon insects which, if unchecked, would
destroy all vegetation, on noxious seeds, and on buds of unimportant
trees, while the larger game animals, especially those of the deer family,
feed almost wholly on twigs and leaves of vegetation which Ls of no
real value, if not a menace t , the farmer. In fact, the finest grazing
groimd for such animals is aii old brush pasture in which the ordinary
domestic animals would starve, but which furnishes to the wild crea-
tures their most natural f jod.

The question of vermin — the fox, weasels, skunk, cat, etc., the
natural enemies of the bird — must be considered and a systematic war-
fare waged against them. An English moor of from 100 to 500 acres
often rents for £300 ($1,500) a season, just for the shooting privileges
of the grouse alone. When the vermin is disposed of, the increase
in bird life on such a tract is simply enormous.

There is a growing demand, at increasingly high prices, for live
game to supply zoological parks, and for game as food. The revenue

"From Aineh."«n Breeders' Association Annual Report, 1911.

'■ \

13S

COMMISSION' OF C O N S K U V A T I O N

11^

which may be derived from shooting privileges and from camping parties
who would steal away to enjoy a season with nature, in all her full-
ness, may not be inconsiderable.

The national parks, whose value to the country cannot be over-
estimated, are too far away for the average citizen to enjoy, but he
may have that which will give much pleasure and profit nearer home.
A tract of waste land of from 100 to 1,000 acres may be obtained in
almost any section of the country, and especially in the hilly and moun-
tainous regions, at a price within the reach of every alert farmer. The
cost of fencing need not exceed $1 a rod for an 8-foot fence, and the
game for stocking — birds and small game will rapidly multiply under
protection — can be procured at a price no greater than that paid for
domestic animals.

One of the secrets of the success of the English race is in the
fact that they as a people have emphasized out-of-door life. The rugged
physique and robust health of the average Englishman are due to the
fact that he is able to dismiss all care and enjoy a day with rod and gun.
His large landed estates, together with the climatic conditions, offer
favourable opportunities for all out-door sports. WhUe we believe that
large landed estates are a menace to the best interests of any people,
yet, with our large acreage of waste land and democratic ideals, there
is no possible danger that we shall ever suffer by the establishment of
game preserves in this country. These game preserves may not only
be centres from which the surrounding covers will be stocked, but they
may be object lessons in forestry, of which this country stands in vital
need, to say nothing of making rural life more beautiful and attractive.

Appendix II

Experience in Raising Virginia Deer*

BY
C. H. ROSEBERRY, SxELLA, MO.

I KNOW of no other branch of the live-stock industry that retuma
as great a profit in proportion to the time, labour and capital
invested as that of deer raising.

My experience is limited to the Virginia white tailed deer (Cariacua
virginianus) and covers a period of 19 years. Doubtless, the raising
of elk or wapiti would be equally profitable — perhaps more so where
raised for venison, owing to the greater size.

A tract of 10, 20, or 40 acres of rough brush land, enclosed with
a 6i or 7-feet woven wire fence, with provision for a constant supply
of water, either natural or artificial, is the chief requisite. It is better
if there be dense thickets of underbrush, coarse weeds, and trees of pin
oak, white oak, pig hickory, chestnut, etc. The twigs, leaves, and mast
of these afford an abundance of natural food as well as shelter and seclu-
sion.

It is also desirable to have a plat of three or four acres of tillable
land on which to sow rye or wheat for winter pasture.

As the underbrush is gradually killed out, as it will be as the herd
increases in numbers, unless the range ia quite extensive, white clover
and orchard grass may be sown for summer forage.

In the latitude of southwestern Missouri, feeding is not necessary
between April 1 and November 1. For the rest of the year a stack of
cowpea or clover hay to which the deer have free access, supplemented
by a light ration of com and bran or other mill feed in severe weather,
is sufficient.

Do not feed too heavily of shelled corn. If gorged with it, the
results are often fatal.

If it is desired to raise venison it is, of course, not necessary that
the fawns be accustomed to handling while young in order to tame
them. But if raised for sale as breeding stock, requirmg that they be
handled and shipped alive, it is necessary to take the fawna from the
does when they are ten days old and raise them by hand on cow's milk.

This, of course, involves a great deal more trouble and expense than
to let the fawn run with the doe; hence the price received for breeding
stock is proportionately greater than that received for the venison car-
cass. For example, a yearling dressed for market may weigh 60 pounds
net, and could be profitably sold for 25 cents a pound, or $15; whereas

*From the American Breeders' Association Report, lOOd.

)

i 'I-

iP^

140

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

the same raised by hand would be worth at leaat $30 for a buck, or $45
for a doe.

My method of raising by hand is as follows: A tract of 3 or 4
acres, free of underbrush, in which the fawns might hide, is fenced off
from the main park. Early in May the does that are to drop fawns are
confined in this small lot.

During the fawning time the lot is carefully searched at intervals of
two or three days, and when a fawn a day or two old is found it is at
once tagged by tying about its neck a strip of cloth — red it it is a buck
or white if it is a doe — and allowed to remain with the doe ten days,
when it is taken from the park and confined in a 5 ft. by 10 ft. cage
made of one-inch poultry netting, lined inside with cloth and bedded
with clean straw. A 5 by 10 cage will accommodate 12 fawns. The
bedding must be kept dry and frequently changed for cleanliness. The
cloth lining is necessary to prevent injury. The youngster is exceed-
ingly wild at first and dashes himself against the sides of the cage in
f'.iintic efforts to escape.

If allowed to remain longer than ten days with the doe, it i )ften
impossible to capture the fawn except by a chase or by strategy. The
latter consists in biding your time until the fawr found lying beside
a log, stump, or clump of bushes, when it is verj ealthily approached
from the leeward to within springing distance and pounced upon before
it can get to its feet. When other methods of capture fail, it may be
run into a fish net in which it will become entangled.

The fawns remain in the cage for two weeks, during which time
they learn to drink fresh milk from a bottle and become quite tame.
They are then allowed the freedom of an enclosure 20 by 100 feet for
two weeks longer, when they are given a still wider range. But they
must not be returned to the park, else they will become wild again.

The adult Virginia buck, if raised by hand, often becomes vicious,
especially during the rutting season, and should not be trusted until
rendered comparatively harmless either by sawing off his antlers an
inch above the burr or by bolting a 1 by 4 hardwood board 3 feet long
across the tips of his antlers. The wild bucks never lose their fear of
man sufficiently to attack him

I would not advise beginners with small means to go into the busi-
ness of deer raising too heavily at first. It is better to begin on a small
scale, say 10 acres, and a herd of vigorous stock and let the business
increase along with the increase of knowledge gained by experience.

Thousands of acres of rough land unsuited for ..dltivation that now
biing its owner no returns for his investments may, by converting it
into small deer farms, be made to yield the owners a handsome profit,
as well as much plea are.

Appendix III

Selected Articles from the Annual Report of the American
Breeders' Association, 1908*

Or;JECTS OF BHKEDIXO WILD MAMMALS

EXPERIMENTS in breeding wild mammals need not necessarily
be for their domestication. They may be bred in inclosures giv-
ing sufficient range and a habitat us nearly natural as circumstances
will permit and the problem of ultimate domestication left for future
determination. The chief objects to be sought by experiments in breed-
ing wild unimals are: (1) Preserving species; (2) Use in agriculture
or transportation; (3) Use for hides and fur; (4) Use as food.

Perpetuating Species. — Extinction of species is a process of nature,
and, from an economic point of view, is not necessarily a misfortune to
the world. But when the rapacity of man is turned against a useful
species until it is threatened with extermination, there is good reason
for the intervention of organizations of men for its preservation. The
imminence of extinction for the American bison, the African elephant,
the eland, the walrus, the sea otter, and other species is not imaginary.
Within recent times a considerable number of birjs have been lost to
the world. Of mammals, the quagga and the blaaubok (.Hippotrngus
Icucophceus), the latter a small relative of the roan antelope, have been
exterminated from the South African fauna. B'oresight might have pre-
served them; and foresight accompanied by governmental intervention
will be needed to previ-uL the loss of many of the large game mammals
of the world. The precs r /ation of the best of them is a sufficient reason
for advocating the expenditure of money in cxperi..ieiitp in breeding
them.

♦The Committee on Breeding Wild Mammals of the .\inerican Breeders' Associa-
tion is composed of the following members: —

Dr. E. Lantz, Washington, D.C., Chairman.

M. M. Boyd, Bobcaygcon, Ont.
R. H. Harris, Clarksville, Tex.
Emory, E. Hoge, Baltimore, Md.

W. M. Irwin, Wahington, DC.

C. J. Jones, Topeka, Kan.

G. D. Richardson, Worcester, Mass.

Object: To investigate and report on the methods and technicjue of improvmg
wild mammals; and to devise and suggest methods and plans of mtroducmg, pro-
ducing and improving siirh wilil animals a-s may be useful for the production of food,
skins, etc., or as aids to agriculture.

! .1

142

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

Agriculture and Transportation. — Our second object in breeding
wild animals seems to be less important. The horse will never be sur-
passed in general usefulness and the other animals used in agriculture
and transportation are excellent in their places. Two animals, how-
ever, both of the African fauna, are good subjects for experiments in
breeding and domestication for these uses — the zebra and the elephant.
The zebra is the only animal of its kind that is apparently immune to
the fatal effects of being bitten by the tsetse ily. The zebra is easily
domesticated, but seems to lack endurance. If it can be crossed with
the horse so as to produce a hardy hybrid also immune to the tsetse fly,
the problem of African transport would be partly solved. The domestica-
tion of the zebra and its improvements by judicious breeding are pro-
jects that are well worth the expenditure of money upon them. The
African elephants have been domesticated and trained like their Asiatic
relatives and have proved to be equally docile under careful manage-
ment. There is little doubt that they could be made equally useful.

Breeding for Fur. — Investigation of the possibility of breeding fur-
bearing animals profitabb- is especially desirable, in view of the failing
supply of our better furs. As another committee has reported upon this
subject, we do not take it up.

Breeding for Food. — From an economic standpoint we regard this
as an important reason for attempting to breed wild mammals. Game
of all kind is becoming scarcer from year to year, and sportsmen go
farther and farther in search of it. Even after it is found, the laws
uron the subject of sale and export of game often prevent the hunter
from carrj'ing to his home or disposing of game that has been lawfully
killed. In our zeal to protect our vanishing game mammals and birds,
we have in some cases, carelessly passed laws which, if not modified,
will prevent the one movement that would do more for game preserving
than any other agency that can be contrived. We refer to game prop-
agation carried on not by the State alone, but by private enterprise as
well.

EXOTIC SPECIES RECOMMENDED FOR BREEDING UNDER
DOMESTICATION

The breeding of exotic species of the deer family is a promising
field for experiment. The red deer and fallow deer of Europe have been
successfully . cclimatized in many parts of the world. It has been shown
that the small Chinese water deer and the Indian muntjac are both
suited to European deer parks and no doubt both would thrive in Amer-
ica. The water deer are noted for their fecundity, the female producing
three or four young at a time. The muntjacs usually produce twins.

OBJECTS OF BREEDING WILD MAMMALS

143

The flesh of both is said to be excellent. These small deer are less than
20 inches tall at the withers and, if domesticated in our Southern
States, would furnish farmers a much needed form of meat which could
be provided fresh every day or two as needed. Aside from fowls, most
of our domestic animals are too large for immediate consumption by the
ordinary farmer's family; and there is a distinct demand for a food
animal of smaller size tiian the sheep for farm use. Some of the smaller
African antelopes, as the red duiker, might perhaps be made to supply
the demand.

In Africa there are nearly a hundred species of the antelope family,
many of them hardy and some of them producing the best of venison.
More than a dozen species would be promising subjects for experiments
in acclimatizing and breeding in America. Some of them for instance,
as the gazelle, undoubtedly would be found especially adapted for the
arid range country of the Southwest and might be used to restock parts
of the country from which the American antelope has disappeared.

The eland is the largest of the antelope family and is threatened
with extermination in South Africa. The average weight of this animal
Ls from 800 to 1,100 pounds and old males sometimes attain 1,400 to
1 ,500 pounds. The eland has often been recommended for experiments
m domestication. It was first introduced into Holland in 1783 by the
Prince of Orange. It was acclimatized in England by the Earl of Derby
in 1842 and was bred successfully in his parks. At 1 ' ~*'- h'-^ herd
passed into the possession of the London Zoological Socie . . ■>., and
continued to increase in numbers for many years. In 1879, th Duke
of Bedford had a fine herd of 14 elands in his park at Woburn Abbey.
The flesh of the eland is highly eulogized by Harris, the African trav-
eller, in these words: "Both in grain and colour it resembles beef, but
it is far better tasted and more delicate, possessing a pure game flavour
and exhibiting the most tempting looking layers of fat and lean, the
surprising quantity of the former ingredient with which it is interlarded,
exceeding that of any other game quadruped with which I am ac-
quainted. The venison fairly melts in the mouth, and as for the brisket,
that is absolutely a cut for a monarch."

Besides the eland, the sambar, the nilgai, and other foreign deer
have given promising results when bred in enclosures. All told, there
are perhaps 150 specicj of exotic ungulata useful for food, that might
become promising subjects for experiments in acclimatizing and breed-
ing in the United States. The cost of introducing and caring for ten or
more of each species until acclimated would be small when compared
with the important results that would follow success with even a very
few species.

For those who would engage in growing deer for profit, however.

144

COMMISSION OF rOMSEnVATION

we can recommend in preference to exotic species our native elk, or
wapiti, and the Virginia deer. They need no acclimatizing and are,
without question, adapted for propagation in this country.

BREEDING Ol' THL WAPITI OR AMERICAN ELK

Although our native wapiti is less prolific than the Virginia deer,
and some other species that have b'.'cn bred In parks, it makes up for
this circumstance in hardiness and ease of management. It has been
successfully acclimatized in England anil on the Continent, where it has
been crossed with both the .\ltai wapiti of Asia and the rod deer of
Europe. Both crosses with the American species have improved the
stock in size and general stamina.

The wapiti has been successfully bred in many sections of the
United States and afforus one of the best subjects for experiments in
breeding for profit. While the old males are apt to become dangerously
vicious during the rutting season, making them somewhat undesirable
for open parks, they arc ordinarily docile and have often been trained
to harness and driven in public. Under careful scientific management
with, possibly, careful dehorning, the elk would in a very few generations
develop into a gentle race of a true domesticity.

Judge John D. Caton, of Illinois, who during his lifetime contri-
buted much to our knowledge of the deer family and of their susceptibi-
lity to domestication, was apparently ur .ortunate in having enclosures
poorly adapted to deer. He believed that they contained some kind of
vegetable food that was harmful to most of the species; but his herd of
elk was always healthy. Writing in 1880, Judge Caton said :

"My elk continue to do well and are so prolific that I have had
repeatedly to reduce their numbers and would be glad now to dispose
of at least thirty. I have on an average about one old buck a year killed
in battle and sometimes another by some casualty, but all appear
healthy. Mine grow very largo and of all the cervidm they seem best
adapted to domestication."

Your committee has recent reports from a number of breeders of
elk, all of whom seem to confirm the opinion advanced by Judge Caton
as to the success of breeding the elk in preserves.

Joshua Hill, of Pontiac, Mich., has a preserve of 300 acres in which
he has been brtnjding elk and buffalo, .\lthough not breeding animals
for commercial purposes, he is of the opinion that elk, on account of
their superior hsrdiness, could be more profitably handled than deer.
He has heard of elk meat bringing from 50 cents a pound upwards, and
thinks that the business of growmg animals for market might bo made
to win if properly pushed.

i I

OBJECTS OF HUEEDINMi WILD MAMMALS

145

Isauc Bonine, of Niles, Mich., hioeds both elk ami Virguiia deer,
and has had thirty years' experience. Ho prefers elk because they
require less care than deer. Elk winter well on hay and corn fodder with
a small amount of grain and thrive in summer on blue-grass pasture.
While deer do rea.-'onably well i)n the same food, they thrive better when
fed vegetables and in that latitude require some sort of winter shelter.
An elk requires no shelter. While Mr. Bonine has doubts as to the
profit of growing deer and elk for the venison, he thinks that breeding
them for park purposes can be made very remunerative. Ho has a
number of elk f<jr sale.

G. W. Russ, Eureka Springs, has a herd of 34 elk. They have
abundant range in the Ozarks on rough lands covered with hardwood
forest and abundant underbrush. He reports that the animpls improve
the forest by cleaning out part of the thicket. Fully 90 per cent
of the females produce healthy young, and Mr. Russ thinks he could
make the business of growing elk for market profitable, if the law
would permit him to kill and export domesticated elk. He has an offer
of 40 cents a pound for the dressed carcasses in St. Louis. He thinks
that large areas now unutilized in the Alleghanies and Ozarks might
be economically adapted to produce venison for sale and he regards the
elk as especially suited for forest grazing. They should have about
twice as much range as the same number of cattle.

J. W. Gilbert, of Friend, Neb., has been raising deer and elk for
seventeen years. He has at present 30 deer and 16 elk on prairie
pasture. He regards elk as the more profitable and has never had a
barren cow elk.

T. J. Wilson of Lewisburg, Ohio, began raising deer and elk a
few years ago, with three head of each at the start. He has not suc-
ceeded so well with deer as with elk. Deer require a higher fence and
more care. Elk do well on hay, corn fodder and rough feed, and, if
they escape from an enclosure, may be driven back like cattle. He
originally paid S165 for two adult elk and a fawn. He has sold $300
worth of stock and has now a herd of 12, worth $1,000.

Your committee has the names and addresses of about a dozen
other successful breeders of the American elk, but the time at our dis-
posal did not permit our obtaining particulars of their experience.

BREEDING THE VIRGINIA DEER

Testimony as to the hardiness of the Virginia deer and the profits

of breeding them is not so unanimous as it is concerning the wapiti;

but the general opinion is that with suitable range, plenty of good water,

and reasonable care in winter, the business of growing the animals for

146

COMMISSION' OF C O N S I ; H V A T I O N

stocking parks and for vtii.«>.i may bo made as profitable as that of any
other live-stock ind.'«tr-, jnd that untillable land may be utilized aa
preserves for the an'....a>a.

Mr. R. H. Harris, a member of this committee, who resides at
Clarksville Texas, was requested to contribute his viewrf upon the
raising of deer as an industry. He writes as follows:

" Having been actively engaged in this business for some years, I
feel qualified to speak on the subject with clearness and conviction.
I find that the Virginia deer is adapted to almost every section of the
United States. It fawns in May or June of each year, each doe usually
bringing two young. The young mature rapidly. Virginia deer are the
most beautiful, graceful and healthful animals known. No other
meat is equal to venison as a diet for the sick, it being easily digested
and agreeing with the most delicate stomachs. The demand for both
venison and skins is luJimited. The flesh, being in wide demand in
cities, especially in restaurants and caf6s, is very high-priced.

" These deer are easily tamed; the wildest fawns, if taken from the
herd when young, will, in a few hours, become as gentle as a pet dog.
I have, for several years, been raising them in large numbers. They run
at will in woodlands and fields, are never handled, but fed occasionally,
and are as gentle as a herd of common cattle. They are easily and
cheaply rai.sed and seldom, if ever, die from natural causes. After
years of practical experience, I unhesitatingly state that the raising
of doer is in profitableness second only to the raising of cattle.

"The cost of feeding deer averages about one-half cent each per day.
They feed on all kinds of vegetables, buds, and leaves of trees, grow-
ing wheat, clover, peas, barley, oats, etc, etc. Cotton seed is also a very
cheap and satisfactory food for them. They also eat corn, bran, fruits
and, in fact, anything that man or beast will eat, except dry hay. They
live from twenty to twenty-five years. They are easily confined by a
woven wire or barbed wire fence 6^ feet in height.

"I strongly urge th-s Association to appeal to our government to
protect and encourage the industry of door raising, believing it to be
one of the most profitable and practicable industries now in prospect
for our people. It is unnecessary to urge the need of quick and ener-
getic action, for this noble animal is fast disappearing and is without
adequate protection. Its extinction would eliminate from our conti-
nent what ought to be an industry equal in value to the raising of
cattle, hogs, or sheep; and I would urge upon this Association the im-
portance of securing legislation that will permit the marketing of

domesticated venison at all seasons of the year "

In conclusion your committee would again ur^o upon this .Associ-
ation such action by resolution as will give emphasis to our desire that

OBJECTS OF BREEDiyj WILD MAMMALS 147

State legulaturos ahould so modify their laws as to permit the market-
ing, under needed regulations, of voniHon or live door reared in pre-
serves stocked and maintuinod at private uxponse.

REPORT or THE COMMITTEE Or THE AMERICAN

BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION ON BREEDING

rVR-BBARING ANIMALS*

WHAT HAS bi:en DOXK

The possibility of breeding many species for their fur has not
been overlooked and spasmodic efforts alon;; this line have been made
in various parts of the country for generations. Almost every fur-
bearing species has been the subject of experimentation. Fox and skunk
farming has attracte' most attention, but mink, marten, otter, beaver,
and muskrat have come in for a fair share. The field has proved most
alluring, as with pencil and paper any sanguine person can, in a few
minutes, figure out a large fortune in fur at the market price and well-
known normal rate of increase of a given species of mammal. Again
and again, it has taken years of work and the expenditure of thousands
of dollars to prove that important factors have been omitted in the
computations. One well-organized company in Pennsylvania sank
$25,000 in three years, only to prove that skunks would eat their young
when in close confinement. Skunk farming, however, has, in some
cases, proved a partial success, but "Why raise one-dollar skunks in-
stead of thirty-dollar marten?" is a question asked by Mr. E. T. Seton,
a member of the present committee.

The nearest approach to success in fur culture has been on the
native range of species, where, owing to favourable conditions, protec-
tion could be afforded and the animals allowed to multiply until a
profitable yield of fur was secured. This method has been especially
applied to blue foxes, beavers, and muskrats, and with considerable
success. It merits every possible encouragement; but, in most cases,
there has been little attempt at domestication and nothing gained by
way of permanent control of breeds of valuable fur-bearers. In fact,
there seems to have been no systematic attempt to develop a domestic
breed of fur-bearing animals. Most of the experiments have been in
raising wild animals for fur, and these have usually ceased while the
animals were still wild. The fur crop has been expected at once and
has usually been the sole object of the experiment

♦ Annual Report, 1898. The objects of this committee are: To investigate and
report on possibilities, methods and technique of breeding fur animalu; and to en-
courage experiments in the prodf^'on and breeding of fur animals.

148

COMMISflfOV OF COXSEHVATION

PROMISING SPECIES

In spite of numerous failures there is no reason to doubt the en-
tire practicability of successfully breeding in captivity almost any
species of fur-bearing mammal. In most cases it will take consider-
able time to bring about the complete domestication and adaption de-
sirable; but the object is of ample importance to warrant the necessary
expenditure of time and money. It is not necessary nor advisable to
start on a large scale, as the requirements of each species must be studied
and worked out slowly.

In selecting species for breeding purposes the first -'mportant con-
sideration should be to secure a permanently valuable fur. The fancy
prices paid for sea otter and black and silver foxes, reaching 11,000
and even 12,000 for some choice skins, are based, in part, on the rarity
of these bnimals, and would not be mamtained if a large supply be-
came available. Still, these skins will doubtless always be among
the most valuable. Owing to their pelagic habits, however, the sea
otter and fur seal need not be considered in the present connection.

The fur of each species varies greatly in colour, quality, and value
in different parts of its range. The choicest natural strains should, if
possible, be selected to start with; but these can doubtless be bred into
later if a domestic breed be established.

The North American species promising most valuable results in fur
culture are as follows, in sequence of greater permanent fur value: (1)
black and silver foxes; (2) blue or Arctic fox; (3) otter; (4) marten,
or American sable; (5) beaver; (6) mink; (7) fisher. Cheaper kinds
of fur, such as skunk, muskrat, raccoon anc* opossum, may, under special
conditions, yield paying returns, but need aot be considered at present.
Many exotic mammals are worthy of consideration, but in general they
do not offer any advantages over our native species and have the dis-
advantage of not being acclimated.

nmi

BLACK AND SII.VjCR FOXES

The black and the silver foxes are merely melanistic and partially
melanistic individuals of the red fox. Both owe their value, in part,
to their rarity; but it will be long before artificial production will
seriously affect the price. In habits and requirements they are iden-
tical with the red fox, of which they are in some cases the offspring.
Still, either the black or si'ver, if mated together, usually breed true.
The cross fox is merely a dark form of the red with considerably more
valuable fur. By selecting the darkest individuals to breed from and
continuing the selection, an increasingly valuable strain doubtless could
be obtained.

OBJECTB OF BREKniXO WILD MAMMALS 149

Fuxea taken when young and carefully raiaed in captivity becume
tame and usually breed if properly paired. The red fox, aa well as
the Arctic or blue fox is evidently strictly monogamous

BLUE OR AIICTIC FOXES

Many of the islands in Alaska have been leased or taken posnession
of for fox farming. Some of these islands were already inhabited by
blue foxes and other . were stocked with them, mainly from St. Oeorge
island, where the best fur was found.

As shown by the report of the Harriman Alaska Expedition, Vol.
II., p. 357, 1901, and by a more recent account in Forest and Stream
for July 26, 1006, by T. E. Hofer, these foxes are thi 'ing and jrield-
ing considerable fur. On some islands they secure their own food and
are merely guarded and trapped by those in charge. Oa most of the
isibuvis, however, they are fed for part or all the year, but their wild
life has undergone little or no change. They appear to be naturally
rather tame and with proper care could doubtless be thoroughly
domesticated.

They breed when a year old, pair for breeding and have usually
four to eight young at a litter. Prime skins are quoted at S20 to S25.

OTTER

Few wild animals thrive better in close confinement than otter.
Given a small pen with a pool of water they seem comparatively con-
tented and happy. They became very tame and are playful and in-
telligent. There are many accounts of their being so domesticated as to
follow their master, come at hia call and even catch fish and bring them
out of the water for him. They are not easily trapped, and are quite
able to hold their own against the encroachment of civilization. They
probably are as common to-day near the District of Columbia as they are
over most of their range, which reaches from Florida to Alaska. They
canjbe readily enclosed by a simple wire-mesh fence taking in a sec-
tion of a stream. They do not climb or burrow to any extent. Their
favourite food ia fish and crastacea, and suitable places could be
selected where these could be procured in abundance.

Prime otter skins from Eastern Canada, where the fur is at its best,
are quoccu in the January, 1908, Fur Trade Review at S15 to S20.

BKAVKR
In spite of more than three liunJrod years of persistent trapping a

100

COMMI88ION OF CON « K R V ATION

^M 1 1!

few beaver rcn>ain wuttorocl bore and there over a larno part of the
United Statou and Canada, probably enough, could they be adequately
protected, to restock most of tho ittnmmH. In many Bectionu they are
protected locally and are bocominR abundant again.

If unmolested for a few yearn, they lose their foar of man, work
on their dams and housoa in the day time and become comparatively
tame. With such an animal, further domeatication geems unnecessary.
Given a suitable pond or stream thoy find abundance of food and arc
able to care for themselves in every way. They can bo fenced in as
readily as a flock of sheep and their enemies, except man, can bo fenced
out. Thousands of miles of forest, marsh and stream, fit for no other
purpose are lying idle and could be used to advantage as Iwaver farms.

Prime beaver skins from the northern United Stntos and Canada
are quoted in tho January, 1908, Fur Trade Review at $5 to $8.

By selecting breeding stock from the region whore the fur is the
best and keeping only the choice individuals for breeding purposes, it
would doubtless bo possible to steadily improve the standard and value
of the beaver fur.

MARTEN

The marten or American sable is a forest animal of the Boreal
lone. It comes into tho United States along the Northern border and
extends south in mountainous sections as far as New York, New Mex-
ico, and central California. It is a beautiful, soft-furred little animal
the size of a mink, but of much brighter appearance. It generally
inhabits coniferous forests, is an expert climber, but avoids the water.
Its food is mainly squlirolt, r >bbit8, mi^e, birds, and such small game.
In the wild state it has the savage disposition of its family, but iu
captivity is quiet and gentle.

The most valuable marten skins come from Labrador and eastern
Canada and are variously quoted at $20 to $40.

MINK

The mink is one of the most widely distributed fur-bearers of
North America and one of the few species able to hold its own against
persistent trapping. It is almost as common to-day in the thickly set-
tled sections of the country as in the most remote wilderness. A half-
hour's run on a bicycle to the creeks in the suburbs of Washington will
enable one to find mink tracks.

Wild mink when taken young become perfectly tame and are gentle
and affectionate pets. They breed readily in captivity, are hardy,
easily enclosed and seem not to worry over confinement. They are

OIUECTH OK HUKKI)IX(J WILD MAMMALS 151

fon«l of the water, arc export MwimmcrM iiml ilivtsrit ami got iiukIi «)f
thoir footl from itroam* and liiko^ in tlio form of »wli, fro^H, and crm-
tMoa. Thoy »»Iho climb tnnm and nro at hoinu in tlio fonwt.

Thoro aio numerouH inHtancim on record of "mink farms," or
•'liunkorioD," that have proved mjcrosMful, but the low price of mink
fur r many yeani has dinrouraRod the induHtry. A few yearn ago
mink Hklnn sold at tl to J2, but tlioy are now quoted at $5 to $8. \n
other choice furs docrDase in abuiidanco there seems ovisry probability
that mink fur will hereafter incr.-usi! rather than deon^aso in value.

With no other species is success in fur raising so simple and w.ll
tested. The value of mink fur varien greatly with differunt |)arts of tho
country, being least in t! J soutliosn sections and groat (wt in the noi li-
eutern ijtates and eastern Canada.

RULES FOR HANDLLVCJ FUR ANIMALS

A few general rules apply equally well to all species.

At first the animals should not bo taken away from their native
climatic conditions, at least not from their natural life zone. As a
general rule tho colder the climate the better the fur, and healthier
tho animals. This does not mean that all the fur raising should bo in
the far north. Mountain areas, extending south even into many of the
Southern states, offer unusual advantages in the close proximity of
sections with warm and cold climates.

A thorough knowledge of the native food and breeding habits of
a species should be made the basis of care in captivity. This is of the
greatest importance at the start, though later on tho animals may be
able to adapt themselves to greatly modified conditions.

Sufficient room is necessary for the animals to keep themselves
clean and obtain exorcise and healthy occupation. Quiet and freedom
from excitement and nervous strain are essential. .Uso constat i
familiarity and association with one or more suitable keepers.

CONCLUSION

The committee believe (1) That, any experiments to be of value
must be continuous for sufficient length of time to establish permanent
and improved breeds of fur-bearing animals; (2) That, under proper
management such experiments should result in developing an industry
of great practical value to the people of North America; (3) That, to
insure success those in charge of the experiments must be thoroughly
familiar with the habits of wild animals, and the keepers, or thoso in
daily intercourse with tho animals, must have the rare quality of
sympathetic understanding of animal natures.

L*!^^. *■

?^l

Appendix IV

Reindeer Progress in Alaska"*

Lii.LiAX E. Zeu

i ■ i

THE herding and breeding of domesticated reindeer, introduced as
an experiment a number of years ago with animals imported from
.Siljeria by the Government, has now become the most prominent feature
of the industrial education of the Eskimo and the main activity of
many native villages of arctic Alaska. The progress in civilization
that has been made by lifting up the natives formerly living as savages,
and eking out a precarious existence by hunting with no other domes-
tic animal than the dog, to the estate of civilized, self-supporting herds-
men, as accomplished through the reindeer industry, is a remarkable
educational achievement. The Alaska Reindeer Service has now
reached its most successful stage, as it marks the beginning of the period
of full utilization of all the reindeer owned by the Government for the
benefit of the native population.

At the present time there is hardly a surplus Government rein-
deer north of the Kuskokwim river. This has been made possible by
the establishment of new reindeer stations, the employment of more
natives as chief herders, by accepting the largest practical number of
apprentices, and by transferring reindeer to both chief herders and
apprentices in lieu of salary or supplies, the chief aim and fundamen-
tal policy of the Government being to turn the reindeer over to the
natives as rapidly as they learn the industry and appreciate its value.
The total number of reindeer in Alaska at the last census was nearly
23,000, and, of this number, over 1 1,000 are owned by the natives. One
of the most striking and gratifying features is the large income which
the natives derive from the sale of reindeer products, their share for
the past fiscal year having been over $18,000. This amount does not
include the value of the reindoor skins used for clothing, nor that of
the moat consumed as food, i uuse material benefits and the very con-
siderable income thus derived demonstrate the fact that the reindeer
industry has become one of the most prominent factors in the economic
life of the Eskimo.

*Ameriean Forestry, January, 1913.

REINDEER PROC. RESS IN ALASKA

153

Tlie total number of Alaskan reindeer is distributed in herds among
twenty-eight stations, eighteen of these being owned by the Government
and ten by church missions. The Lapps own over three thousand. The
natives are very anxious to get deer and look upon them as a safe
investment for their earnings, and usually take deer in preference to
cash for services, when an opportunity is offered. The Government does
not sell deer; this is done by natives and missions alone. The various
jni:?) rs are furnished a herd of one hundred deer on loan for a period
of fiv years by the Government. At the end of this time, the original
nuni'ier must be returned. The mission keeps the increase of fawns,
<vhii!li amount to several hundred, derived from the Government loan.
The Moravian mission of Bethel has one of the largest herds, nearly
three thousand. Other missions having over one thousand deer, all
in arctic Alaska, north of the Yukon, are located at Colovin, Kotzebue,
Shishmerof, and cape Wales. At point Barrow, latitude 71°25', the
most northern point on the American continent, there is a he* 1 of
300. The total population here is about 400, men, women and children.
One native, "Takpuk," is considered the richest man of that region as
he owns a herd of 137 reindeer. The missions support and educate a
number of young apprentice herders.

The native herders also take on apprentices and award them six
deer a year in payment for their services. The Laplanders take a loan
of deer for five years from the Government and give their services as
instructors for that period. At the end of five years, the Lapp returns
the 100 deer and becomes an independent herder himself with the
large increase of reindeer he has obtained from the herd. The Lapp
herders are not interested in the extension of the reindeer among the
natives. Some of the largest owners of deer are Lapps, some half
dozen of these men having accumulated herds of from five to nearly
eight hundred.

In introducing the reindeer as a means to promote the industrial
life and to provide a permanent livelihood for the Eskimo, it has been
found necessary by the Government to put the young natives through a
course of training. Those who get their deer directly from the Gov-
ernment serve an apprenticeship of five years. There are several hun-
dred of these at present. They are bound by a written contract, the
strict terms of which they cannot violate without peril of losing their
annual allotment of reindeer and suffering discharge from the service.
This caring for, training, and breeding the deer is an education in it-
self, and the best which the Government could give to the young natives.
With careful training the Eskimo boys make excellent herders. They
readily learn how to take care of the reindeer, to throw the lasso, to
harness and drive the deer, and to watch the fawns. [Siberian herders

154

COMMISSION OF COXSERVATION

were first imported to teach them; but, of late, the more intelligent and
efficient Laplanders, who have learned by centuries of experience the
breeding of reindeer, were secured. The Eskimo boys take quickly to
some phases of the work, and, in some respects, excel the Lapps; they
can lasso better than the Lapps, and many become expert in making
harness and sleds. The minding of the herd requires constant vigi-
lance, especially in the spring during the fawning season. Then the
herders have to keep watch day and night by turns with rifle to protect
the herd from the ravages ot the A tic wolf and the dogs.

In the ear of each Govemriiv.iit deer a little aluminum button is
fastened securely, and all private owners and herders have a mark
which must be registered with a local Superintendent of the Reindeer
Station and also at Washington. Besides being taught the art of deer-
manship,the apprentices are instructed in keeping accounts, the methods
of marketing reindeer, and in other practical matters connected with
the industry. No apprentice can become a herder unless he is proficient
in the branches of elementary reading, arithmetic, and writing. At the
end of his apprenticeship the young Eskimo native is allotted a number
of deer by the Government, and with the increase obtained during the
interval of his five years' service, each apprentice will have on an aver-
age, a herd of fifty reindeer. As this herd will double itself every three
years, the graduate apprentice will have a herd which will afford and
assure a self-supporting income quite enough to satisfy the economic
wants of himself and family in the future. He is thus established in
business by the Government and is given free pasturage thereafter. The
reindeer produces one fawn in the spring each year for ten years.

Among the useful and profitable products of the reindeer are the
skins for clothing.* Of these pelts most varied use is made. From them
are fashioned the tight-fitting trousers and that wonderful outer gar-
ment, the 'parka,' universally worn in winter by both male and female
natives and by many whites. The 'parka' e:;tends to the knees and has
a close-fitting hood, which keeps the head and shoulders comfortably
warm even in the severest weather. These reindeer garments are re-
markable for their excellent qualities of resisting moisture and cold. A
close examination of the hair of reindeer furnishes an explanation of its
peculiar value. The hair is not merely a hollow tubular structure, with
a cavity extending throughout its entire length, but is divided, or par-
titioned off, into exceedingly numerous cells, like watertight compart-
ments. These are filled with air, and their walls are so elastic and at

•"Buckskin is now woith $4.50 to $5.00 a pound and is steadily {;oing up,
since nothing has been discovered to take its place. A eood-siied buckskin weiRUs
from one pound to one and a half pounds; so that the akin alone wil pay for the
cost of raising the deer."— Letter from E. Thompson Seton, ApriX 9, 1914-

REINDEER PROGRESS IN ALASKA

155

the same time of such strong resistance that they are not broken up
either during the process of manufacture or by swelling when wet. The
cells expand in water, and thus it happens that a person clad com-
pletely in garments made of reindeer wool does not sink when in water,
because he is buoyed up by the air contained in the hundreds of thou-
sands of hair cells.

As a mineral industry continues to gi-ow in Alaska the natives and
graduate apprentices can earn high wages as teamsters, hauling supplies
and furnishing fresh reindeer meat to mining camps in the interior,
at points remote from railway and steamboat transportation. Well-
trained sled deer have been used to carry the mail 650 miles from point
Barrow, south to Kotzebue. This is the most northern mail route in
the United States, and likewise the most perilous and desolate mail
trip in the world. Two trips are made a year and $750 is paid for each
journey. The average speed is about 40 to 50 miles per day, keeping
up a steady trot.

One of the latest and quite remarkable feats showing the capacity
of the reindeer for sledge driving was that accomplished by Mr. W. T.
Lopp, the Superintendent of the Government Reindeer Service. Dur-
ing the recent wmter's tour of inspection, Mr. Lopp travelled more
than 2,500 miles with a reindeer sled over the frozen tundra and ice-
bound rivers of the lower Bermg Sea region from the middle Yukon to
the coast of the North Pacific. Part of this route for several hundred
miles lay through a country which had been so little traversed that not
even native trails had been made. The Alaska Reindeer Service is
under the direction of the United States Bureau of Education.

Appendix V

! \

The Romance of Fur

LONDON THE MARKET OF THE WORLD

A VISIT TO THE WAREHOUSES
(From The Times, London, March 19, 1914)

LONDON is the chief fur market of the world, and the spring sales,
the most important of the year, are now going on. They will
continue daily for a fortnight yet at the public auction-room in
College Hill, and in the course of the three weeks, it is probable that
some 10,000,000 or 12,000,000 skins will be disposed of.

Yesterday, there were sold in *.he morning, 183,754 skunk skins;
in the afternoon, 136,623 American opossum and 80,242 laccoons, as
well as 3,602 civet cats. To-day, will be offered 430,401 skunks, and to-
morrow 2,500,000 muskrats of various classes. In all there will be sold
over 4,500,000 muskrat skins; and it is no wonder that the once
familiar musk-rat "houses," which used to dot every lake and pond all
over Canada and the United States, looking like great mole-hills stick-
ing up among the rushes, are growing scarce.

VAMETIES OF SKINS

Muskrat, skunk, raccoon, American opossum, and the various
foxes: these are the furs which are most in demand at the moment.
Sable, seal, mink, chinchilla, otter, beaver, and other skins are, of course,
always valuable; but, for the moment, they are "out of fashion," and the
chief interest at these sales centres in the half-dozen creatures mentioned.
The stock is unusually large; not so much because the supply has been
exceptional, but because Germany has taken less than its usual share.
None the less, prices are good — better, perhaps, than was expected —
and the bidding in the sales-room goes on briskly from 10 o'clock in the
morning until a late luncheon time, and again in the later hours of the
afternoon. Besides the furs already mentioned, an extraordinary
variety of items makes' *"ie sale catalogue a fascinating document.
Among the lots sold this week there figured 208 grizzly bears, 141 black
bears, eight brown bears, 16 polar or "white", 411 lynxes, 14 leopards,
and 41 wolverenes. Among those still to come are 70 tigers, 1,100
leopards, 3,000 Ij-nxes, 30 musk-ox, 18,000 wild cats, 658 emus, 181,943

THE KOMANCE OF FUR

187

wallaby, 40,000 wolves, and 8,592 kangaroo. It is a li^:*. to make the
Roman Emperors envious. And so it runs day after day, 3,000 bears,
we find in another column, 180,000 ermine, 5,600 Rassian saWe, 120,000
mink, 60 sea otter, 5,000 monkey, 1,000 grebe and 35,000 house cat!
Again, we have 4,675 house cats, unkindly sandwiched in among bad-
gers and marmots, leopards and Japanese foxes, and other agitating
things. It may not be inherently any more s. d to kill 39,675 house cats
than an equal number of wallabies or foxes. But it comes nearer home
to us, and the thought of it awakens personal griefs for pussies which
have unaccountably "go-, lost."

IN THE AUCTION ROOM

In the sales-room itself one does not see any of these skins, but only
a hundred or so gentlemen sitting on the curved tiers of seat.s which
face the rostrum, each gentleman with a catalogue on the desk before
him and keenly interested in the bidding. If you listen to the scraps
of conversation you will hear all manner of tongues; for buyers from
perhaps a dozen countries are here, and especially from Germariy,
France, and the United States. The bidding is very quick, the skins
being put up in lots which may vary from a single silver fox or half a
dozen sables to 400 or 500 skunks or 4,000 muskrats. The bids for
these staple furs are commonly in shillings, and the values range very
widely for the same kind of skin. A silver fox may fetch, as it has
fetched, £440, and it may not be worth "50. Skunk vary from a shil-
ling or two to 28s., muskrat from pe? .e to half-a-ciown, and house
cats fetch about the same. House cats are not valued oi graded as they
arc not on the show benches. They are not sold as long-haired or short-
haired. Nor is any account taken of their qualities as cats, or their
dispositions, which are immaterial by the time they reach the sale-room.
They are simply "white" or "black" or— most unkind of all— "mottled."

BUSINESS AND SPORT

To see the skins themselves one must go to the warehouse of one
of the great firms in whose names the sales are held, which are all grouped
round the neighbourhood of the College of Heralds, in College Hill,
Garlick Hill, or Queen Street. The interior of one of these warehouses
?s an extraordinary sight; a huge building, five storeys, perhaps, in
height, and with each of the vast floors packed fror- floor to ceiling with
skins. In one such building there are, literally, several millions. Science
has now fairly succeeded in deodorizing the individual skin, even of our
mephitic acquaintance the skunk. But ui the aggregate— millions of

iMi

■^

158

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

them together — they are far from odourless. Those vho live always in
the atmosphere do not mind it; but it is a little "rich" to the accidental
visitor from the fresh air. And the skins are -.n amazing and humiliating
sight.

If, by any chance, the visitor has shot oi hunted in wild places, he
remembers what the individual trophy meant to him — the all-tlay stalk;
the long, Clamped vigil over the "kill" iimong the strange i.'ght noises
of the jungle; the hours of lying stretched uneasily and motionless by the
streamside as dusk fell and slowly it giew too dark to see the sights,
the moment when, breathless and quivering with exhaustion, until it was
impossible to hold a rifle steady, at last the hunter was face to face with
"it" among the forest trees. Then there was the triumph — and a
single skin, bullet-spoiled, to show for it. And here they are — 1,100
leopards, 11,000 beavers, 208 grizzly bears!— better skins than the
visitor ever shot. Between the racks of packed skins, rising from the
floor to higher than a man's reach, narrow aisles run the length of these
huge rooms. In a dim corner, thrown down where there wre a few feet
of spare floor space between racks which held hundreds of thousands of
raccoons, a shapeless tawny bundle had, as it seemed, been dumped and
overlooked. Big skins, evidently, and from one end protruded a great
yellow foot with huge claws. Just a few odd pumas (the label called it
"panther"), which, perhaps, will come under the catalogue item
"sundries."

BUYING BY SAMPLES

•hi"

Just now, hanging on hooks around the racks, ave the "sale bundles"
— generally 25 skins of such things as muskrat or skunk — which are
the samples by which the buyers estimate the value of the lots to be
ofTereH in the sales-room. In the case of the more costly skins, as silver
fox (300 of them hanging in a row) or sable (a long, narrow room hung
with nothing else, every skin to delight a woman), the buyer can see the
whole "lot", whether one skin or half a dozen. But the cheaper skins
are thus shown in sample. And all day long just now the buyers are
here looking at the stock from the samples, they, as well as all the em-
ployees, being clad from head to feet in long white linen coats. It is
well for the visitor when he goes in to put on one of these garments.
Otherwise, when he emerges into the daylight of the street he may find
himself moderately furry. But to see it all is worth some inconvenience
— even the loss of conceit in one's poor individual trophies.

Appendix VI

The Muskrat

Extracts from Farmers' Bulletin ;}9G, U. S. IJKPAiiTMKsr (»f
AciRicti/rr e, 1910

D. E. Lantz

PUBLISHED accounts of the muskrat's brooding disagree so widely
that the habits of the animals might be supposed to differ in
different sections of the country. Harlan states that the female brings
forth 5 or 6 young annually. Richardson, on the other hand, says:
"In latitude 55" the musquash has throe litters in the course of the
season and from three to seven yoimg in a litter".

W. Butler, writing of the muskrat in Indiana, states that he is
convinced that in his vicinity the animals breed but once a year, though
he admits the probability of exceptions. He gives the number of young
as 4 to 6 and the period of gestation as about six weeks. Roderick
MacFarlane, a chief factor of the Hudson's Bay Company, in writing of
the mammals of the Mackenzie River region, states hat the female has
two litters the first season, and three each succeeding season, and that
the number of young at times varies from 8 to 20. His sta^-^ments are
based on information obtained from the Company's Indian hunters,
who are keen observers

All this testimony shows that in their breeding habits muskrats
are not unlike field mice. This conclusion is further strengthened by
the remarkable wiiy in which the marshes, depleted by vigorous winter
trapping, ^re replenished before the ooening of another season. The
known facts may be thus summarized: Normally, the animals mate in
March and the first litter is born in April; a second litter is due in June
or early Ju'y, and a third in August or September. In favourable
seasons a fourth or even a fifth litter may be produced. The period of
gestation is possibly no longer than twenty-one days, as with the com-
mon rat and probably with the field mouse. The young are blind and
naked when born but develop rapidly. Outside of low marshes, musk-
rats are usually born in the underground burrows

Food.— Like nearly all rodents the muskrat is chiefly herbivorous,
but it sometimes indulges in animal food, a habit which it shares with
brown rats, house mice, field mice, lemmings, wood rats, squirrels, and
other gnawers.

! '

III

*■ I

»;

160

COMMISSION OF COVSEnVATIOX

In winter tlie chief food of muskrats consists of tlic roots of luiuatic
plants — pond lilies, arums, scdf^es, »nd the like — but in some localities
the animals feed on mussels and also on carp and other sluggish fish
that bury themselves in mud. When ponds are frozen over, muskrats
are almost wholly restricted to food accessil)le under the ice, but in rare
cases they have been known to leave the water a d burrow under the
snow in search of the crowns of grasses and sedgesj

In summer the muskrat's menu is far more extensive. It can then
choose from many aciuatic plants — roots, stems, leaves, and fruit —
iuid in addition can obtain supplies from near-by fields or woods

Muskrat Furs. — In the raw state the fur of the muskrat is dense
and soft and in general appearance much like that of the beaver. How-
ever, the pelage is shorter and less close and the pelt somewhat inferior
in durability. The colour varies with season and locality. Northern
skins are said to average lightest in colour, being often a light silver gray,
sometimes nearly white on the underparts. This is probably because
many are taken in summer pelage. Very dark skins, classed as black,
come mainly from New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, but are found
in limited numbers in other parts of the United States and in Canada.

Compared with most other furs of such small size, muskrat furs
are of excellent quality and durability; their cheapness is chiefly the
result of their abundance. The earliest demand for the fur was for the
manufacture of so-called beaver hats, it making an excellent imitation.
When silk replaced fur in hat manufacture, the demand for muskrat
skins fell off greatly. They next became popular as imitations of seal-
skin. Properly dyed and made up, they are difficult to distinguish
from the genuine, but their wearing qualities are greatly inferior. The
modern fur dresser and dyer have found means of imitating nearly all
the more costly furs with that of .Ms animal, and have thus created a
continuous demand for the pelts.

Trade in Muskrat Furs. — The growth vt the demand for muskrat
furs is shown by the records of London importations and sales. From
1763 to 1800 (thirty-eight years) the total number of skins imported
and sold in that market was 2,831,453, an average of less than 75,000
yearly. During the fifty years from 1801 to 1850 the total was 20,571 ,428,
or an average of 411,000 yearly. tYom 1851 to 1890, inclusive,
the importations were 99,893,591, a yearly average of 2,500,000. The
average London sales in recent years have been over 4,000,000 per
annum, and the entire output of skins for 1900 was 5,285,000. A large
part of the total collection is sold through London, but in the last few
years an increasing number are dressed and manufactured in America.

Notwilhstanding that during the past century and a half, nearly a
quaiter billion of muskrats have been trapped, the supply has not greatly

Tin; MLSKUAT

ltd

dimininlicd. Tlic total output ot 11)05, as indicated by Limditu sales of
5,000,000 Bkins in 1900, was over 7,000,000. Tho sale ot tliuso was
uecouipanicd by an advance of 40 per cent in prices. The sales for 1907
showed a iurther advance ot about 25 pet cent, but a lallins off in the
offerin>rs of fully l,.j{X),000 skins. Tlie London sales foi 1008 and 1909
showed a still furthei rise in prices, which were asain advanced in the
January and March sales of 1910. The total London sales f(M' 19IW
wcic 3,800,000; for 190',), 3,771,000.*

Information from dealeis in raw furs in the Chesapeake region
indicates that the supply of inuskrat furs has been reasonably steady in
spite of the prevailing hijih prices. Baltinuro buyers paid 35 cents each
for brown and 45 cents for black, ungraded, during the season of 1909.
New York buyers olTercd higher prices, bui t!ie fm-s are grade<l in that
market. On January 22, 1910, Baltimore buyeij were paying 05 cunts
for brown and 70 cents for black skins, ungraded. Trade quotations in
The Trapper's Wor^d for February, 1910, list No. 1 black muskrat skins
at $1.00 each.f Prices are, of course, based on rcturrw from the London
auctions and must be low enough to permit a reasonable profit to dealers.

In order to dispose of furs to advantage, trajipers should keep
informed as to market values. Usually they can realize fair returns by
selling to local buyers and at the same time run but slight risk of hnv' \g
the pelts graded too low. There has been much complaint of the prac-
tice of dealers in sending out circulars offering high prices for furs to
induce shipments. Upon receipt of consignments, however, the furs
are so much undergraded that the returns are far less than could have
been realized in the local market.

Home Dressing of Furs. — Formerly many muskrat skin^ were homo
tanned and made into caps, collars, and other articles. At present the
home utilization of skins is much less extensive, but knowledge of a
good method of dressing the fur is still desirable. Most of the methods
employed by amateurs involve the use of alum to fix the hair; but
satisfactory results, so far as pliability of the pelts goes, depend largely
upon the amount of labour bestowed on them.

A method in common use is the following: The skins are thoroughly
cleaned in warm — not hot — water and all flesh and fat scraped off.
They are then stretched on a board with the fur side down and covered
with a mixture of two ounces each of salt and alum, 3 gills of water, au I

* Statistics in the Fur News Magazine for April, 1914, sliow tliiit t)ie combined
offerings of muskrat skins (except K. B. Co.) at London, in March, 1913, and in
March, 1914, were respectively, 1,300,598 and 4,646,500 skins. The same mapazme
points out that the ''offerinss at London in March, 1914, made a new magnitude
record that is not likely to be repeated," and indicate an accumulation from the

1914, (juotes black spring muskrat at

previous year.

t The Fur News Magazine, for April
50 cents.

,1 if

162

COMML-tHION OK CONSERVATION

a (irachni of sulpliiirio ncid. Thicken this witli wlicat liran or flour and
allow it to dry on the skin. When dry, tho flour or bran should be
Pirnpcd off, the skin removed from the board and rolled with the fur
tide in. Tlio folded «kin in then drawn <iuickly many times throuph
an iron rinj;. It t<hould be uiifi>l(led at intervals and rc-roUcd in another
<lirection. This is c'<ntiniied until the entire fkin is soft and flexible.
The following method was recommomlod by the late William
Hamilton Hibson:

Tho skin sliould always be thoroughly cleaned in warm water
mid all fat and Kuperfliious flesh removed. It should then bo
inimcreed J:i a solution made of tho following injrredients: Five
pdlons of cold soft water, 5 quarts wheat bran, 1 gill of salt, and 1
oiuice of sulphuric! aeid. Allow the skin to soak in the li(}uid for
fiiur or five hours. If the hides have been previously salted, the
salt should be excluded from the mixed solution. The skins are
now ready for the tanniuR liiiuor, which is made in the following
way: Into 5 gallons of warm soft water stir 1 peck of wheat bran
and allow the mixture to staml in a warm room until fermentation
takes place. Then add 3 pints of salt and stir until it is thoroughly
dissolved. A pint of sulphuric acid should then be poured in gradu-
ally, after which the liquor is ready. Immerse the skins and let
them* soak for three or four hours. The process of fleshing follows.
This consists of laying the skin, fur side down, over a smooth beam
and working over the flesh side with a blunt fleshing tool. An old
chop, ing knife or a tin candlestick forms an excellent substitute
for the ordinary fleshing knife, and the process of rubbing should
be continued until the skin beco. es dry, when it will be foimd to
be soft and pliable

Manufactures of Muskral furs. — Besides the considerable use of
muskrat skins for manufacture into garments in imitation of high-grade
furs, a good proportion of the poorer skins are used in the natu'al
colour for lining overcoats and other outer garinp Garments

made from skins of wolves, goats, or dogs partly supply this need,
but cloth outer garments with linings of li^'lit furs are fully as warm
and are less burdensome. The growing popularity of the automobile
for outdoor recreation in winter is another cause for the increased
demand for fur-lined coats.

Tlie better grades of muskrat furs, dressed in the natural colour,
have a bcautifid lustre, and make really handsome coats, boas, and
muffs; and many smaller articles of apparel, as collars, gloves, caps, and
the like, are made of muskrat fur.

Muskrat furininq. — Fur farming has been a favorite topic for
discussion in American newspapers. While many fur-producing
enterprises have been planned and some actually begun, few have
prospered. Various difficulties have discouraged tlie majority of

Tin: M U W K R A T

103

persons who have engaReiJ in raising minks, foxes, or skunlw.* How-
ever, the possibilities of sucii piitorprises luivc not really been tested,
and present prices for these furs might well repay investment of capital
in tHojr i)roduction

Some Examples. — Muskrat farmififi is already a prosperous business.
The Cedar Point Ilunting (;iub, of Toledo, Ohio, controls 5,000 acres of
marsh at the mouth of the Maumec river, near lake Krie. In the
winter of 1903-4, after the muskrats had Ijcen undisturbed for two years,
they were trapped for the benefit of the club. Five thousand were
taken in a single month (January, 1904), and the skins were sold for
25 cents each. The carcasses also were sold at a dollar a dozen.

The muskrat industry has probably reached its highest present
development on the eastern shore of Maryland. The extensive marshes
of Dorchester county are a centre of muskrat fur production

Formerly the owners of marshes iu this vicinity paid little attention
to them. The land was considered useless because subject to tidal
overflow. Trappers were allowed to take muskrats wherever they
chose, and a doien years ago much of the marsh lanil could have been
bought for less than 50 cents an acre. At the present time, some of the
marshes are worth more, measured by the actual income from them,
than cultivated farms of like acreage in the same vicinity. The in-
creased values are due to the muskrat. Landowners now usually lease
the trapping privilege, and trappers and owners unite to protect the
marshes from poaching. The owner receives half vhe fur caught, while
the trapper gets the other half and all he can realize from the sale of the
meat. In tlie short season of seventy-four da; ' January 1 to March
15, during the last two years, trappers have eat made from $400 to
$900 each.

A few specific examples will give a batter idea of the value of these
marsh lands. The owner of one tract of marsh informeil the writer
that he bought it three or four years ago for $2,700. It is leased for
half the fur, and yielded him in 1909, $890, or about 33 per cent on the
investment. The owner of a small piece of marsh — about 40 acres —
bought it in 1905 for $150. Leased for half the fur, it has yielded the
owner $30, $60, $;0, and $100, respectively, for each of the four years,
190C to 1909. Taxes are very light, and, on the basis of a 6 per cent
income, the returns for 1909 would represent an approximate value of
nearly $40 an acre for this land. The owner of a 1,300-acrc tract of marsh
trapped it this sea-son, with the aid of his sons, and secured over 5,000
muskrats, which were sold for $2,300.

* Since this bulletin was written, fur-farmin);, especially with respect to the
animals mentioned, baa become -Ji important industry in Canada. — Ea.

! E

roM MISSION OF roVSFinVATIOV

The fiira «olil in thin rc«i<»n are selJoin mtsortetl iK'forc huIo. Thoy
are Hopiimtcd into IJuck iiixl brown ami th-n counti'il, u de.luction of
from :j to .-) per cc-ul Immiij; nia.li! for "kit:j." The ikins sold thioii-hout
tlic jiiTscnt season at Maitiniore prices, 3.j eents for brown and 4:) cents
for l)lu(k. Tlic proiK.rtion of hhuk skinn varicH o'l the different iiiarHlies
from H) to (U) per leiit, the uveru^'c lu-inj! ttt)out -I't r>er cent.

The mimkrat meat is an mhlitionul so\ircc of incM)nic to tlie trapper.
It is l)ou>;ht by loeal buyers, who durinR the season, 19()9, paid otdy 4
cents for caih animal; it is shipped to outside markets or sold for local
consumption. The demand for the meat is RnjwinK, and all of it ia
utUizeil. The Haltimore market takes about 30,000 animals during a
season, the bulk of which comes from Dorchester county.

The editor of the Cambriihjc Record, a local newspaper, stated that
the niuskrat industry of Dorchester brings into the county about
$100,000 annually. This would indicate that about a (juarter million
of the animals are trapped each season. The danger of exhausting the
supply by continued close trapping has l)een discussed in Dorchester
county, but trappers maintain that with the long closed season, March
15 to January 1, little ground for anxiety on this score exists.

Possibililien of the Ziusmcss.— Muskrats require no feeding, since
the plant life of ponds and marshes furnishes abundance of food. In
many states the areas adapted to the muskrut arc extensive, and
doubtless the animals could be profitably introduced into sections from
which they are now absent. As trapping is done in winter, the business
of muskrat farming is peculiarly adapted to farmers and farmers' boys.
The improvement of the muskrat's pelage by selective breeding has
never been attempted. Probal dy the black muskrat could be bred true
to colour and greatly improved in the localities it new inhabits, and
could be successfully introduced into other sections of the country.
Indeed, to make the most of the muskrat industry requires that the
possi))ilities of selective breeding be tested.

Appendix VII

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

An Act to Impose & Tkx upon Foxes held in Captivity
in this Province

3 Ciio. V, Chap. 5

{Asualfd to April 24, l'.)13)

BE IT ENACTED by the Lioutonant Governor and Lo>;i»latlve
Assembly of the Province of Prince Edward Island as follows:

1. This Act may be itoU as "The Fox Tax Act."

2. From and after tlie passing of this Act tiiore shall bo charged,
levied, collected and paid unt'> and for the use of His Majesty in his
Government of Prince Edward Island tho following tax upon the off-
spring in each year of all foxes kept, being or held in captivity in this
Province, that is to say, at t he rate of One dollar for each hundred dollars
in value of such offspring.

3. The taxes imposed by this Act shall be payable on the first day
of August in each year commencing on tho first juridical day of August
following the passage hereof on which day the first piiyment of the taxes
aforesaid shall be duo and payable to tho Provincial Treasurer of the
Province.

4. The Lieutenant Governor in Council shall nominate and ap-
point one or more collector or collectors whoso duties shall bo tho en-
forcement of the provisions of this Act.

5. Such collector or collectors sludl be allowed for his or their
services a commission upon tho taxes collected by him or them ut such
rate as shall from time to time bo fixed by the Lieutenant Governor in
Council.

6. The collector shall on or about the first day of Juiitt in each year
cause a notice in Form "A" in the schedule hereto or to the like effect
to be sent to or served upon each rancher requiring such rancher to
declare on oath:

(a) The number of foxes in such ranch or in such rancher's posses-
sion or custody bom previous to the year in which such affidavit is
made and mentioning the number there is of each sex.

(b) The names and addresses of all the owners and part owners
of each fox or pair of foxes in such ranch born previous to tho year in
which Buch affidavit is made so far as may be known to the rancher.

!1f

166

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

(c) Where such foxes or any of them are owned by any incorporated
company the name of such company, the name and addresses of its
President, Secretary and Manager, the number of foxes and pairs of
foxes owned by such company and the amount of its paid up capital.

(d) The number of the offsprmg, born in the year in which such
affidavit is made to each pair of foxes in such ranch.

(e) The value of the offspring of each of such pairs of foxes.

(0 The number of such offspring which may have been sold or
agroed to be sold or upon which options for the purcha.se thereof have
been given, stating the price of each animal or each pair as the case may
be and describing the animals so sold or agreed to be sold or upon which
options for sale have been given by reference to the parents of such
animals and owners of same.

(g) The number of such offspring remaining unsold and the value
of same.

7. The notices referred to in this Act may be either personally
delivered to any rancher, owner or part owner as the case may be or
left at his last or usual place of abode with some person apparently above
the age of sixteen years or may bo posted in His Majesty's post office
in a registered letter postage prepaid addressed to such rancher, owner
or part owner, at his last or usual place of abode.

8. Every rancher to whom the notice mentioned in section six has
been sent or upon whom such notice has been served shall make an aflS-
davit setting forth the facts as required by the sixth section, which
affidavit shall be returned by him to the Collector or Provmcial Treasurer
within eight days after the service or mailing of the said notice.

9. The Collector may cause a notice in the Form "B" in the Sche-
dule hereto or to the like effect to be sent to or served upon any owner
or part owner of any fox or foxes, requiring such owner or part owner
to declare upon oath:

(a) The number of foxes exclusive of the then year's offspring
owned by such person or in which he has an interest.

(b) The name or names with the address or addresses of the person
or persons in whose ranch, custody or possession such fox or foxes may
be.

(c) The number of the offspring of each pair of foxes owned by
such person or in which he has an interest, mentioning in whose ranch,
custody or possession such offspring may be and the value of such
offspring.

(d) The number of such offspring which may have been sold or
agreed to be sold or upon which options for the purchase thereof have
been given, stating the price of each animal or each pair as the case may
be.

F IT R - F A n M I N G L K (} I 3 I. V T I O V

167

(o) The number of such offspring remaining unsold and the value
of same.

10. Every owner or part owner to whom such notice referred to in
Section 9 has been sent or upon whom such notice has been served shall
make an affidavit setting forth the facts as required by tlio last men-
tioned section which affidavit shall be returned by him to the Provincial
Treasuiur or Collector within eight days after the service or mailing of
the said notice.

11. In the event of any rancher or any owner or part owner of any
foxes being an incorporated company, the notice or notices mentioned
in this Act shall be sufficiently served upon such company by delivering
such notice personally to any offijor, manager or director of such com-
pany or by leaving the same at the last or usual place of abode of such
officer, manager or director, with some person apjiarently alK)ve the
age of sixteen years, or by posting the same in a registered letter in
His Majesty's Post Office, postage prepaid, addressed to such officer,
manager or director, at his usual place of abode. And it shall bo the
duty of such officer, manager or director, receiving such notice to make
the affidavit required by this Act to be made by such company.

12. If any affidavit returned by any rancher, owner or part owner
is not satisfactory to the Provincial Treasurer, or in case such rancher,
owner or part owner does not return such affidavit as retjuirod by this
Act, the Provincial Treasurer may cause a notice to be serveil upon,
delivered or sent to the person in whose ranch, or in whose custody
or possession any foxes are or are supposed to be, stating the t;ime when
any collector or collectors will attend at the ranch or premises of such
person, in whose ranch, possession or custody, such foxes are or are
supposed to be, for the purpose of examining such ranch and premises
and inspecting such foxes. The time of attendance mentioned in such
notice shall not be less than three clear days from the date of the mailing
or service thereof, such notice may be in the Form "C" in the schedule
hereto.

13. At the time appointed by the notice mentioned in the last pre-
ceding section, the collector named in such notice may attend with such
assistant or assistants as he may deem necessary at the ranch or promises
of the person named in such notice, for the purpose of examining any
ranch, enclosure, or premises, and of inspecting any foxes kept thtsroin.

14. It shall be the duty of every person receiving such notice to
permit such Collector and his assistants at the time mentioned in such
notice to enter into and examine all ranches, pens, enclosures and prem-
ises of such person and to inspect all foxes kept therein, to render
such assistance by himself and by his servants and attendants as may
be required by the Collector, and to give such information as to the num-

168

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

ber, value and ownership oi any foxes in his ranch or on the premises
as may be required by the Collector.

15. If at the time mentioned in such notice the Collector attends
at the ranch or premises of the person receiving such notice, and such
last mentioned person refuses or neglects to allow the Collector or his
assistants to enter into and examine such ranches, pens, enclosures and
premises, or to render such assistance as may be necessary or required
by the Collector for the purposes of this Act, the Collector may break
and enter any ranch, pen, building, enclosure or premises of such person
and may do and perform all such acts and thmgs as may be considered
necessary by such Collector for obtaming information as to the number
and value of foxes on such person's premises.

16. If the rancher to whom any notice is sent as provided by sectic
6, fails to return to the Provincial Secretary or collector, an affidavit a.
required by this Act, or if after receiving the notice referred to in Section
12 of ihis Act, the rancher does not attend at the time mentioned in
the last mentioned notice, or if attending he does not permit the Col-
lector and his assistants to enter into and examine any ranch, pen,
enclosure or premises of such person, or to inspect any fox or foxes in
such person's custody or possession, or does not render such assistance
as may be necessary or required by the Collector for the purposes of
this Act, or docs not give information as to the number, value and
ownership of any foxes in his ranch or on his premises that may be re-
quired by the Collector, the Provincial Treasurer in any of such cases
may from the best information he has, make up an estimate of the num-
ber of the increase in such year of the foxes in such rancher's possession,
or custody, and of the value thereof and shall notify such rancher of the
amount of such valuation, which shall be taken to be final and conclu-
sive and shall be the amount upon which the tax shall be payable on
said foxes in said rancher's possession or custody. In any suit for the
recovery of the said tax, the production of a Provincial Treasurers'
certificate of his estimate shall be sufficient to entitle judgment to be
given against such rancher, for the amount of taxes mentioned therein
as being payable without any further evidence.

17. The Provincial Treasurer shall not be bound to accept the state-
ments or the valuat 1 .i contained in any affidavit which may be returned
to him by any rancher, owner or part owner, under the provisions of
this Act, but may by certificate signed by him increase the number and
value of the young foxes born in such year beyond that stated by such
rancher, owner or part owner, in such affidavit or affidavits, and may
sue for the same. In such action it shall only be necessary to produce
the certificate of such valuation si.cned by the Provincial Treasurer and
judgment shall be given for the amount of taxes payable upon such in-

FUR-FARMING LEGISLATION

1C9

creased valuation according to such certificate unless the rancher,
owner, or part owner proves to the satisfaction of the Court, that the
actual value of such increase is of a less amount, in which case judg-
ment shall be given for the actual amount payable.

18. All taxes imposed under this Act may bo sued for and recovered
in the name of the Provincial Treasurer and suit therefor may be brought,
either in the Supreme Court or in the County Court, and the County
Court shall have jurisdiction, notwithstanding that the amount of the
taxes claimed or payable exceeds One hundred and fifty dollars.

19. The rancher shall be liable to pay all taxes upon all foxes in
his ranch or in his possession or cust "ipon which taxes arc made
payable by this Act whether such foxes are owned by such rancher or
not, and in the event of the rancher paying taxes upon any foxes not
owned by him, he shall have a lien upon such foxes as against the owner
or owners thereof for the amount so paid.

20. Every part owner of any fox or foxes shall be liable to pay the
whole of the taxes in respect of such fox or foxes in which he is a part
owner and any one or more of such part owners may be sued for the whole
of such taxes without joining the other or others of such part owners.
In the event of any part owner paying the taxes upon any fox or foxes
in which he is a part owner he shall have a lien therefor upon such fox
or foxes for the proportion of such taxes payable by his co-owners and
shall also have the right to sue such co-owners for the proportion of
taxes payable by them.

21. Proceedings for the recovery of the taxes imposed by this Act
may be brought against the rancher alone or may be brought against
him and any owner or any one or more ( ' the joint owners of any
foxes upon which taxes are payable.

22. Under any execution which may be issued upon any judgment
recovered against any rancher, for taxes under this Act, the sheriff or
officer enforcing such execution may, in addition to any other property
of such rancher liable to be taken under such execution, seize and sell,
any fox or foxes in such rancher's possession or custody whether the
property of such rancher or not.

(2) In case the rancher pays any tax payable in pursuance of this
Act upon any fox or foxes in which he has no interest as owner or part
owner or if the rancher's property is sold under execution for taxes upon
such fox or foxes the rancher shall be entitled to recover from the owner
or owners of such fox or foxes, the amount or the proportionate part
or parts of such taxes and costs as were payable by them.

23. Under any execution which may be icsued upon i.ny judgment
recovered against any joint owner or part owner of any foxes, for taxes
payable by him under this Act, the sheriff or officer enforcing such

170

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

execution may, in addition to any other property of such joint owner or
part owner, liable to bo taken under such execution, seize and sell any
fox or foxes in which such joint or part owner has any share or interest,

(2) If the property of any part owner is taken and sold under
execution pursuant to this Section, such part owner shall be entitled
to recover from his co-owners their proportionate part of the taxes so
collected together with the proportionate amount of the costs.

(3) The Provisions of the "Absent Debtor Act" shall apply to the
collection of taxes on foxes from all owners or part owners thereof non-
resident within this Province.

24. The Lieutenant Governor in Council, may from time to time,
make such regulations not inconsistent with this Act as may be deemed
necessary for the following purposes or any of them, that is to say:

(a) Providing where there is no provision in this Act or no sufficient
provision in respect to any matter or thing necessary to give effect to
thb Act in what manner and form the deficiency shall be supplied.

(b) For any purpose whether general or to meet particular cases
that may be desirable in order to carry out the object and purposes of
this Act, or to give effect to anything for which regulations are contem-
plated or required by this Act.

(d) For regulating the amount of tax in particular cases where
special circumstances may call for adjustment.

25. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, the expression
"Rancher" means every owner or manager of a fox ranch and every
person having in his care, custody or possession any foxes. "Person,"
"Owner," "Rancher," and "Part Owner" each includes any Company
or body corporate.

26. Any oath required to be taken under this Act may be adminis-
tered by the Provincial Treasurer oi any of his assistants in the Provincial
Treasury, the Collector of taxes under this Act, a Notary Public, or any
Commissioner authorized to take affidavits in the Supreme Court in
this Province.

27. In the event of any rancher, owner or part owner of foxes not
having paid in any year the tax on the full number of foxes upon which
he was liable to pay tax in such year whether receiving any notice in
respect to same or not, he shall be liable to pay in any succeeding year,
the tax which he has so failed to pay, and such taxes may be sued for
in the same manner as if they had become due and payable in such
succeeding year.

FUR-FARMING LEGISLATION

171

28. In any action to recover taxes payable under this Act, the party
Biin. tiuing shall be entitled to recover costs of suit according to the
scale of costs in the Court in which such action is brought.

29. Notwithstanding anythmg in this Act contained, the Collector
or Collectors may after three clear days' notice previously given to any
rancher or owner or part owner, personally call upon such rancher or
owner or part owner, and take from him a statement under oath, giving
the information set out in forms "A" and "B" hereto or to the like effect
with like remedies, in case of refusal to make such affidavits as are herein-
before provided in the case of refusal to make a return or to mike a
return to the satisfaction of the Provincial Treasurer.

F o B M A

To A. B.

(Sec. 6)

NOTICE TO RANCHERS

Sir:—

Take notice that under the provisions of "The Fox Tax Act" you
are required to make an affidavit stating:

(a) The number of foxes in your ranch, or in your possession or
custody, bom previous to this year, mentioning the number thereof
of each sex.

(b) The names and addresses of all the owners and part owners
of each fox or pair of foxes in your ranch or in your custody or possession
80 far as the same may be known to you.

(c) Where such foxes or any of them are owned by any incorporated
company, the name of such company, the names and addresses of its
President, Secretary and Manager, the number of foxes and pairs of
foxes owned by such Company and the amount of its paid up capital.

(d) The number of offspring born during this present year of each
pair of foxes in your ranch or in your possession or custody.

(e) The value of the offspring of each of such pairs of foxes.

(f) The number of such offspring which may have been sold or
agreed to be sold or upon which options, for the purchase thereof have
been given, stating the price of each animal or each pair as the case
may be and describing the animals so sold or agreed to be sold or upon
which options for sale have been given by reference to the parents of
Buch animals and owners of same.

(g) The number of such offspring remaining unsold and the value
of same.

173

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

Such affidavit may be sworn to before the Provincial Treasurer
or any of his assistants in the Provincial Treasury, the Collector of Taxes
under the said Act, a Notary Public, or a Commissioner authorized to
take affidavits in the Supreme Court in this Province and must be re-
turned to the Collector or Provincial Treasurer within eight days from
the date hereof.

And take notice that unless you make due return of such affidavit,
the Provincial Treasurer may himself fix the amount of the taxes
payable by you in rospect of any foxes in your possession and may
proceed for the recovery thereof as the law directs.

A form of affidavit is enclosed herewith.

Dated this day of 19

CD.
Collector.

Form B

(Sec. 9)
NOTICE TO OWNER OR PART OWNER

To G. H. of
Sir:—

Take notice that under the provisions of " The Fox Tax Act" you
arc required to declare upon oath:

(a) The number of foxes exclusive of this year's offspring, owned
by you or in which you have an interest.

(b) The name and address of the person or persons in whose ranch,
custody or possession such fox or foxes may be.

(c) The number of the offspring of each pair of foxes owned "by
you or in which you have an interest mentioning in whose ranch, custody
or possession such offspring may be and the value of such offspring.

(d) The number of such offspring which may have been sold or
agreed *o be sold, or upon which options for the purchase thereof have
been given, stating the price of each animal or each pair as the case
may be.

(e) The number of such offspring remaining unsold and the value
of same.

Such affidavit may be sworn to before the Provincial Treasurer
or any of his assistants in the Provincial Treasury, the Collector of
Taxes imder the said Act, a Notary Public, a Commissioner authorized

FUR-FARMING LEGISLATION

173

to take affidavits in any Court in thia Province or any Justice of the
Peace and must be returned to the Collector or Provincial Treasurer
within eight days from the date hereof.

And take notice that unless you make due return of such affidavit,
the Provincial Treasurer may himself fix the amount of the taxes payable
by you in respect of any foxes owned by you or in which you have any
interest, and miiy proceed for the recovery tliereof as the law directs.

A form of affidavit is enclosed herewith.

CD.
Collector.

Form C

(Sec. 12).
NOTICE OF COLLECTOR'S ATTENDANCE AT RANCH

To A. B. of
Sir:—

Take notice that on day the day

of A.D., 19 between the hours of

o'clock in the noon, and

o'clock in the noon, Mr. a Col-

lector appointed under the provisions of "The Fox Tax Act" will attend
at your ranch or premises at for the purpose of examin-

ing your ranch and premises and inspectmg any foxes on said ranch or
premises or in your possession or custody.

Dated thia day of 19

Provincial Treasurer.

Fo RM D

(Sec. 8)
AFFIDAVIT TO BE MADE BY RANCHER

I, A. B. of in

Edward Island make oath and say as follows:

1. That there are in my ranch at
or custody at , foxes of which

males and are females.

County in Prince

or in my possession

are

174

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

2. The names and addresses of all the owners and part owners of each
fox or pair of foxes (exclusive of the offspring bom dv ing this present
year) in my ranch or in my custody or possession so for as the same
are known to me are as set out in schedule "A" hereto.

3. Of the above foxes pairs are owned by an
incorporated company by the name of of which
the name and address of the President is of

and of ihe Secretary is of

and of the manager is of

The authorized capital of said company is S and

its paid up capital is S

4. The number of the offspring bom during this present year
of each pair of foxes In my ranch or in my possession or custody is as
set out in Schedule "B" hereto.

5. The number of the offspring mentioned in the last preceding
paragraph which have been sold or agreed to be sold or upon which
options for the purchase thereof have been given, is as set out in Schedule
"C" hereto.

6. The number of the offspring mentioned in Schedule "B" of
this affidavit remaining unsold or on which no options have been given
is , which are of the value of S

Sworn to before me
at in the County
of this day
of A.D., 19

Form D

SCHEDULE A

Being a detailed list of foxes, exclusive of this year's offspring,
with names and addresses of owners.

(a) Pair number one the owners of which are C. D. of ,

E. F. of &c.

Qi) Pair number two, the owners of whitu &c. (enumerate each
pair, stating names and addresses of owners of each)

(c) A male fox of which the owner or owners are (state names
and addresses) (Specify any other animals, giving names and addresses
of owners).

FUR. FARMING LEGISLATION

17S

Form D

SCHEDULE D

Being a detailed list of the offspring of each pair of foxes mentioned
in Schedule "A," and the present market value of same

(a) offspring to pair number one of the value
of S each.

(b) offspring to pair number two of the value
of 8 each.

&c., &c., &c.

Form D

SCHEDULE C

Being particulars o' such of the offspring mentioned in Schedule
"B" as have been sold or agreed to be sold or upon which options for
purchase have been given.

(a) One [or more] young foxes of the offspring or pair number three
mentioned in the Schedule " B " at the price of $ each.

(b) A pair of young foxes, one being of the offspring of pair number

and the other of the offspring of pair number
at the price of $

&c., &c., &c.

176

COMMISSION OF CONSRKVATION

PRLNX'E EDWARD ISLAND

An Act Relating to Foxes and Other Fur-beanng Animals
Kept in Captivity

3 Geo. V, Chap. 10

(Assented lo April 24, 1013)

WHEREAS, certain persons in the Province of Prince Edward
Island bAvo engaged in the business of raising or breedini^
foxes and other fur-btaring animals kept in captivity, and it is desirable
to protect t}ie said animaU from being disturbed by strangers or persons
oth r than the owner or keeper of said animals.

BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED by the Lieutenant Governor
and Legislative Assembly of the Province of Prince Edward Island as
follows:

1. Every one is guilty of an offence and liable to the penalty here-
inafter provided who, at any time hereafter, in any part of the Province
without the consent of the OTimor or caretaker of a ranch or enclosure
where foxes or other fur-bearing animals are kept in captivity for breed-
ing purposes, shall enter upon the private grounds of the owner, or
owners of the said animals within a distance of twenty-five yards from
the outer fence or enclosures within which the pens or dons of the said
animals are located and upon which said fence notices forbidding
trespassing on the said premises are kept posted so as to be plainly
discernible at the said distance of not less than twenty-five yards.

2. Any person coivictod of an offence against Section 1 of the Act
shall be liable to a of not exce(;ding one hundred dollars nor less
than fifty dollars, f i default of payment of such fines, to imprison-
ment for a term of ..• c exceeding throe months nor less than one month.

3. Every one is guilty of an offence and liable to the penalty here-
inafter provided who, at any time hereafter in any part of the province,
without the consent of the owners or caretaker of any enclosure within
which foxes or other fur-bearing animals are kept for breeding purposes,
and on the outer fence of which enclosure are kept posted notices forbid-
ding trespassing on the premises where the said animals are kept, and
plainly discernible at a distance of not less than twenty-five yards there-
from, shall pass within the said fence of such enclosure or climb over,
break or cut through the same for the purpose of enterin-^ the said
enclosure.

4. Any person cuuvictcd of uii offence against scclioii 3 of ll'.is At;t
shall be liable to a fine of not exceeding five hundred dollars nor loss

FUR-FARM I N(l L K (1 1 fl L AT I <> V

than two litiiuirtHi uml fifty (iollara unit in dotuult of puyint'iit uf xaid
fine to impmontnent for a tt'im not exi-ecdin)? six nor loss than two
months.

5. Every offunco against this Act may ho prosccutod and the
penalties and puni-Miinients therefor enforced, in tiio niannor dircctiid
by tho Summary Convictions Act, containetl in tiie Criminal Code, and
the amondmonts thereto, so far as nu (irovision is hereby made for any
matter or thinj; whicii is required to be done with respect to such jjio-
socution; and all tho provisions contained in saiti Act and aniendnicnta
shall bo applicalde to such prosecution, an<l to the judicial and other
officers boforo whom the same are hereby authorized to bo brought, in
the same manner as if they were incorporatoil in this Act, and as if all
such judicial and other officers wore named in tho said Act; prnviilod
always that in no instance shall a warrant to distrain, to levy tho
amount of the fine, imposed under this Act be issued, but on default
of payment forthwith of the fine imposetl, with costs, the offender
shall be committed to jail.

Ni:W BRUNSWICK

An Act Relating to Foxes and Other Fur bearing Animals
Kept in Captivity

2 Geo. V, Chap. 10

(Assenttd lo April 20, 1912)

WHEREAS, certain persons in the Province of Now Brunswick
have engaged in the business of raising or breeding foxes and
other fur-bearing animals kept in captivity, and it is desirable to pro-
tect the said animals from being disturbed by strangers or persons other
than the owner or keeper of said animals;

Be it therefore enacted by the Lieutenant-Governor and ^iOgislative
Assembly, as follows :

1. Every one is guilty of an offence and liable to the penalty here-
inafter provided who at any time hereafter, in any part of the Tr^ vince,
12

17s

roMMTSSToV OP rONSERVAriON

without the coniient of the owner or caretaker of a ranch or onclosuro
where foxes or other fiir-bcaring animals are kept in captivity for brootl-
ing purpoHcx, shall approach ur entur u[H)n the private grounds of
the owner or owners of the said aniniiilH within a distance of twenty*
five yanis from the outer fence or endoHU'e within which the penii or
dens of the said animals aru located and upon wliich said fence, notices
forbidding trespassing on the said premises arc kept posted so as to
be plainly disi erniblo at the said distance of not loss than twenty-fivo
yards.

2. Any person cmvicted tf an offence against Section 1 of this
Act shall bo liable to a tine of not exceeding 950.00, nor Icsm than $5.00,
8"d in default of payment of sucn fines to imprisonment for a term

' t exceeding three months, nor loss than one month.

3. Every one is guilty of an oflenco and liable to the penalty
hereinafter provided who at any time hereinafter, in any part of the
Province, without the consent of the owner or caretaker of any enclosure
within which foxes or other fur-bearing animals are kept for breeding
purposes, and on the outer fence of which onclostre are kept posted
notices forbidding trespassing on the premises where the said animals
are kept, and plainly discernible at a distance of not loss than twenty-
fivo yards therefrom, shall pass within the said fence of such enclosure
or climb over, break or cut through the same for the purpose of entering
the said enclosure.

4. Any person convicted of an offence against Section 3 of this
Act shall bo liable to a fine not exceeding $100.00 nor less than -SoO.OO.
and in default of payment of said fine to a penalty not exceedini; six
nor less than two months.

6. Any person may kill any dog which he finds lurking about
any enclosure in which are kept foxes or other fur-bearing animals
for breeding purpo.ses, and annoying or terrifying said animals, or
any dog giving tongue and terrifying the animals so kept enclosed,
or any dog which- he finds straying or being upon his or her property
on which are kept enclosures of foxes or other fur-bearing animals
of which he or she is the caretaker; provided, however, that nt» dog
80 straying, lurking or being on the premises above herein referred
to, when muzzled or accompanied by ti)o owner or person having
charge or care of such dog, shall Im? so killed unless there is reason-
able fear or apprehension that such dog, if not killed, is likoly to annoy
or terrify the said animals within the said enclosures.

6. The provisions of Chapter 123 of the Consolidated Statutes
of New Brunswick, 1903, relating to Summary Convictions, shall so
far as applicable and not inconsistent herewith, apply to all prosecu-
tions and proceedings under this Act.

FUR-KARMIKd I.FniHLATIOW

i:»

QUEBEC

An Act Relating to Foxes and Other Fur -bearing Animtlt
Kept in Cftpiivity

2 Geo. V, Chap. 45

{Awnted In Dtc. 21, 1012)

WHEREAS certain persons in the Province of Qiutt^r have enKaged
in the buflincss of raising or breeding foxes and other fiix-bearing
unitnala kept in captivity;

Whereas it is d<»trable to encourage this industry, as well Ixfause
of the diminishing supply of our most valuable furs, a? of the rich
source of profit whicli this indubtry has proved itself to be in iome
of the sister provinces;

Whereas it is essential to the successful breeding of these animals
in t'aptivity that they should U* protected from disturbance by strangem,
or persons other than the owner or keeper of the said animals;

Therefore, His Majesty, with the advice and consent of the Legis-
lative Council and the Legislative Assembly of Quebec -nacts as
follows:

1. Every one is guilty of an offence and liable to the neiialty here-
inafter provided who at any time hereafter, in any part of ilie Province,
without the consent of tlie owner or caretaker of a ranch i«r onclo^'ure
where foxes or other fur-bearing animals are kept in captivitv for breed-
ing purposes, shall approach or enter upon the private grounds of the
owner or owners of the said animals within a distance of tWLnty-fivo
yards from the outer fence or enclo,sure within which the pens or dons
of the said animals are located, and upon which said fence or enclosure
notices forbidding trespassing on «^^he said prciiii.<e3 are kept posted, so
as to be plainly discernible at the said distance of not less than twenty-
five yards. Nr. offence will be committe<l, however, by any neighbour-
ing proprietor or occupant .\no approarju's within such distance in the
execution of work recognized or imposetl by law or by municipal by-laws.

2. Any person convicted ot an offence against Section 1 of tliis
Act, shall be liable to a fine rn? exceeding fifty dollar-s nor less than five
dollars and in default of payment of such fine and the costs to imprison-
ment for a term not exeeeding three months nor less than one month.

3. Everyone is guilty of an offence and liable f > the penalty here-
after prov'ded who at any time hereafter, in any part of the Province,
without the consent of the owner or caretaker of any enclosure within
which foxes or other fur-bearing animals are kept for breeding purposes,
and on the outer fence of which enclosure are kept posted notices for-

180

COMMISSION OP nONRERVATION

bidding trespassing on the premises whers tlie said animals are kept,
and plainly discernible at a distance of not less than twenty-five yards
therefrom, shall pass within the said fence or such enclosure or climb
over break or cut through the same for the purposes of entering the
said enclosure, or for any other purpose whatever.

4. Any person convicted of an ofTencc against Section 3 of this
Act shall be liable to a fine not excelling one hundred dollars, nor less
than fifty dollars and in default of payment of said fine and the costs
to a penalty not exceeding six nor less than two months.

6. Any caretaker may kill any dog wandering in the neighbour-
hood of any enclosure in which foxes or other fur-bearing animals are
kept, and there giving tongue or otherwise terrifying such animals,
provided, however, that the dog so killed is neither muzzled nor accom-
panied by the owner or by a person having charge or care of such dog.

6. Every infringement of any of the provisions of this Act is pun-
ishable summarily upon prosecution before a justice of the peace having
jurisdiction in the district in which the offence was committed.

7. The provisions of Part XV of the Criminal Code respecting
summary convictions shall, unless incompatible, apply to all prosecu-
tions brought, tried and decided under this Section.

8. This Act shall come into force on the day of its sanction.

ONTARIO

Extracts from an Act Respecting Game, Fur^ bearing Animals
and Fisheries

3-4 Geo. V, Chap. 69

40. (1) During the close season no person shall have in his pos-
session, or in the possession of his servant or agent, or of any other
person on his behalf, any game, wherever killed or procured, or any
fish except that

((;) game lawfully killed or procured may be kept during the period
between the end of the open season in any year and the 16th
day of January in the following year; and

(6) skins of moose, deer, caribou and fur-bearing animals may be
had in possession during the close season under the authority

FUR-FARMI\0 LEGISLATION

181

of a license Issued not later than ten days after the end of the
open season, and specifying the number and description of
such skias.

(2) Except as expressly authorized by license, no person other than
the actual owner for the use of himself and family, shall keep game in
cold storage during the season in which the same may be so lawfully
possessed. 7 Edw. VII, c. 49, s. 40; S Eihv. VII. c. 6."), s. 5.

(3) This section shall not apply to game animals, bred or bona fide
procured for breeding purposes by persons bona fide engaged in the busi-
ness of breeding game animals; and notwithstanding anything contained
in this Act, such persons may at all times have in theii possession such
animals or any part thereof.

SASKATCHEW.VN

Extracts from the Came Act

6. No persons shall hunt, trap, take, shoot at, wound or kill:
(5) Any fox at any time between the first day of May and the first
day of September in any year.

10. Except as provided in section 18, subsection (.5) hereof, no
person shall take out of, export or cause to be exported from Saskat-
chewan any big game or game bird or live fox without having obtained
permission from the minister; the fees for such permit shall be $5 for
each big game head, $100 for each live black or silver fox and .$15 for
each cioss cr red fox and $1 for each shipment of one dozen or less of
game birds; and no person shall be entitled to export in one season
more than five dozen such birds nor shall any permit be granted under
this section for the export of any birds belonging to the grouse family.
Substituted 1913, c. 58, s. 12.

18. (5) A holder of a non-ronideiit big game license shall be en-
titled to take wiih him out of the province as trophies the head,
skin and hoofs ( f any big game which may h.ave been legally killed
by him and the meat of such bij; game; and the holder of a non-
resident game bird license may take wiih him personally when
leaving the province not more than one hundred game birds.

^hi

Appendix Vlll

]

Notes Concerning the Conservation of Came in Quebec

JOHANN BeETZ,

Piastre Bale, Saguenay, Que.

THESE few notes are only buggestions made by a hunter, breeder
and experienced observer towards the conservation of the
fauna which represents one of the greatest resources of the Province
of Quebec.

Hunting foxes out of season deprives the Province of Quebec of
an enormous natural revenue; it will exterminate species particularly
its own and ruin the fur-farming, for the following reasons:

(1) In the entire world, the territory between the strait of
Belleisle and the Saguenay river produces the finest black, black-
silver and silver foxes in the wild state.

(2) Eighteen years ago, when I arrived on the North shore
of the gulf of St. Lawrence, the average catch of the choicest
foxes, on the territory above mentioned was about 250 per year.
To-day, under the same conditions, the catch averages 15 to 20,
a demonstration that the animal is being exterminated and that
it is better to protect it than to risk its extermination.

(3) Allowing the hunting of foxes out of season will inevitably
result in, not only the useless and complete destruction of these
valuable fur-bearers, but also in the destruction of all other fur-
bearing animals living in that region as they will be unavoidably
caught in traps not intended for them.

(4) As the fur of most foxes caught in traps or otherwise,
out of season is valueless, they die without yielding the hunter
any profit. Death will often be caused by a wound received in the
trap during warm weather, by the absence of the mother because
the captured animal is too young, or by the hunter not attending
to it in a proper manner. Often also through an instinct of self-
preservation, the fox brings forth its young in an inaccessible place.
In such case the mother only, can be captured aa, to provide food
for the young, she must come out of the den. As young foxes

t. :.

lii

CONSERVATION OF GAME IN gUEBEC 183

cannot provido for themselves before the end of July, capturing
the mother condemns the young to death. This frequently
happens on the rocky coast of the North Shore. Thus, as stated
above, many foxes are uselessly destroyed to capture one, which,
as often happens, may itself die after a few days.

(5) The North Shore is inhabited mostly by French Canadian
families who until these last few years have obtained their living
by fishing cod, etc. Now, the income which they obtain by fishing
is totally insufficient, especially when considering the increasing
cost of living. The winter hunting used to come at the proper
time to compensate for the scarcity of fish. If hunting out of
season is allowed the fox will disappear in about one year, and
the inhabitants of that region will undoubtedly have to abandon
their villages and go to other parts of the country.

(6) Where the fox is injurious to crops or poultry it should
be destroyed, but, on the North Shore, that danger does not exist;
consequently, it is better to conserve a natural resource of which
other countries and the other provinces are envious.

(7) Everybody knows that every two or three years, the
careful breeder of foxes needs new wild blood in order to strengthen
and regenerate the stock. It has been demonstrated that in-
breeding and captivity make the stock degenerate very quickly.
In permitting hunting only in proper sea.son in Zone No. Two,
that is to say, from the Ist of November to the 15th of February
(this latter date beginning the mating season for foxes) the hunters,
vnthout any destruction could put on the market enough living
foxes to furnish the breeders with wild foxes, thus permitting the
regeneration of those in captivity. Contrarily, if we allow hunting
out of season in Zones One and Two 'two unique territories in the
Dominion for the production of wild black fox) in a year, the wild
foxes will be exterminated and, in not more than six years, the
breeder will be forced to cease breeding, his stock becoming rachitic
and scrofulous by lack of new blood being introduced in breeding.

Consequently, the result for the Province of Quebec and even
for the other provinces of the Dominion will be marked by a net
loss caused by the ruin of breeding and the gradual and accelerating
diminution in the fur trade.

(8) The two classes, 4 and 5, of the measures that we siiggest
should be included in the proposed licenses, to prevent buyers
of other provinces from taking foxes from the Province of Quebec
out of season, which they will certainly do if no law prevents them.

184

COMMISSION OF OONSERVATIOV

Even now, Americans are preparing to settle in La Tuque and the
neighbourhood of Pointe Bleue in order to buy all young and old foxes
which will be caught in that region in the spring time. This will evi-
dently happen in many other places. The only way to avoid all these
regrettable consequences and especially to conserve our fine race of
black fcxes would be, as it seems to me, not to give such licenses in
Zone No. Two (east of the Waguenay) which in this way would become
a kind of National Park for the conservation of tiie black fox. Quebec
is the only province in Eastern Canada which possesses wild black
foxes. They are the finest in Canada and even in the whole world.
No wonder that the other provinces are envious and would like to see
us destroying that natural resource, which however, has served to form
the basis of the breeding stock for which Prince Edward Island* and
New Brunswick have become famous.

Let us try, for the pride and renown of our province, to conserve,
and to increase this resource which we now possess.

If the basic reason for regulation by the province is to collect
tuxes for the animals taken alive, nothing prevents us from collecting
such taxes for the foxes taken in winter or whose fur is sold. In this
way, we will be able to collect that revenue for an unlimited number
of years, while, otherwise, at the end of two years at most, the black
fox will be destroyed and we will have, as it were, inconsiderately
expended our capital in order to create temporary revenue.

SUG(iF..STIONS RESPECTIXG MEASURES TO BE TAKEN IMMEDIATELY
AND BEFORE THE GRANTING OF LICENSES

(1) At present, as only four licenses have been granted in Zone
No. Two (east of the Saguenay to Chateau bay) viz., to Mr. Fequet,
Old Fort, Richard Joncas, Natashkwan, Peter Wright, Pigou, and to
the undersigned, Johann Beetz, of Piastre Bale, all on the North shore
of the Gulf, they should be cancelled immediately. Also, hunting
the fur-bearing animals under any pretext in that zone, between the
15th of February and the Slst of October should be strictly forbidden.

(2) All licensees should be notified that, under the amended law,
Zone No. Two is reserved by the Government.

(3) In Zone No. Two, notices of such law should be posted in con-
spicuous places and distributed by the game-wardens, game-keepers,
fishery officials, postmasters and by the mimicipal councils.

♦Prince Edward Islanders claim that th Island foxes are natives, and that
thcj- are the finest in the world We do not express any opinion on the
subject. (Ed.)

CONSERVATION OF OAME IN QUEBEC

lS.i

(4) To enact a law forbidding, the shipment of any living fur-
bearing animal from the Province of Quebec (during the prohibited
season from the 15th of February to tlio 31st of October) unless accom-
panied by a certificate by the authorities attesting that such animal
came from a known fur-farm of the Province.

(5) Also a law prohibiting railway and other transportation
companies accepting live foxes between the 15th of February and tlie
31st of October, intended for shipment out of the Province unless
accompanied by the said permit or certificate.

i^j

Appendix IX

Statistics of Fur Production
AVERAGE ANNUAL FUR PRODUCTION BY CONTINENTS*

By E. BroM

North Amkrica

Lynx and Wildcat 990,000

House Cat 80,000

Timber Wolf 8,000

Prairie Wolf 40,000

Red Fox 200,000

Silver Fox 4,000

Cross Fox 15,000

\Vhite Fox 30,000

Blue Fox 6,000

S^'^^"* 50,000

K>t/o*-- ■ ;; 4.0W

Hudson Bay Marten 120,000

F»her 10,000

Mink eO,000

Weasel (Ermine) 400,000

Wolverene 3,000

Badger 30,000

f^'^Ai: 1,600,000

Civet Cat 100,000

Otter 30,000

Raccoon 600,000

White Bear 400

Black Bear 20,000

Brown Bear 3 OOO

Gri»»Iy Bear 1,200

Marmot 30,000

Beaver. 80,000

Muskrat or Musquash 8,000,000

gp<»«m 1,000,000

g»« 200,000

Musk-ox 500

Average production, about (24,000,000

The average value of the fur produced annually in the other
continents is estimated as follows:

South America about 9 2,000,000

Austraha « 6,000,000

Europe...... « 24,000,000

Africa and Oceania " 2,000,000

Asw " 26,000,000

♦Estimated on the basis of production of the three years, 1907-1909.

STATISTICS OF FUR PRODUCTION

187

APPROXIMATE AVERAGE YEARLY PRODUCTION OF THE WORLD'S
FURS IX THE THREE YEARS, 10O7-1909

By E. Brass

The value of the world's production for each year amounts to
360,000,000 marks ($95,680,000), of which furs to the value of
160,000,000 marks come to Leipzig each year.

Skins used by the natives and hunters for supplying their own
requirements are not included.

Bears
White bear:

Polar legions, Asia and Europe, 600; America, 400.
Grizzly bear:

America, 1,200.
Brown bear:

America, 2,000; Asia, 6,000.
Black bear:

America, 20,000; Asia, 1,000.
Common brown bear:

Asia, 3,000; Europe 2,000.

Beaver
America, 80,000; Asia, 1,000; Europe, a few skins.

Nutria
South America, 1,000,000.

Muskrat or Musquash
America, about 8,000,000; Russia, 3,000.

Chinchilla
Peru, 600.

Chinchillina
Peru and Bolivia, 12,000.

Bastard Chinchilla
Bolivia, 3,000; Chili, 25,000.

Badger
Europe, 100,000; America, 30,000; Asia, Japan and China,
30,000.

188

COMMJ[SSIO>f OP CONSRRVATION

Siberia, 15,000,000; China, 500,000.

Squirreixtaii^
Siberia, 73 tons; China, 2 tona.

Fox
Red fox:

North America, 200,000; Siberia, 60,000; Russia, 150,000; Mon-
golia, China and Japan, 50,000; Australia, 30,000; Western and
Central Asia, 50,000; Norway, 25,000; Germany, 250,000;
other European countries, 350,000.
Karguncr fox:

Siberia and Central Asia, 150,000.
Cross fox:

America, 15,000; Siberia, 3,000.
Gray fox:

North America, 50,000.
Kit fox:

North America, 4,000; Central Asia, 60,000.
White fox:

Asia, 70,000; America, 30,000; Europe, 5,000.
Blue fox:

America, 6,000; Siberia, 4,000; Northern Europe, 1,000.
Silver fox:

America, 4,000; Siberia, 300.
Japan fox (raccoon dog) :

Japan, 80,000; China, 150,000; Korea, 30,000.
South American foxes:

Pampas fox and Patagonian fox, total about 15,000.

Hamster
Germany, 2,000,C00; Austria Hungary, 250,000.

Hares
Polar hares:

.'Iberia, about 5,000,000; North America, 200,000.

Weasel (Ermine)
America, 400,000; Siben"; , ,00,000; Europe, 10,00<1.

PO^. JAT

Germany, 60,000; Russia and Siberia, 150,000; other European
countries, 80,000.

. STATISTICS OF FUR PRODUCTION 180

Fisher (Pekan)
America, 10,000.

Rabbit, Coney
Franre, 30,000,000; Relgium, 20,000,000; Gormany, 500,000;
Galicia and Russia, 1,000,000; Australia, 20,000,000.

Cats
Gormany, 120,000; Holland, 200,000; Russia, 300,000; other
European countries, 150,000; Asia, Ciiina and Japan, 150,000;
America, 80,000.

Kolinsky
Siljeria, 150,000; Mancliuria, 50,000; China (weasel) 500,000;
Japan (mink) 200,000.

Lynx, Gray Wildcat
America, 90,000; Asia, 30,000; Europe, 10,000.

Wildcat
South America, 10,000; Asia, 40,000; Europe and Western Asia,
10,000,

Marten
Baum marten:

Europe, 180,000; Northern iVsia, 30,000.
Stone marten :

Europe, 350,000; Northern Asia, 30,000,

Sable and Hudson Bay Marten
America, 120,000; Siberia, 70,000; China, 20,000; Japan, 5,000.

Marmot
Asia, 4,550,000; America, 30,000.

Mink
North America, 600,000; Russia and Siberia, about 40,000;
Europe, a few.

Otter (land)
America, 30,000; Asia, 55,000; Southern Asia, about 1,000;
South America, about 5,000; Mrka, about 500; Europe, 30,000.

Opossum
Australia, about 4,000,000; America, about 1,000,000

100

COMMIHBION OF CONSERVATION

Pkrsian and Black LAUB^^KiNd
Central Asia, Persians 1,800,000, Broadtails 100,000; Russia and
Central Asia, Astrakhan 1,000,000; Crimean, 60,000; Schiras
and salted skbs, 200,000.

Raccoon
North America, 600,000.

Fur-seals
Alaska, northern waters and southern waters, 68,000.

Sba-ottir
Northern Pacific, 400.

Skunk
North America, 1,500,000; South America, 5,000.

CiVBT Cat
North America, 100,000.

WOLVERBNE

North America, 3,000; Siberia, 4.000; Europe, 1,000.

Wolf
America: timber wolf, 8,000; prairie wolf, 40,000; Asia: Siberia,
10,000; China, 5,000; Central Asia and Russia, 6,000; Europe,
1.000.

AMERICAN AND CANADIAN FURS SOLD BY A. & W. NESBITT AT PUBLIC
AUCTION IN THE YEARS 1904-1912

Kind

1005 1906 1907

Raccoon

Badger

Musnuaah ....

Skunk

Cat, Civet....

Beaver

Otter

Lynx

Cat, Wild

Wolf

Bear

Fiaher

Wolverene.. . .

Ermine

Fox, Silver. . .
Fox, Cross.. . .

Fox, Red

Marten

Mink

Opossum, Am.
Fox, Gray. . . .

Sea-otter

Musk-ox

Fox, Blue

37,424

3,720

739,630

124,357

14,507

919

2,614

1,382

3,227

8,614

1,164

238

1,377

285

3,974

3,589

30,596

146,328

9,966

26,833

2,393

810,817

162,015

10,968^

10,780

2,203

6,604

2,750

12,548

1,235

726

7,922i

94;

489;

16,5361

8,388

29,4091

292,231!

14,527'

8,471

1,165

371,779

130,213

4,370

13,577

1,476

6,835

2,532

4,580

1,473

1,030

22,362

243

1,512

6,550

10,708

25,338

30,382

3,597

62^

1908 I 1909

49,990

1,264!

551,081

190,298!

4,786;

3,232i

3,831!

2,307

2,779(

14,854

1,890,

768

84|

19,774!

94|

756,

8,034|

5,642

33,305

98,397

3,724

60,028

2,652

548,228

239,145

4,978

6,402

3,141

475

1,321

10,074

2,297

264

29,504

111

255

9,612

2,889

18,069

95,187

3,151

1910

58,323

3,934

679,975

239,573

6,685

6,122

2,496

462

3,593

19,223

3,662

167

115

33,276

102

362

8,808

4,003

22,127

77,507

7,082

131

280

48,53l| 60,869

5,229' 5,954

774,126658,217

352,313 326,845

22,647| 16,147

2,097| 2,438

1,429

1911 I 1012

470;

10,000

21,030

1,060;

300I

57'

1,325

270

5,068

30,173

1,008

.'>7

102

71,967! 41,492

102;

9,574,

1,360!

14,517:

223

4,283

2,942

10,099

136,417 256,759
6,613 7,258

48!

253

STA TISTI CS OP FUR PRODUCTION

IMPORTAIION OF FURS TO LONDON. IS.M
By E. BroM

191

Kittd

I'RnM THE HroaoN'a
Bat ('i>'». Trrritoiit

Alaska, Oksoon, EAmcRx

AKD SOUTRBRN CANADA,
ETC., BTC,,

Number

Marten

Mink

Se»«tt«r. .
Be*v«r. . . ,
Muiimt...

Otter.

Fiiher

Silver Fox
CroM " .
Red " .
Blue " .
Gray " .
Kit
White '• .

Wolf

Wolverene

Lynx

WUdcat. . .

Bear

Ermine

Skunk

Raccoon...

Badger

Hare

Opossum. .
Squirrel. . .
Others. . . .

4,64n
4,646

15,302
1,124
3,633
374
8,901
1,800
S,945
1,200
1,084

83,757

5,800

2S,noo

136,513

55,740

288

69,376

346,955

11,094

4,911

480

1,749

8,227

Value

£122,540

38,540

5,400

25,480

6,540

8,545

6,840

4,838

3,945

172

485
1,248
4,975

840
3,460

120

22,480

6,743

180

228
1,025

160
■ I'oOO

Number

180

518

6,989

3,206

500

200

482,072

2,095
12,745

Value

12,245

£11,540

171,083

12,305

163

4,280

6,078

4,780

1,229,536

23,0M

4,427

4,800

3,174

2,3M

218

4,580

920

2,740

36,399

16,240

5,086

12,758

15,826

1,825

5,086

1,025

354

120

190

290

2,003

8,425

65,240

34,000

50
1,875

s.ooi)

192

<;OMMI8i4ION OP CONSERVATION

IM/'ORTATION OF fTJItS TO LONDON, 187S
By E. Bran

FiioM riiB Huuaon's Hay
Co'rt Tekiiitorv

Kind

^^artoll

Mink

Sea-ott«r

■^c;i-otter (pup). .

Beaver

Miukrat

Otter (land)

FUher

SUver Fox

CroM "

Hod «

Blue •

Gray "

Kit «

White "

Wolf

Wolverene

Lynx

Bear

Ermine or Weasel.

Skunk

Raccoon

Deer.

Badger

Hare

Musk-ox

Buffalo

Panther

Wildcat

Squirrel

Opoasiuii

Others

Number

131, IM

73,400

223

270,903

416,833

13,.5«0

3,5d8

780

786

8,945

169

S,860
6,026
3,056
1,349

13,242
0,880
3,489
2,789
7,164

15,005
8,386

60,520

108

53,000

FHOM At.AgX4, E,»«Tt-JlN AND

HouTHEKN Canada. UHEfioN

ANt) TIIK NllltrHWEHTEHN

Unitbo Sr\TE«, Sold sr
RrrAiij:n« \mv in the
London .S.\.;.E8

Value

173,500

73,840

5,480

20.3, 8o()

32,542

38,702

11,200

14,800

3,870

6,325

460

530

2,100

208

1,580

11,480

23,500

1,860

1,240

300

3,000

5,680

560

18,000

Number

3.", 712

30,245

3,653

520

65,941

1,120,465

8,725

1,868

751

1,451

76,365

2,215

25,602

9,245

2,072

4,481

1,248

2,5(M

6,796

44,683

275,943

341,077

12,522

420,474

200

106

2,197

8,146

143,653

86,000

Vulue
£

3.1,042

102,r,80

3,280

48,647

146,362

24,460

3,780

3,120

6,587

28,956

6,084

6,850

1,640

860

2,180

960

1,800

22,540

1,200

81,540

58,050

4,540

10,402

580

183

2,650

100

2,263

22,000

STATISTICS OF FUR UtODllCTlOX

ll»

OFFERINGS OF FU11-8KAW XSU Hi:A^»rTER AT TIU. LONDON AlKTION

SALES

By P. a. PoUnd Jt 8<>m, :j,n4on

Ymt

Fur-seal-.

.stii-«tt».'r

V.ar

I ur-MOu't

ISfiO

13.01.';

imvi

18».094

1881

9, At

1883

171,205

18A2

10 •»»

- . * . t

lS8-t

1 W,32»

1853

",7H

..,,,..

18S5

180,059

1854

\>i,im

18S6

217, 7(H

1855

29,404

1887

226,370

l8.'.n

30,641

1888

219,1*70

la?/

0,423

1889

-'14,577

18^H

19,5r>l

1890

182,653

5S.W

I4,4T6

1891

125,731

ItiM)

13, ill

1892

162,730

imi

24,341

1893

191,623

lb',2

31,<U'»

1894

2< 14,(107

It!f3

27,986

1895

I6S,3!»5

isd*

20,328

189(t

79,9.V»

isrts

17,289

1897

rj;i,.33n

! ^if.

19,814 ■

1898

105,9V 6

1:^7

i,"t ;'"

1899

I05.6.->1

: .Si38

.-:i>.m

1900

100,901

ibfifl

119, N»8

1901

104,605

iSVO

153, 6J4

1002

89,391

1871

1 1,909

824"

1903

94,234

1172

ii s.ti72

307

1904

110,231

iN7:i

17t>,678

095

1905

71,328

1874

161,291

920

1906

82,9>1

1876

174,107

564

1907

-5,911

1876

167,141

059

1908

.• i,?.58

1877

142,671

420

1909

67 'iM

1878

169,497

2rs

1910

•r (tS»

1879

175,119

176

TOP

ty> ''U

1880

205.240

583

['•■::■

:.i ■

1881

210,745

647 i

i^l??

*Not inoluded in this totui:

*98 "Ala-

sk».'' ■ 0:J 1

r f<^ ■ .'i. .

Hea-otter

5,057
5,6WI
5,U1M
4,908
4,804
4,413
4,352
3,517
l*,:i3
■J. 31(2
1,308
1,7.S8
1,5.13
1.221
1,556
1,280

956

739

584

422

•»'»

463

3TD

321

51,s

564

■xa

265
318
328
225

•5. A.

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

CATCH OF FUIUSEALS

Taken in Alaska, Copper Island, Lobos Island and the North West Coast tor the
years 1886-1911 inclusive

By Mr. Emeit Poland, IWQitem Victoria St., London, Eng.

Year

Alaska

Copper

N.W.C.

Lobos Is.

1886

122,166

41,768

16,048

13,281

1887

104,059

54,684

39,629

10,883

188S

100,016

46,333

31,546

21,041

188&

100,037

47,416

42,025

10,245

1890

20,994

95,486

29,174

17,529

1891

17,652

17,025

47,207

13,635

1892

7,554

62,060

54,229

14,672

1893

7,500

32,857

129,820

13,624

1894

16,030

27,298

♦144,691

13,437

1895

15,002

17,721

tll0,449

16,460

1896

7,600

14,415

29,014

14,019

1897

22,504

68,893

19,250

1898

20,732

i3,736

44,161

16,967

1899

26,434

9,487

39,277

15,381

1900

19,935

9,784

39,428

15,116

1901

22,276

13,372

29,851

12,882

1902

22,719

11,463

22,721

16,376

1903

15,295

7,733

22,426

11,070

1904

20,086

8,354

39,840

8,357

1905

22,400

8,313

22,677

1906

14,478

t8,987

21,210

8,398

1907

7,069

14,363

4,529

1908

29,929

5.363

23,088

2,990

1909

14,350

3,145

16,456

1910

13,584

5,811

12,866

1911

3,322

2,997

♦1894 should be 142,951 (sec tables)
tl895 should be 109,301 (sec tables)
{4043 seized by Japanese (1904 catch) and 4944 (1905 catch)

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Appendix X

Statittics of Fur Prices

TYPICAL PmctS OF A KLW SKINS

liif E. lining

AuHtnilinii OposKiitn. Adelaiilo piiiiic Muc. '.HHO, lOctH.; 10(M),
•2^vt^.: I!t08, 73 cts.; I'.KX). 97 cts.; I'.tlO, «l.(t...

Wallabif. 18S'), 6 ctn. to U) ffs.; 1!)(K), 2') cts, to 7') etc.: 1910,
50 its. to *1.7(».

Kangaroo, 1880, 4 ctn. to 12 cts.; 1900, 37 cts. to GO cts.; 1910,
75 ctn. to 11.4.").

n'omfc"^, 1880, 12 cts.; 1900, 36 rts.; 1910, 73 cts.

Xatire tViM, 1880, 4 ct.s. ; 1900, 24 cts. ; 1910, 49 cts.

Bai'titrd Chinchilla, \H80,7ictK.; 1890, 3t» cts.; 1900, S2.92; 190.J,
14.38; 1910, »9.73.

Japan Mink, 1900, 12 cts,; 1905, 19 cts.; 1910, 60 cts.

Chinese 11 'en* e^ 1900, 7 cts.; 1905, 16 ct.s.; 1910, 33 cts.

y«/)(i« .V'(r/e«,1890,35cs.; 1900,.»a.43; 1905,!S2.38; 1910, $3.81.

Japttn Fox, 1890, 83 cts.; 1900, $1.4;5; 1910, $4.05.

Skunk, the best lot, 1900, .f2.07; 1908, 13.30; 1909, $4.40; 1910,
17.06; 1911. $5.10.

7?«!i> P< man, 1890, $2.06 ')00, liiOO: 1905, «4. 12; 1908, $4.64;

1909, $5.15; 1910, $6.70.

S/o^p .l/ar/«n, 1890, $1.43; 189.5, S_M4; IIKk 52.86; 1905, $;5.33;
1908, $5.23,; 1909, $6.19; 1910, $6.00.

Mdrmol, Orenburg, 1890, 10 ct..; VMK ! 1904 I'' fs.;

1905, 43 cts. ; 1906, 33 cts. ; 1907, 37 its. ; I'JO »U9, 43 ct.s. ;

1910, 90 cts.

Black Fox, best skin, 1880, $032.70: it, «70.00; 1900,
$2,822.66; 1905, $1,070.07; 1906, Sl,.5.57,3.}; VMr. «-M4I.33; 1908,
$2,238,67; 1909, $(,508. 67; 1910, $2,028.00.

Sea-otler, 1880, $584.00; 1890, $778.07; 190(t 162.07 1905,

$097.77: 1909, .?I.849..33; 1910. $1.70:3,33.

310

roMMISSION OF CONHKHV ATI DM

TYI'ICAL I'llirW OF A FEW STAPLK SKINS OF THK HUDSON'.-* BAY
COMPANY ON THK LONDON FUR MAUKKT

Ymmt

I I

tacts.

1S83.

ISM.

18U..

18M...

1H87...

1888..

188B..

1800..

1801.

1802..

1803..

1804..

18 M.

18 W.

18 »7.

\fM.

1800.

1000..

1001.

1003..

1003.

1004.

1005.

1006..

1007..

1008.

1000..

1010..

Hy h. Bratl

Miwkrat,
YF, I

Mink,
YF, II

Red Fox,
YF. I, dark

Lynx,
YF, 1. Ur4^

Itt

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3 11

4 sr

l.'i

.97

2.75

6 fW

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1 16

2.75

7 31

,•.9

2 07

4 51

'.».«

2 56

8 72

.17

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2 60

4 70

.rt3

2 50

5.05

I .V)

4 05

7.38

.22

1 113

2 92

6 73

.35

1 36

2 82

6 75

.13

1.74

2 t'''

8 70

.17

2.92

2 .--

6 70

1 42

2.<.-.

4 13

1'.)

1 58

4.20

4 30

.2*

1 34

2 50

3 33

1.46

2.50

2 87

l.S'J

2.66

3 23

2 98

4.97

5 12

.16

2.58

0.00

10.80

2.44

6.20

7.44

2.58

8.27

13 3«*

i 2.70

8 03

22 40

2.'»

2.37

6 81

12 SO

4.46

7.48

13 15

4 iM

7.67

13 38

6.38

8.07

12 50

5.25

9 25

15 60

1 5.61

'4 96

32 OO

.H7

\ 6 34

16 S.!

39 8.1

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fi2

'/%

PRICES CURRENT

219

PRICES CURRENT

(Krom the Fur Sewi Magiizinr, April, 1914)

Note. — The prices given below are for winter-caught sliins, except as otherwise
fpeeified; springy and damaged skins will be graded and paid for according to value.

No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4

I.,arpo Meil. Small

Badger Northern 2.(M) 1.25 .50 .40 .20 ..

Southern and S.W 1.00 .60 .30 .25 .10 ..

Bear Black, Northern 25. (K) If.. 00 12.00 12. (X) 2.00 .50

Black, a-ntral 20.(H) 12.(K» S.OO 8.00 1.. 10 .50

Bhick, Southern and S.W 12.00 S.OO 5.00 5.00 1.00 .25

" drizzly and I'olar, according to

size and <iuality

Beaver Far Western States and Eastern

Canada SOO 6.00 3.50 4.(K)l.."i0 .."iO

(Vnt.andS.W. I'nitedStoteB . . 6.(KI 4.00 2.50 3.00 1. IK) .35

Cubs 1.00® 3.00

Cat, Civet Kiins., Iowa. Mo. and similar. . .60 .40 .20 .20 .10 .05

Tenn. and Pacific Coast 50 .30 .15 .15 .10 .05

Cat, House Black 30 .20 .15 .15 .10 .05

CoU.urs 15 10 .05 .05 ..

Cat, Ringtail Southwestern 4(t .25 .20 .20 .10 .05

Cat. Wild Northern and N.W 4.(K> 3.00 2.00 l.(H> .,50 .10

Southern and S.W I.IH* 60 .40 .25 .15 .10

Fox. Blue Alaska and similar 50.00 .30.00 20.00 20. (K) 7.(K) 3.(H)

Fox, Cross All Sections, Dark 40. (H> 25. (H> 15.00 10.00 5.00 1..50

All Sections. Pale 20. (K) 12. (K) 10.00 8. (M) 3.00 1.00

Fox, Giay Central ami Northern I'.S 1.75 1.25 .90 .90 .30 .15

Southern and S.W. I'nited States 1.50 l.(»0 .75 .75 .25 .10

Fox, Red Alaska, Northern and West. Cin. 10. 00 7.(K1 4.50 4.50 1.50 .25

NewfoundlandandLabrador. .10.00 7.(Kt 4. .50 4.00 1.50 .25

Minn., Wis.. Daks, and N(T. Mich. 7. (Kt 5.(K» 3..",0 2,50 l.W) .25

« E. Can., Mich., N.Y. and N.E.

States 6.(K) 4. .50 3.00 2..501.(M) .25

P.I., N.J. , Ohio. Ind. and 111. .5. ,50 3..-.0 2.00 1.75 .75 .20

AlUVntralandSouthernStatps . 4.(Kt 2. 50 1.75 1..50 .00 .20

Fox. Silver As to Hc:.uty 50. (K) @ 600.00

No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4
L.^r^:e Med. Small

Fox. White Pure White 25. (K) IS.tKI 12. (M) 10.00 3.0(1 1.00

Lynx N.W. Canada and Alaska 15. (Kt 10. (HI 8.(Kt 8.(K> 4.(H) 1.00

EasternCana<laandNortheniU.S.12.(HI .S.IKI 6.00 6.(K) 3.(H» 1 .00

Marten Alaska, LabradorandN.W.,Dark22.(K) 13. (K) S.(K) 7.00 3.00 1.50

Alaska and N.W, Pale 9.00 6.(K) 4.(K) 3.(K»2..50 .75

KasternCanadaandr.S., Dark.. 10.00 7.00 5.00 4.00 2.00 1.00

Eastern Canada and r.S..I'ale... 4.00 3.00 2.00 1..50 1.t)0 ,50

220

COMMISSION- OF C O V S E U V A T I () N

PWCES CVRUEKT— Continued

Dark Erown Pale

rUher K. Tnited states and N. Canada.20. 00-40. 00 10.00-20.00 5.0O-10.00
" Pacific Coast 18.00-25.00 8. 00-15. 00 4.00-8.00

Large Small

Spring Winter Fall Fall Kitts
Muskrat N.Y., No. Pa., No. N.J., New England

and East Canada 46 .36 .25 .15 .05

Mich., So. Wis., No. Ohio, Ind. and 111. .45 .35 .25 .15 .05
" Cent, and S. Ohio, Ind., lU., W. Va.,

Ky 42 .33 .23 .15 .05

' Cent. andSo.Pa.,N.J.,Del. andMd... .40 .32 .22 .15 .05

" Va., Carolinas, Tenn 36 .30 .22 .12 .05

• Mo., Ark., ICans. and Pacific Coa.st 36 .28 .20 .10 .05

" La.andTexas 20 .14 .10 .05 .02

Wis., Minn., Iowa. Neb 42 .33 .23 .15 .05

" Black 50 .40 .30 .20 .07

Large
Mink EastCan.,NewEng.andNo.N.Y. 6.00

• N.Y., No. Pa. and No. N.J 5.50

" Minn., No. WU. and No. Mich. . . 6.60

• Wis., No. Iowa and Dakotas 5.00

• Mich., No. 0., No. Ind., No. 111.. 5.00

• So. Pa., So. N.J., Del, Md. and

W. Va 5.00

" Va. and No. Car 5.00

" B.C. and Alaska Coast 5.00

■ So. O., So. Ind., 111. and Ky 4. 50

0.1

No. 2 No. 3 No. 4

Med.

Small

4.50

3.00

2.75 1.00

.25

3.75

2.75

2.50 .75

.25

3.75

2.75

2.50 .75

.25

3.50

2.50

2.50 .75

.25

3.50

2.50

2.50 .75

.25

3.50 2.50 2.50 .75 .25

3.00 2.00 1.75 .65 .25

Large

Mink So. Iowa, Neb., Kans. and No. Mo. 4 . 50

Pacific Coast and Rocky Mt.Sts. 4.50

So. Car., Tenn., Miss., Ala. and Ga.4. 50

" So. Mo., Ark., Okla., Tex., La. and

Fla 4.00

Opossum N.Y., N.J., Pa., Ohio, Ind., Ill

andW. V 85

* Ky., Tenn., Va., N. and S. Car.. . .75

" Georgia, Fla., Ala., Miss, and Tex. .65

Otter Eastern U.S. and Canada 20.00

" Northwestern and Pacific Coast 15.00

' Western and Southwestern 13 . 00

" Virginia and No. Car 14.00

" Ga., Fla., Ala, La. and S. Car... 10. 00

No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4

Med. Small
3.00 2.00 1.75 .65 .25
3.00 2.00 1.75 .65 .25
3.00 2.00 1.75 .50 .25

2.75 2.00 1.75 .50 .25

.55
.50
.40

.35
.30
.15

.20
.15
.10

.10
.08
.05

15.00 10.00 10.00 5.00 1
10.00 7.00 7.00 3.00 1

9.00 6.00 5.50 3.00 1
10.00 7.00 6.50 2.00 1.00

7.00 5.00 4.50 2.00 1.00

50
00
00

PRICES CURRENT

221

PRICES CURRENT— Con/inued

Raccoon Minn., Wis., Daks 3.oi)

N.Y., New England, Can. and Mich 2.50

• Pa., N.J., Ncr. Ohio, Ind. and 111. 2.00

• Iowa, Kans., Neb, and Nor. Mo. 2.00
So. Ohio, Ind., III., VV. Va 1.7J

" Ky., Tenn., Virginia, No. and So.

Car. andN. Ga l.oO

" So.Ga.,Fla.,Ala.,Miss.,Tex.and

2 N

0.3N

0.4

ed.

Small

01)

l.OI)

.40

.20

.50

1.00

.35

.10

.75

.30

.10

.75

.30

.10

.65

.25

.10

.90

.60 .60 .25 .10

La.

1.25

.40

.40 .20 .10

Extra Dark Colours 3 00 @ 5.00

No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4

Skunk N.Y., Pa., New Eng. and Canada 3.00 2.00 1 .00 .50

N.J., No. Ohio, Mich., No. Ind. and 111 3.00 2.00 1.00 .50

Kans., Neb., No. Mo 3.00 2.00 1.00 .50

" Cent. O., Ind., lU., W. Va. and Md 2.75 1.75 .90 .45

So. Ohio, Ind., 111. and So. Mo 2.50 1.50 .80 .40

• Ky., Tenn, Ark., Va. and N. C 2.25 1.25 .70 .35

" Ga.,Fla., Ala. and other Southern States 1.50 1.00 .60 .30

" Large Wertem, Long Narrow Stripe, prime. . . 1.50® 2.00

No. 1
Large Med. Small
Weasels,

White 00 .50 .25

Weasels,

Stained Giay, etc 05®. 25

Wolf, Timber Northern, cased 4.00 3.00 2.00

Westem,cased 3.50 2.50 1.50

Wolf , Prairie Canada 4.00 3.00 2.00

" N. Rocky Mts. and N. Prairie

States 3.75 2.75 1.75

" Cent. Rocky Mt. ft Cent. Prairie

States 3.00 2.25 1.50

Southwestern 1.50 1.10 .75

Wolverene Dark 8.00 6.00 4.00

Pale 6.00 4.00 2.50

Rabbits Whole Skins

Beaver
Castors Dry per lb-

2.00
1.50
2.00

1.00
.75
.60

.50
.75

.50
.25
.20

1.75 .50 .20

.50
.25

4.00 1.50
2.50 1.00

.20
.10
.50
.50
.01

7.00 to 9.00

Note:— P'or/ur *aUa, March, 1914, «e« Appendix Xll.

nc \' m

llljji

Appendix XI

Fur'farming Companies and Fur'farmers in Canada

THE list of fur-farming companies and fur-farmers which follows, has
been compiled from returns kindly supplied to the Commission of
Conservation by provincial officials and by the Under Secretary of State
for Canada. It includes fur-farming companies incorporated by special
Acts of the legislatures and by letters patent in each of the several
provinces, as well as those operating under Federal charters. The
names of fur-'armers given are of those "who reported to, or were other-
wise known to provincial game officials. The whole list has been revised
to April 1, 1914.

The names have been arranged alphabetically by provinces, the
incorporated companies being grouped at the head of each provincial
list.

PRIXCE EDWARD ISLAND
Incorporated Fur^farming Companies

V\" i of Business

Capital-
ization

Acme Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd

Agnew, (John) Fur Farm?! Ltd.. .

Summersiue

Charlottetown

.Vlberry Plains

Vlberton

M70.000
.")00 000

Alberrv Plains Blue Fox Co., Ltd

5,000

Alberton Dark Silver Fox Co., Ltd

110,000
40,000

80,000
125,0C0

Alma Ideal Dark Silver Fox Co., Ltd. .
Anglo-American Silver Black Fox Co.,
Ltd

Vlma

Charlottetown

■summerside

Bedeque

Summerside

Charlottetown

Kinr().**s

Barkers Black Fox, Ltd

Bedeque Fur Farming Co., Ltd

200,000

250.000

20,000

7.), 000

Beech Grove Black Silver Fox Co., Ltd..
Beech Hill Fox Co., Ltd

Beech wood Silver Foxes, Ltd

Belfast Fox & Fur Farmin"' Co. Lid

.)0,000
125,000

Belmont Black Fox Co., Ltd

Jharlottetown

EUerslic

Charlottetown

O'Leary Station. . . .

Bideford Fox Co., Ltd

24,000

Black Foxes, Ltd

20,000
75,000

Black Prince Fox Co. , Ltd

FrR-F.XKMINC. ( OMPAXIES AND FUR FARMERS

223

Place of Business

Capl.al-
iiiiti >ii

Bonanza Fox Breeding Co. Ltd. . . .

Muii-.iy Harbour

Charlottetown

Cliarlottetown

Sherbrooke

Kensington

Charlottetown

.Vlberton

1150,000

Boston Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd

Breeders Ranching Co., Ltd

50,000
25,000

Brighton Black Fox Co., Ltd

7o,0("0

British American Silver Black Fox Co.,
Ltd

375,000

50,000

100,000

Brown (George E.) Fur Farming Co., Ltd.
Bunbury Black Fox Co., Ltd

Canada Atlantic Fox it Fur Co., Ltd

Canadian Silver Foxes Ltd. ....

1,000,000
100,000

Cardigan Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd

Cardigan

50,000

Carruthers Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd. . .

Cascumpec Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd

Central Fox Co., Ltd

Xew Perth

Cascumpeque

Charlottetown

Centreville

175,000

100,000

22,000

Centreville Blue Fox Co., Ltd

48,000

Charlottetown Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd.
Clow Silver Black Fox Co. Ltd

Charlottetown

Murray Harboar W.
.Montague

150,000
50,000

Columljia Silver Black Fo.x Co. Ltd

75,000

Connaught Pedigreed Black Foxes, Ltd.
Consolidated Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd. .

Crapaud Fox Ranching Co., Ltd

Crown Fur Farms, Ltd

Charlottetown

Summerside

Crapaud

300,000

500,000

17,000

Charlottetown

Miscouche

100,000

Crj'stal Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd

Dalton (Chas.) Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd.
Delaney Smith Silver Black Foxes, Ltd.

Diamond Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd

Dinnis (John R.) Pedigreed Foxes, Ltd. .

Dominion Fox Breeding Co., Ltd

Dunk River Black Silver Fox Co., Ltd. . .

42,000

Charlottetown

Kinkora

625,000
65,000

Central Bedeque

Charlottetown

Murray Harbour

Bedeque

60,000

300,000

20,000

95,000

East Bideford Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd.

Bideford

90,000

Eastern Bla "'oxes, Ltd

Charlottetown

Travellers Rest

Charlottetown

Graham Road

O'Leary Station ....

195,000

Eclipse Blu c Co. Ltd

15,000

Eldorado Fox vJo. Ltd

39,000

Ellis Silver & Black Beauty Fox Co., Ltd.
Empire Black Fox Co., Ltd

50,000
150,000

Enelewood Silver Fox Co. Ltd

99,000

Equitable Maritime Black Fox Co., Ltd.

96,000

;,%i

#.4,1

334

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

ir^

ill!

Place of Business ' ^'^PJ**'*
nation

Eurekfi fox Co., Ltd Breadalbane

Excelsior Black Silver Fox Co., Ltd... O'Leary Station.

Fidelity Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd Summerside

Freeland Silver Fox Co., Ltd Freeland

Freetown Fox Ranching Co., Ltd Freetown

French River Farming Co., Ltd French River. . .

Garden of the Uulf Silver Black Fox Co.,

Ltd Charlottetown. .

Gc-n Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd Freetown

General Fur Farms, Ltd Charlottetown. .

Georgetown Silver Black Co., Ltd Georgetown

Glenaladale Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd.. . . Glenaladale

Golden Pelt Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd. . Summerside. . . .

Good Luck Fox Co. , Ltd Hazelbrook ....

Hackett Silver Black Fox Co Tigniah

Hamilton Silver Fox Co., Ltd Hamilton

Hayes (W. B.) Silver Fox Co., Ltd Bideford

H.B.M. Fox Co., Ltd French River.

Hilsborough Fox Breeding Association Charlottetown. .
Hilllside Dark Silver & Cross Fox Co., Ltd. Tyne Valley. . .

Howatt Dalton Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd. Coleman

Humber Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd Murray River. .

Huntley Silver Fox Co., Ltd Summerside. . . .

Hygrade Black Foxes, Ltd Charlottetown. .

Ideal Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd Summerside. . . .

Imperial Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd Montague

Inland Black Fox Co Charlottetown. .

Invincible Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd. . . . Northam

Ives Black and Silver Fox Co . Ltd Montague

Judson, J. H., Fox Ranchiug Co., Ltd.. Charlottetown..

Kildare Cape Fox Co., Ltd Kildare

Kinkora Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd Kinkora

Kodiak Blue Fox Co., Ltd jCharlottetown.

Laurentian Black Foxes, Ltd iCharlottetown .

Lewis Dark SUver Fox Co., Ltd Conway

Long River Fox Ranch & Farm Land Co.,

Ltd Long I^iver. . . ,

I 30,000
40,000
49,900

190,000
30,000
20,000

100,000

150,000

195,000

60,000

524,000

100,000

90,000

95,000

90,000

45,000

50,000

63,000

165,000

100,000

50,000

270,000

49,900

150,000

75,0o0

190,000

45,000

100,000

45,000

95,000

90,000

190,000

60,000

4,500

FUH

•MING COMPANIES AND FUR-FARMER"*

225

Pliice cf Uusinc^ts

Mac Black and Silver Fox Co., Ltd

Macdonald Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd.. .
McNeil (R. J.) Black and Silver Fox Co.
Ltd

McLean (A.E.) Co., Ltd

Magic Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd

Malpeque Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd

Maple Leaf Silver Black Fox Co., Lttl . .
Maritime Black & Silver Fox Co., Ltd. . .
Mason Pure Bred Silver Black Fox Ci..

Ltd

Matchless Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd

Medisshill Black Fox Co., Ltd

Mill River Fox Co., Ltd

Milton Silver Patch Fox Co., Ltd

Model Silver Fox Co., Ltd

Montague Black Fox Co., Ltd

Montrose Black and Silver Fox Co., Ltd.

Mount Albion Fur Co., Ltd

Mount Carmel Fox Ranch Co., Ltd

Mount Edward Joint Stock Co., Ltd

Mount Edward Silver Black Foxes, Ltd.

Murray River Black Fox Co., Ltd

Murray Harbour Black and Silver Fox

Ranching Co., Ltd

New Annan Black & Sih-er Fox Co., Ltd.

New Era Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd

New Glasgow Jilver Black Fox Co., Ltd. .

Ne 5aven Fox Co., Ltd

Ne London Black Fox and Farm Land

Co., Ltd

New Perth Blue Fox Co., Ltd

North American Silver Black Fox Co. , Lt d .

North River Blue Fox Co., Ltd

North Shore Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd.
North Tryon Silver Black Fox Co. ot

P.E.L, Ltd I

Cupital-
iiHtion

Summerside SllO.OlM)

-Montague i 150, (KX)

Tyne Valley 220,000

Southwest, Lot 1(1.. I 190,000

•Summerside j 190,000

Hamilton i 40,000

Bedeque I 80,000

Bedequc 40,000

Charlottetowii
Charlottetown

Cardigan

Vibei'ton

.Milton

Charlottetown.

Montague

Alberton

Charlottetown.
Summerside. . .
Charlottetown .
Charlottetown .
Murray River.

.Murray Harbour,
"iiimmerside.

O'Leary

Xew GhL-^jiow . .
Charlottetown . . .

170. (KK)

250,000

50,000

90, 000

:3.-),0(X)

56,000

90,000

48,000

20,000

45,000

70,000

400,000

150,000

150,000
90.000
45,000

100,000
50,000

Clifton I 5,000

New Perth 24,000

Montague ! 100,000

50,000
100,000

100,000

Charlottetown .
Darnley

North Tryon.

S96

COMMISSION OF COW8E RVATIO K

Place of BusinesM

Northumberland Silver Black Fox Co.,

Ltd

01(1 Island Pedigreed Foxes, Ltd

O'Leary Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd

Orchard Black Silver & Crosa Fox Ranch

ing Co. , Ltd

Park Farm Co., Ltd

Park Island Black Silver Foxes, Ltd.. . .

Patricia Fox Co., Ltd

Peerless Black and Silver Fox Co., Ltd. .

Perfect Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd

Permanent Silver Foxes, Ltd

Phoenix Fox & Fur Co., Ltd

Pioneer Blue Fox Co., Ltd

Pioneer Fox Farming Co., Ltd

Prince Albert Black Fox Co., Ltd

Prince Edward Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd.

Prince Royal Black Foxes, Ltd

Progressive Fox Breeding Association. . .

Proina Fox Co. of Prince Edward Island,
Ltd

Prospect Silver Fox Co., Ltd

Provmcial Silver Black Foxes, Ltd

Pure Canadian Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd

Railway Mutual Fox and Fur Co., Ltd. .

Rayner International Fur Co., Ltd

Record Fox & Fur Co., Ltd

Regal Black and Silver Co., Ltd

Rexal Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd

Richmond Bay Black Fox Co., Ltd

Riverside Farming Co., Ltd

Rogers-Farquharson Blue Fox Co., Ltd. .

Rogers-Payton Silver Black Foxes, Ltd.

Rosemount Live Stock Co., Ltd

Royal Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd

Royal .Strain Silver Black Foxes. Ltd. . .

Royalty Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd

Alberton

Southwest, Lot 16. .

O'Leary

Capital-
isation

Murray Harbour . .

Summeraide

SummerHide

Summeraide

Charlottetown

Chariot tetown

Charlottetown

Ellerslie

Charlottetown

Summerside

Charlottetown

Summerside

O'Leary Station.

Kensington

Charlottetown . . .

Summerside

Charlottetown . . .

Summerside

Charlottetown. .

Summerside

Central Lot 16. .

Tryon

Charlottetown..
Charlottetown. .

.\lberton

Summerside —
Summerside —
Charlottetown. .

I gg.ooo

195,000
40,000

30,000

4,500

125,000

48,000

240,000

124,000

500,000

100,000

30,000

190,000

350,000

75,000

60,000

45,000
195,000
150,000
160,000

30,000
623,000

90,000
240,000

10,000
120,000

50,000

25,000
270,000

10,000

25,000
524,000

90,000

FUR . FARMI.VO P^MPANIES AXD FUR-FARMRRS »7

St. Eleanor's Mink Ranching Co., Ltd. . .
St. Georges Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd..
St. Lawrence Silver Blai- Fox Co., Ltd
St. Peter's Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd.

Samaon Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd

Seal River Black Fox Co., Ltd

Silver Fox and Cup Oysters of Malpefjnc
Ltd

Silver Foxes & Furs, Ltd

Silver Tip Black Fox Co., Ltd

Sirdar Silver Fox Co., Ltd

Smith Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd

Souris Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd

Sovereign Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd. . . .

Spring Park Black Fox Co., Ltd

Standard Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd.. . .

Star Black Fox Co., Ltd

Sterling Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd

Stewart (John) Fox Co., Ltd

Strathcoru Silver Bluck Foxes, Ltd. . . .

Summerside and Kensington Fur Farm-
ing Co., Ltd

Superior Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd

Sutherland Silver Black Fox Co.. Ltd. .

Taylor's Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd

Thoroughbred Silver Black Foxes, Ltd.

Three Rivers Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd.

Tignish Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd

Tniciidie Cross Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd .

Trout River Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd. . . .

Trjon Black Diamond Fox Co., Ltd

Tryon Mink and Fur Trading Co., Ltd.

Tuplln Company, Ltd

Tyne ^'alley Black and Silver Fox Co.,

Ltd

Union Black Fox Co., Ltd

Union Vale Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd. . .

Place I'f Business

"ft. Eleanor

.Summerside

Charlottetown

lid. St. IVtcr Bay

Charlottetown

'harlot tetown

Ciipital-
ization

Hamilton

Charlottetown

Crapaud

Summerside. . .

.Montague

Souris

.St. Louis

Charlottetown.
Charlottetown.
Charlottetown.
Charlottetown.
Charlottetown.
Charlottetown.

10, (MK)
2-', 000
10.-}, 000
KM), 000
100,01'!
li)0,000

95,000

1500,000
2o,000

125,000

150,000
50,000

750,000
90,000
60,000
S!),000
99,000
48,000

2.50,000

20,000

.')0,000

85,000

180,000

Charlottetown I 195 ,000

Kensington .
Ken.sington .
Montague. .
Montague. . .

Montague

Tignish

I'racadie Cross. . .

Tyne \'alley

Hampton

Tryon

Summerside

Tyne Valley. . .
Charlottetown.
Union Vale

72,000
90,000
50,000
24,000
.50,000
3,000
4,500

75,000

190,000

48,000

sat

COMMIhHION OF CON8ERVA1 ION

United Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd

United States and Island Silver Black Fo>

Co., Ltd

Upton Black Fox Co., Ltd

Victoria Farm Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd.

Week» Canada Silver Fox Furs, Ltd

WUlow HUl Co., Ltd

Woodbine Silver Black FuX Co., Ltd.
Woodstock Black Silver Fox Co., Ltd.
Young (Dr. C. C.) Karakul Sheep Co., Ltd

Trjon.

Charlottctown
Charlottetown
Charlottetown
Charlottetown.
Summerside .
Summerside, ..
Cascumpequc. .
Charlottetown.

floO.OOO

09,000

70,000

250,000

J,000

11,400

48,000

78,000

150,000

The following Fox Companies are not incorporated in Prince
Edward Island but are doing business therein in connection with the
breeding and raising of foxes.

Silver Ranching Company

Manager, F. L. Rogers, Alberton.

Hartford Dark Silver Fox Co., Ltd.. .
Manager, Walter M. Cahil', Alberton

International B'ack Foxes, Ltd

Manager, Jas. Warburton, Charlotte-
town.

Massachusetts Silver Black Fox Co.,

53 State Street

Manager, W. P. Purdy, Charlottetown

Black Banks Corporation, Ltd

Boston, Mass 11350,000

Hartford, Conn

Sherbrooko.Que.. .

Boston, Mass

125,000
500,000

350,000
450,000
SI, 775, 000

Note.— Probablv not over sixty per cent of the authorized capital
has been issued, 'it is also to be noted that a considerable number

of companies failed to float.

J. \V . J.

F'UK-FARMINO CoMPAMFj^ AND R'K.FAKMICIW 2-J»

Numi

Fox. Mink, and KarAliul Sheep R*nchcn in P.E. Iiknd

A'iUrciwef

Ailams, Uuviii

Agnow, Jolm

Ajtnow, J(»lm

A" in, (Jabriol S

Aroenault, lion. A. L.. .

ArBoniiult, KinoMt

ArHunault, Louin

Ashley, Froderick B . . . .

Ashley, Lowden. .

Bagnell, Rufus U

Barbour, George

Barnett, George

Bearisto, Joseph

Bell, Wm. E

Biggar, Joseph

Birch, James E

Boulter, Wilfrid (mink; .

Bovyer, Franklin

Bowness, John

Brooks, W. E

Brown, George E

Brown, J. W

Brown, J. W. (mink) . . .

Buote, Paul

Burke, Peter

Burleigh, Edmond S

Burleigh, William

Burns, J. Roy

Cahill, Walter M

Cail, James H. B

Callaghan, William B...

Campbell , David

Campbell, Noil

Cannon, Samuel E

Champion, Capt. Jolm . .

Champion, William

aark, Chester W

Clark Frederick

Sea Vie"v

Alborton

Charluttetuwn

Lot 17

Hummerside

East Bideford

Piusvillo

Albert on

Alberton

Central Bodoque

St. Anthony

IClmsdalo

.\lma

Caj T Traverse

Breadalbane

.\lberton

Tryon

Bunbury

Montrose

Maddock, Lot i^

Margate

Northam

Tyne Vallev

Tignish

.\lma

EUerslio

Ellerslie

Freetown

Alberton

St. Louis

O'Leary

Sturgeon

St. Eleanor

Alberton

.\lberton

Cascumpequa

.\lberton

COMMISSION ur CONMKRVATION

NuneM

Clark, Frederick W

Oark, lUy

Clark, William A

Coffin, E. 8

ColwiU,8. H

Conroy, Fred

Cousiiu, Qflorge

Couaini, Jamea

Craig, Lemuel

Craig, T.J

Grocbett, John D

Currie, Bruce

Currie, Herbert

Dalton, Charlea, ft Raynor

Dalton, Daniel

Dalton, Jobn E

Deinis, Wilbert

Dennia, Willi"-^

DennS Wm. H

DeeRoche, Fred J

DetRoche, Stanley L

Dinnis, John R. (karakul Hhc«p).

Donalds, James

Dunbar, Hugh B

Dunbar, Joseph A

Ellis, Foulton

Ellis, George

Ellis, George B

England, Elsworth

Evans, Philip M

FitzGerald, Gerald

Foley, Alonzo

Foley; Moses J

Foley, Richard

Forbes, D. N

Forsythe, Albert E

Found, Harlan

Fraser, Daniel

Gaffrey, Ernest T.

Add

Cavendish

liayview

.Vlbertop

Charlottetown

New Haven

Tignish

Long River

Baltic

Brae

Orwell Cove

FJmsdale

K'msdale

Elmsdalo

Tignish

Skinner Pond

Campbelltun

Margate

Arlington

O'Leary

Miscouche

Charlottetown

Indian River

Alma

O'Leary

Maddock, Lot 8

Alberton

Travellers Rest

O'Leary

Waterford, Lot 1

Bloomficld

Kildare Capo

Kildare

Tyne Valley

,\lberton

Clifton

Alberton

Alma

GaUant, Joseph 1 Howlan

Fl'R • rAUMINCl OOMPANIDSAND J»>FAIUI£K« ;0I

Nitmi'M

Gallant, Mm. Moddit*.

Gallant, 8. T

Gard, Honry

Gutiton, Albert

Gordon, Archibald 8.
Gurdun, (SourKo C. . . .

Gordon, Kobort U

Gorrili, Walter

Graved, .Vndrew

Grey, Wm. T

Hamill, Tbomaa H

Handraham, AuMtin. .

Harding, (iavin

Harding, Honry

Hordy, Goorgo

Hardy, ThomaN M

Hayos, John T

Hayos, Wtn. B

Haywood, George

Haywood, Perley

Henderson, Josiah

Hillman, John

Hinton, John S

Hogan, Honry

Holland, A. E

Holmes, J. E

Hopgood, John

Home, Goorgo

Horno, H. H

Howard, D. W

Howard, Leigh

Howard, Pius

Howard, Robert

Howatt, Hubert

Hudson, David

Hudson, Thomas H. . .

Hume, John D

Hunter, Allan

Hunter, James

AiltlrcMMf

UI(K)mfiold

I'iuRvilie

Mill llivor

Kildan Cape

Lot

Allwrton

Montroao

0'I.oary

Alborton

(iroenmount, I.<)t 2

Tigtiiiih

Graham Road

Mill River

Montrose

Hill River

Suarletown

Bideford

Kildarc

Tignish

Freelond

Hay View

Summorsido

North Capo

Clinton

Union Road

Mill Road

G'l^ary

Charlottetowr.

Milton

Cornwall

Capo Wolfe

St. Eleanor

Lot 4

Alborton

Murray River

Bloomfield

Georgetown

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

!l i

Hunter, James H

Hunter, J. E. C

Inman, F. J

Inman, John

Irving, James

Ives, Isaac (foxes and mink)

Jardine, James

Jeffrey, Richard

Jenkins, Henry

Johnston, Charles

Johnston, Edmond W

Jones, J. Walter (karakul sheep).

Jordan, Simon

Judson, J. H

Kearney, \Vm

Keefe, Joseph

Keef e, Thomas

Kennedy, Murdoch

Kennedy, Samuel

Knight

Lackey, John

Laird, John

Laird, J. M

Langille, Frank

Leard, L. B

Leonard, Wm. E

Lewis, Charles

Lewis, George B

Lewis, Henry

Lidstone, Edward I

Lidstono, Merrill

Lockerby, Fred. J

Lovett, Austin

McArthur, Spurgeon

McArthur, Wm. B

McAusland, Wm. G

McCaull, Patterson C

McDonald, Daniel F

McDonald, George A. B

Alberton

Central Bedeque

Alberton

Montague

Kelvin

Alma

Upton

Alberton

Elmsdale

Charlottetown

Murray Harboiu-

Alexandra

Murray River

Alberton

Hill River

Bread albane

Breadalbane

Georgetown

Bedeque

St. Anthony

Kelvin

Howlan

Alberton

Kildare Cape

Alberton

Charlottetown

Lot 5

O'Leary

Cape Wolfe

Hamilton

Alberton

Rosebank

Kensington

Bloomfield

Ellerslie

Montague

Charlottetown

FUR. FARMING COMPANIES AND FUR-FARMERS

233

McDonald, Neil

McDougall, James A

McGuigan, Nathaniel

McKendrick, J. C

McKinnon, Major C

McKinnon, Wallace

McLaurin, Arthur

McLean, A. E

McLean, Donald

McLean, John M

McLean, Wm. J

McLeod, Alex. N

McMillan, Charles 1

McMillan, Hugh

McNeill, A. A

McNeil, R. J

McPhee, Patrick

McRae, Curtis

McRae, Frank B

McRae, F. B

Malone, John

Manson, Edward W

Marchbank, David

Martin, John S

Matthew, Waldo H

Matthews, Archibald

Matthews, Jesse S

Matthews, Henry E

Megison, Wm

Metherall, Frank

Metherall, James

Metherall, Harry G

Mills, John

Montgomery. W. Frank H

Moore, St. Clair

Morrison, J. Andrew

Morrison, John C

Mountain, Wm. D

Moyse, Thomas

Pinette

Grand River West

Indian River

Charlottetown

Glenaladale

Fredericton

Central, Lot IG

Lot 16

Crapaud

New Perth

Central, Lot 16

Tignish

Bloomfield

Cornwall

O'Leary

Tyne Valley

Coleman

Huntley

Hill River

Vernon

Portage

Summerside

Montrose

Uig

Alberton

Millvale

Cape Wolfe

BloDmfield

Clermont

Lower Bedeque

Kldon

Conway

Ellerslie

Alma

Central Bedeque

234

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

ll^iiltj

Names

Murphy, Richard

Murphy, Wm

Murray, George

Murray, Major C

Myers, George K

Nantes, John

Nicholson, Duncan A. . .

Nicholson, N. J

Norton, H. V

O'Brien, A. D

O'Brien, James

O'Brien, J. Albert

O'Brien, James E

O'Brien, Harry

Oliver, John I

Oulton, Russell

Peacock, John M

Perry, Romain

Peters, John P

Peters, Joseph

Platts, Herbert

Platts, James

Poole, W.L

Power, Patrick

Pridham, Charles N

Prideham, Perry

Profitt, JohnT

Profitt, Lester

Prowse, W. H

Purdy, W. B

Ramsay, Austin A

Ramsay, Erwin

Rayner, Arch. H

Rayner, Benjai...n I. . . .
Rayner, Silas, and Son.

Ready, Michael P

Reeves, Calvin T

Riley, William Thomas.
Robinson, George W —

Addreases

Lauretta

China Point

Elmsdale

Breadalbane

Brudenell

Maplewood

Bedeque

Montague

West Royalty

Elmsdale

Loretta

Elmsdale

Alberton

Bedeque

St. Edward

Palmer Road

Casoumpequo

Kildare Cape

Howlan Road

Montague

Greenmount

Montrose

-\lberton

Bloomfield

Murray Harbour

Charlottetown

Conway

i^osebank

Kildare

Alberton

Greenmount

Palmer Road

Freetown

Cape Wolfe

Summersido

FTTR. FARMING COMPANIES AND FUR-FARMERS 233

Names

Addresses

Rogers, Fred J

Rogers, W. Russell

Scales, Austin (minks) . . .

Selkirk, Leigh J

Sharbell, Khalil

Sharp, WiUiard J

Shaw, Joseph

Shaw, McMillan

Shea, Frank

Sheeham, Wm. (minks) . .

Simpson, Frank

Simpson, Jeremiah

Simpson, William George

Skerry, John

Smallman, John A

Smallman, J. F

Smith, Henry

Smith, Arthur

Sterns, Reginald H

Stetson, Georgo S

Stetson, Henry J

Taylor, Austin

Taylor, Robert A

Thomas, Howard B

Thompson, James P

Thompson, Henry

Travers, Victor

Tuplin, Frank F

Tuplin, James C

Tuplin, Samuel B

Tweedy, George

Waite, B. D

Waldron, Nelson (minks)

Walker, David

Wallace, William H

Warren, Benjamin

Warren, Geoige B

Webb, James

Webster, John A

Alberton

Coleman

St. Eleanor

Cascumpeque

Portage

East Bideford

Haliburton

Alberry Plains

Waterford

Port Hill

Hamilton

Cavendish

Kensington

Alberton

Summerside

Alberton

Tryon

Freeland

Charlottetown

Freetown

Unionvalo

Granville

Montague

Cascumpoquo

Campbelltoii

Lot 14

Kildare

Summerside

Lot 11

Alberton

LittJp Ticnish

Port Hili

New Annan

Alberton

Alma

Mill River

O'Leary

Charlottetown

236

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

Names

Weeks, William Frank.

Weeks, Carl

Wells, Andrew

Wells, John A

Whitten, John E

Wigmore, Thomas

Williams, Edward

Williams, Thomas E. . .

Wood, Arthur C

Woodman, Charles A. .
Woodman, Thomas B.

Yeo, Robert

Yeo, Thomas

Addresses

Fredericton Station

•Vlberton

Alberton

Elmsdalo

Coleman

Breadalbane

Tj-ne Valley

Mt. Pleasant

.Alexandra

Alberton

Charlottotown

Huntley

South Kildare

NOVA SCOTIA
Incorporated Fur-farming Companies

Place of Business

Capital-
ization

Ar»mA Silvpr Rlftok FoK Co. Ltd

Truro

Amherst

Halifax

$150,000

40,000

Bedeque Black Silver Fox Co., Ltd

■Rnut. Tsland Fox Co. Ltd

2.5,000

Wolfville

Amherst

Halifax

100,000

"RvrtrilrliTiA Ti^nv Ranpliinj' Co Tjtn.

40,000

Burgeo Co-operative Fox Breeding Co.,
T +d

60,000

Canada Newfoundland Fox Farms Syn-

North Sydney

Amherst

10,000

20,000

Cumberland Fox and Fur Co., Ltd

River Hebert

Truro

20,000
30,000

Doctor's Pedigreed Silver Foxes, Ltd. . .

Truro

100,000

Sydney

20,000

Dominion Karakul-Arabi Sheep & Fur
Co Ltd

Bridgetown. . . . . .

Halifax

150,000

Eastern Canada Fur Farming Co., Ltd. . .

20,00,000

FUR - FARMING COMPANIES AND Fl'R-FARMF.RS

237

East River Fox and Fur Breeding Co.,

Ltd

Fur Producers, Ltd Halifax

Garia Bay Fox and Trapping Co., Ltd. . . ! North Sydney

Haliburton Fox Co., Ltd jPictou

Hillside Fox Co., Ltd North Sydney

International Fox Breeding Co., Ltd —
Island Silver Black Fox & Fur Co., Ltd

Laplanche Fox Co., Ltd

Lunenburg Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd. . .
McConnell Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd.. .

MacKenzie Black Foxes, Ltd

Middleton Wool and Fur Co., Ltd

Northumberland Foxes, Ltd

Nova Scotia Black Fox Co., Ltd

Ohio Fur Co., Lv-^

Peerless Black SkuuK Oo. '.td

Prince Edward Island Scotia Black Fox

Co., Ltd

Prince Edward Si'.ver Black Fox Co., Ltd
Ramsay Black Skunk Sable Co., Ltd...

Ramsay's Fur Farm, Ltd

Rayner (B, I.) Silver Fox Co., Ltd

Rayner, Clarke and Harlow Black Fox

Co., Ltd.,

Riverside Fox and Fur Co., Ltd

Seaside Fox Co., Ltd

Silver Black Fox Co. of Nova Scotia, Ltd.,

Stellarton Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd

Sydney Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd

Truro Black Skunk Co., Ltd.,

Truro Fox Farm Co., Ltd

Tuplin Silver Black Fox Corporation, Ltd.

Whycocomagh Black Foxes, Ltd

Wilden Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd

Pictou

Yarmouth . . .

.\mherst

Lunenburg. . .
Port Hillford .

Amherst

Middleton

Amherst

Antigonish . . .

Shelburne

Sydney

Truro

Bridgetown.

Truro

West Gore,.

Capital-
isation

$ 25,000

2,000,000

10,000

25,000

30,000

100,000

70,000

10,000

50,000

300,000

100,000

30,000

50,000

10,000

20,000

150,000

75,000

5,000

20,000

50,000

Bridgetown 60,000

West New Annan. . . 50 ,000

Lunenburg 10,000

Kentville 100,000

Stellarton 25,000

Sydney 100,000

Truro 10,000

Truro 50,000

Halifax j 300,000

Whycocomagh 50 , 000

Halifax .2,000,000

238

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

Fur' farmers who have Taken out Permits in Nova Scotia

Aikeas, W. F. & R. . . .

Allen, H. A

Ambrose Albert

Archibald, J. B. & Sedpe-

wick, J. H

Atkinson, K. 1'., M. D. .
Babcock, Clarence P. . .

Build. WVllic

Baltzer, T. P

Banks, Chester, R

Banks, Percy G

Bass River Fur Co., Ltd

Beach, Edgar

Berkwith, Andrew

Berwick Breeding & Fur

Berwick ^ ur Farm Co.

Betts. H. IJ.,

Bishop Bros

Boatcs, William, & Gam

mon Austin

Bower, Edmund L

Bower, Geo. W.,

Bower, Howard

Boylan, S. A

Brechin, J

Brownell, H. W., &

Carter, B. G

Bruce, Alex. J

Burke, Phillip L

Bvirke, J. S

Burke, Whitfield

Burns, Harding

Burrill, George H

Cameron, Alex.,

Cameron, Johnston . . .
Carter, F. A

Guysboro Intervale .

Arcadia

Stewiacke

Middle Musquodoboit

N'orthport

.Vmherst

l-ittlo River

Aylesford

West Inglisville

Urickton

Bass River

Westfield

Bishopville

Berwick

East Wentworth.
Greenwich

Westville

Shelbume

Lower Ohio

Upper Clyde

Xew Ross

Upper Nine Mile River

Amherst

Boyleston. . .
Minudic. . . .
Drum Head.
Port Hood..
Ross Creek . .
Brooklyn. . .
Sunnybrae. .
Stellarton. . .
Canso

Animal.s Farmed

F'oxea
Foxes
■skunks

Foxes

Foxes, Raccoons, Mink

Skunks, Muskrats

Foxes

Skunks

Foxes

Minks

Foxes

Minks

Foxes

Skunks
Skunks
Foxes
Foxes

Fores

Skunks

Foxes and Skunks

Foxes

Minks

Foxes

Foxes and Skunks

Foxes

FrR.KAUMIXd roMPANIKS AND FUU-I'AUMKHS 239

Carty, William

Cavanaph, C. C. & Oscar,

Charlen, Joseph

Chute, A. C,

Chute, A. T.,

Chute,J.N.,&Ward,B.F.

Clark, G.B

Clow, Lemuel

Cole, G. A

Corbin, P. G

Cranton, G. W.,

Creighton, W. O.,

Crowell, Robt. N

Cruikahank, Howard S .

Cummings, A. W

Deveau, John F

Doane, Stanley

Doherty, Kamp

Doherty, R. Peel

Doucett, Charles

Drew, Frederick, D.,. . . .

Burling, F. S.,

Dumo, Alex

East River Fur & Fox

Breeding Co.

Eaton, P. H., tfe Corbett,

Edgewood Mink Ranch .

Embree, Wasson L

Feindal, A. B

Feindal, A B. & Norman

Feindell, C. E

Field, E.H

Field, M. A

Field, 8. M

Filmore,W. A

Forsyth, I^nicst

Fulmer, B. B

Place of Business

Pubnico Head Minks

Tusket Minks

Hectanooga Minks

Clarence Foxes

Bridgetown Foxes

Berwick Foxes

Tatamagouche Foxes

.Shelburne Foxes

Chester Minks

West Lahave Minks

Amherst Minks

Cen. West River Foxes

Kemptville Skunks

Truro Ikunks

Glenholm

Meteghan

Barrington

Great Village

Havelock

Yarmouth

Paradise

Cambridge

Animals Farmed

Pictou .

Wpstvillo

Shubenacadie

East Wentworth .
New Germany. . .
New Germany.. .

Bridgetown

Port Howe

Oxford Junction.

New Salem

Oxford Junction.

Kcntville

Shubenacadie. . .

.oxes

Minks

Skunks and Minks

Foxes

Foxes and Skunks

Skunks

Foxes

Skunks

Foxes

Minks

Foxes

Skunks and Minks

Foxes

Skunks and Raccoons

Foxes

Foxes and Minks

Skunks

240

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

Place of Business

Animals Farmed

OarHriflr E M

Brooklvn

Minks

Gillen Bros

Wino Harbour

jc wer Arir\'U?

Foxes

Goodwin, Reginiilii

CirBonn Murtin T

Mink

^7ewDort

Raccoons.

flrlmtn Fd L

Parkdalo

Skunks

Grimm F O'D

JDrinsfield

Skunks

Hall Geo. B

Brooklyn

Berwick

Foxes

HardiniF D D

Foxes

Harrington, John

Hemeon & Sheppard —
Hpmeon W. L

Ooldbrook

Raccoons

Liverpool

Minks

East Ragged Islands. .
Oxford

Minks

Henlov J M

Foxes

Yarmouth

Foxes & Skunks

Hicks E. A. & H. B

Hill Thomas E

Bridgetown

Mooso Brook

Foxes, Minks & Kikunks
Foxes

Hillside Fox Co., Ltd....

North Sydney

Hilden

Foxes
Foxes

Hiseler, Geo. J., &

Slaughenwhite, John .
Hopkins, Chas. M

St. Margaret Bay

Mnrrincrton

Minks
Foxes

Enfield

Foxes

Hiirst Gpo H ...

Port Hillford

Minks.

Ingraham, J. W

James, W.T.&

North Sydney

Paradise

Raccoons and Foxes
Foxes and Raccoons

Truro

Foxes

TCpifVi Trf^ftnHor

Coldboro

Foxes

Clyde River

l'"oxcs

Tjftmb Kcnrv

Diligent River

Tatamagouche

Npw fiftrmanv

Foxes, Raccoons

Langille, J. Walter

Lantz, Aveiy I

Foxes
Skunks

Mahone Bav

Minks

New Ross

Foxes

Lawler C F & D C

Ogden

Foxes

TjawQon E K.

Sherbrooke

Foxes

Paradise

Foxes & Raccoons

Trf>nt WilliAm H

Tusket

Foxes, Skunks, Mink
Skunks

Lewis, Budd C

Danvers

niR-I'ARMINO COMPANIES AND FUR-FARMRRS

Pliioo of Business

Aniin;kl.s Farmed

Linton & Co

iTruro

KitypM

Liiiiie, Frank

Truro

Skunks

Logan, Murdock &

Petipas

Pictou

Foxes, Raccoons and
Skunk.s

Lunenburg Mink «S: Skunl

Ranch

Lunenburg

Minks

Lunenburg Silver liiiul

Fox Co., Ltd

liiiiK'tiburg

Foxes

Lynds, Wilbcrt

Wentworth

Foxes

Lyons,?. R

Waterville

Foxe.s

MacDoiiald, Edmund S.

Halifax

.Minks and Skunks

MacDougall, J. Munroc.

West Gore

Raccoons

McCallum, I^gan li. &

E. S. McNutt

Truro

Foxes

McConnoll, James tt .Si >tis

:PortHillford ■

Foxes

McDonald, David U

IJp-Nine Mile Hive: .

Skunks

McDonald, .lames

Lunenburg

Minks

McDonald, Sutherland. . .

Lower Caledonia

Foxes

McDonnell, Berton

Renfrew Gold Mines .

Minks

McElmon, E. H

Dartmouth

Foxes

McGrath, E

Tatamagouchc

Foxes

McGrath, John D

Sonora i

Foxes

McGregor, Donald

St. Paul j

Foxes

McGregor, Rev. Peter .M.

Wolfville

Foxes

MacGregor, Murdoch... .

Hillside, Boulardaric J

Foxes

MacKenzie & Bonyman.

Black Skunk Co

Bayhead

Skunks.

McKenzie, Angus

Cen. New Annan \

Foxes, Skunks & Rac-
coons

McKenzie, Leonard D. .

Truro

?oxes

McKinnon, Neil

Mount Thom

i-'oxes

McKinnon, James

Whycocomagh 1

Minks

McLellan, W. B

Tatamagouche

Foxes

McLellen, C. K

Tatamagouche

""oxes

McLeod, Alex

Whycocomagh Bay . . .

Minks

McNintch, A. M. & W. T

J. &A

Paradise i

Foxes and Raccoons

.lii^i

343

COMMISBION OF CONSKRVATIOW

MacoinlxT, John

Mtl'hiul.Dr. Donald T

Macl'horwon, R. H

Mailman, E. W

Matheson <Sc Byers' Fur

Farm

Mattatall, (;eor;;c

Place of BasineM AniroaU Furmotl

Maitland Skunks

Wliycocomapii Vowa & Minkn

I'ort Hood.
Homford...

Minks
Foxes

West New Annan : Raccoons

Tatamagouche Foxes

Mattinson, Lawson jdreat Village iSkuiiks

Middloton W.m.I iV I'm

Middloton Skunks

South Oxford l-'oxw

istClieHter Minks

Shinimccas Bridge . ...Foxes

Co. Ltd

Miller, Rufus

Moland, David A: Sons

Moore, Robert M

Morehouse, Reuben &

One, Spechts

Morris, K. LaMont.

Morso, J. E

Moshor, John W iN'ictoria Vale

Mosher, Thomas A Windsor

Centreville jMinks

Advocate j foxes

I'aradise Foxes

Skunks
Raccoons
Raccoons
Foxes

Lower Rose Hay.
WestvUle

Springhaven Sku"ks

Liverpool Minks

Truro Minks

East Wentworth Mink, Foxes & Marten

Cove Road Foxes & Raccoons

New Glasgow Foxes

M(>»f<tiiaii, J. I)

Muir, Alexai-der

Muise, Lewis E

Mulhall, D. C. & Dr. C. S.

Hennigan

Munro, Geo. A

Munro, R. M

Murray, Chas. B

Neiley, B. L

Nelson, W. K.,& Crowf

jr p iStowiacko Skunks

Newcombe, R. W Elh-rshouse Minks

Nova Scotia Black Fo\

Co. Ltd

Nova Scotia Fox Co. . . .

Nowe, Robert

Ogilvie, Byard

Ogilvio, Loran S

Oliio Fur Company Ltd

Antigonish Foxes

Yarmouth Foxe.s

Voglcr Cove Minkn & Skunks

Cross Roads Skunks

Wentworth Foxes

Shelburne Beavers, Muskrats

Skunks

FUR-FARMINO COMPANIFjH AKI> FUR-FARMFIW 943

O' Regan, ThomuH.

O'Rourko, Goo

Oion, C. A., Jr

Parker, Frederick

Patriquin, C. A

Pearson, G. L

Peterkin, F

PigRott, !•:. S

Pipes, Dixon

Polly, Dr. Goo. A

Porter, Fred

Powers, W. T

Pride, Allen

P.E. Island Scotia Blac k

Fox Company Ltd. .

Prime, Guy

Pritchard & Bent

Purdy, CO

Purdy, William J

RafuBo, Joseph S

Randall, Dr. E. A. . . .
Raynor, B.I., Silver Fox

Rayner, Clark & Harlow

Black Fox Co

Read, John L

Reeves, F. H

Ritcey, Albert J

Riverside Fox & Fur Co. .

Robinson, A. B

Rogers, Kenneth E

Radcliffe, Royal

Ryerson, Percy

Salt, William

Sanford. Sandie

Place of BuHineM AnimaU FaimiHl

(.aketandH Foxes

Uivor Hobort Foxes

IiiRonish Ferry I'oxes

Berwick Minks

WolfviUe ""kiinks & UacciMtn.s

Paradise Foxes & Raccoons

Lunenburg Minks

Bridjiotown Foxes

N'orthport Raccoons

Lunenburg Minks & Foxes

Advocate Harbour.. . Minks

r^unenburg Minks & Skunks

•<(mora I'l ixcs

Truro Fo.xes

New Tuskot >*kunks

Oxford Foxes

.Maitland Skunks

Jackson Mink & Raccoon

I'arkdule Minks, Skunks it Fo.xes

Truro

West Gore.

Foxes

Bridgetown ; Poxes

Pictou Minks

)ldham Minks

Jstanley Section Minks

West New Annan I'oxes

Xicholsville Skunks

Varmouth Skunks

West Gore -^kunks

Lower Argyle Foxes

Falmouth Minks

_^he8ter i Minks

S«4

0OMMIB8ION or CONBERVATIOW

» !

PI»eo of BmineM Aniinali* farmed

S5aun<lern, Charlon O

Saunders, Otto M

Schurman, Frod B

Scotia SUver B. Fox Ct)
Sheridan, J. A. & Doimlil

son, James

Silver B. Fox Co., of Ndvh

Scotia Ltd

Silver, Elbert.. .

Simpson, Noble

Slado, William U.
Slaajrhonwhito, Jolm

Smith, Alox. A

Smith, U. M

Smith, Frcemjiii

Smitii, John

Smith, J. D

Sperry, A. H

Stewart, Robert C

Stubbert, James A

Sullivan, llUj-'cne

Sutherland, John D. .
Sutherland, S.W.& J. 11

Swan, Arthur

Swan, Goorfte W

Sweeney, Hobor M

Tallman, O. H. & O. K.

Teed Larkin Silver Fox
Co

Thompson, Clarence N.

Thornton & Bancroft...

Trenholm, Alfred R

Trueman, Osburn

Truro Fox Farm Co., Ltd.

Walsh, James H. & M

Walton, E. F

Ward, Bruce

Clarence West j Foxes

Qarence West Foxes

Xruro |Fox»i8 & Skunks

Lunenburg Foxes

Enfield Foxes

Kentville Foxes

Hridnewater |MiiikH

Five Islands I Foxes & Skunks

West Tatamagouihe.. JFoxos'&'Skunks

riintttlUm ! Minks

VoglerCove Minks

Sprinjihill j Minks

Pleasant Uiver j Foxes

Shinimecas !. Minks

Clyde River i Minks

Petite Riviere Minks

Chester Basin JMinks

Pt. Aconi, Boulardarie.lFoxes

Bedford JFoxes

.Vrichat ;F<>xes

Watervale Foxes

New Annan Foxes

New .Vnnan

Lunenburg

West Gore

Malagash

Victoria

Joggins Bridge.

Northport

Shinimecas . . . .

Truro

Upper Prospect
Kemptville,

Foxes

Minks

Skunks

Foxes

Minks

Foxes

Minks

Foxes

Mink

Mink and Foxes

Weston jSkunks

Warren, W. A | Bridgetown |RaccooiJS

FUR-FARMINn COMPANIifS AMD FUmrARMRIW

Anitnali Farm&l

PIbm of Bunineiw

Wftten, Albert E

Welli, Garonce

Welton, Malan H

Wontiel, Chipman

Wontzoll, Ira L

Whiddon, ChurloaO., .

White, John

Whitman, Frwl. L

Whitman, L. R

WUniff, Wallace

Whycot'omagh Hhitk Fox

Co., Ltd

Wight,Ja8.A.4Wm.H..

Will, Thomas E

Witham,Ira W., 4 Bankn,

Atwood R

Wood, Amo8

Woodworth, Henry D. .

Woolavor, John R

York, Jud.soii

Zwicker, C.,&Oakes. H.

Whycoeomagh . .

Whitehead

Kingston

Mapluwood

Vntigon; ;h

■^omorsot

.Vow Albany

C'cntral Clarence.
Lunenburg

Minki

Fuxea

'Skunks

i'oxuH and Skunks

Minks, Foxes 4 Skunki

i''r»X08

Minks

^kunks

Raccoons and Skunks

Minks

\Vhycocomagh Foxes

I'^astern Points Minks

Mot«e Hrook ' I'oxes

Clarence Centre '>kunk8 and Ruccounii

Lake Killamey Raccoons

r^Roy Skunks

Hantsport Foxes

Diligent River Foxes

New Albany Skunks

NEW BRUNSWICK
Companies Incorporated by Letters Patent

Capital-
izaticn

Alaskan Foxes, Ltd Uotsford

Bathurst Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd JBathurst

Canadian Karakul Arabi Sheep and Furi

Co., Ltd iApohaqui

Chaleur Fox Co., Ltd j.faoquet River.

Coverdale Fox Farm, Ltd ("overdale

Crockett Fox Co., Ltd jMoncton

Eastern Black Foxes, Ltd |Port Elgin

S 24,500
99,000

49,000
27,000
99,000
49,000
150,000

■^ ■ I

9 ^ !
f . 1

ill

246

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

Place of Business

Fundy Fox Co., Lttl

Grand Manan Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd.
Great Canada Northern Black Fox Co.,

Ltd

Gulquae Silver Black Fox Ranching Co.,

Ltd.

St. John. . . .
North Hear'

Loggievillt .

Woodstock. .

Shediac

Moncton ....
!Moncton —

Millerton

Douglastown.
.Moncton

Henderson's Silver Black Foxes, Ltd.

Ideal Silver Fox, Ltd

Little River Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd.

Lutz Mountain Ranching Co., Ltd iLutz Mountain

Mapleton Fox and Fur Co., Ltd Moncton

Maritime Black Foxes Co., Ltil Murray Corner

Melrose Black Fox Co., Ltd Melrose

Millerton Silver Black Fox Co., Lttl.

Miramichi Black Fox Co., Ltd

Moncton Black Foxes, Ltd

Mountain Park Silver Black, Foxes, Ltd .Moncton

Murray Corner Black Fox., Ltd I Murray Corner

New Brunswick Black Foxes, Ltd [Salisbury

New Brunswick Black and Silver Fox Co.,!

Ltd Renous

New Brunswick Taplin-Irving Black

Foxes, Ltd

Northern Foxes, Ltd

Petiticodiac Black Fox Co., Ltd

Provincial Fox Co., Ltd

Reade Fur Farms, Ltd

Restigouche Fox Co., Ltd

Richmond Fox and Fur Co., Ltd

Riverbank Fox Co., Ltd

Sackville Black Foxes, Ltd

St. John River Black Foxes, Ltd

St. Stephen Fox Ranching Co., Ltd

Salisbury Black Fox and Fur Co., Ltd . .

Buctouche

Blacks Harbour.,

Salisbury

Renforth

Moncton

Campbellton . . . .

Woodstock

Renforth

Sackville

Gagetown

St. Stephen

Salisbury

Capital-
ization

400,000
49.000

21)9/00

30,000
39,000
49,000
49,000
24,950
49,000

299,000
49,000
99,000
24,900
30,000
70,000

248,000
60,000

99,000

100,000
35,000
90,000
99,000
49,000
20,000
20,000
99,000
39,400
49,000
75,000
60,000

FUR-IAUMING TOMPAXIES AND FUR-IARMKUS

247

PluCLMif Busines ; ^-'P'ta'-
i ization

Scotch Settlement Black Fox Ranching

Co., Ltd Moncton. . .

Stanley Fur Ranching Co., Ltd .Stanley

Sterling Silver Fox Co., Ltd Hampton. .

Timberdale Fur Farms, Ltd Dorchester.

.. .; 49,000

.. .! 20,000

..! 49,000

.... 100,000

Williams. Barker, Ltd St. John 49,000

Permits issued to Capture Fur-bearing Animals in New Brunswick?

Comiell, Dennis Little Bartibog 4

CoimcU, -Martin iCliatliani 2

Connell, Michael Little Bartibo]

Cormier, Nazarc,
Day, Thomas. . .

Hogorsville 2

Plaster Rock 2

Doak, James iDoaktown 1

Dorcas, Keith

Estabrooks, George i '> .

Finigan, Joe

Fraulcy, Geo. E

Groat Canada Black h\>\
Co., Ltd

Harvey Station 1

Cookville 2

Rogersville I

St. George 'y

Loggieville.

Johnson, Wallace Halcomb 4

Johnson, Wilbert Lawrence Station I

Kay, William C River Glade 1

Landry, D. V Buctouche 4

Little, Clarence York Mills

Little, M. George Vork Mills

Martin, Enoch Vlma

Matheson, Henry E Bonny River

Murray, R. J Murray Road

Parkin, A. G Petitcodiac

Parkin, George R Parkindale

Richard, Antoine A McLeod Mills

Short, Harry W McAdam Junction .

Sullivan, William M iRed Bank

Sutherland, F. D jCassilis

White, George E JNarrows

WiHiston, H jNewcastle

.Mink

Sal)l(j

Beaver, 2 Sable

Heaver

Marten

Beaver

Mink

Beaver

Mink

Mink, 2 .Marten and 5
Fisher
Mink
Mink
Mink

Mink, 20 Skunks, 20
Raccoons, 20 Foxes
Mink
Mink
Mink
Mink
Mink
.Mink
Mink
Beaver
Mink

Sable and 10 Mink
Mink, 2 Sable
Mink
Mink

248

COMMISSION OP CONSERVATION

QUEBEC
Incorporated Fur'farming Companies

Cascdpedia Black Fox Co

Compagnie et Ferme d'Animaux & Four-
rure

Compagnie Zoologique Nationale (La) . .

Dominion Fox Co

Renard Noir Limitoe, (Le)

Place of BusinesB

Cascapedia.

Eastman. .
Montreal . .
Montreal..
Marieville.

Capital*
ization

Permits Issued for Taking and Keeping in Captivity, During the Close
Season, Fur-bearing Animals for Breeding Purposes in Quebec

Baatien, T

Cascapedia Black Fox

Co., Ltd., The

Coffin, Walter

Compagnie Zoologique

Nationale, La

Elliot, A. J

Hadley, W. A

Hardy & Pinault

Holt, Renfrew & Co

Hyman & Sons, William.

Joncas, Richard

Lacombe, Elie

Malone, T

Martin, Robert

McNelly, A. R

McRea, Dr. H. A

Rowley, George

Stocks, T. J

Thompson, Howard E. .

Tremblay, Alphide

Wright, Peter

WriVht. William Hfinry.

Lorette.

Cascapedia.

Montreal

La Tuque

Rock Island

La Tuque

Quebec

(Jaape

Natashquan

Lavaltrie

; Three Rivers

I Armagh Sta., Co. Bel

'. lechasse

jWeymontachi

North Hatley

iLake Edward

B'oxes

Fur-bearing animals
Mmk

Fur-bearing animals
Foxes

Foxes
Foxes
Foxes
Foxes

East Angus

JLa Tuque

jPigou, North Shore.
Gowanoville

Mink

Foxes

Fox

Foxes

Mink

Foxes

Mink

llil

FTTR-FARMINO OOMPANTKS AND PUR-PARMERS

24!)

ONTARIO
Names and Addresses of Fur'farmers

Bates, Bros

Beggs.T. J

Black, Alex. N

Burrowman, T. L

Clark, Rev. George

Croft, L.V

Cross, Ernest

Davies & Swain

Deagle, J. M

Decks, C. A

Downham, John

Edwards, Frank

Foster, W.B

Hamilton, R. E

Hubbell,E.S. (feSons.

Laliberte, Edgar

Logan, David.

Lucas, Samuel

McCune, T. M

McDonald, Angus

McMillan, Allan

Nuttall, A. W

Reihe, Franz

Reid, D. G

Ryan, Leo

Troke, Edward

WeUs, H. C

Whelehan

Wilson, Nelson G.
Vanattcr, Blake. .

Ridgetown

Heron Bay

Dutton

Wyoming

St. Catharines

MiddleviUe

Silver Islet

Mcintosh via Sioux Lookout

Orangeville

Feronia

■>trathroy

Sioux Lookout

Trout Creek

iirand Valley

Thames ville

Raith

Wilsonville

Wyoming

Wako

Big Lake

Graham

Port Arthur

Hearst

Bothwell

Rainy River

Allan Water, via Superior Junction

Mile 24, Bell's Residence, East Superior

Junction
Chesterville
Vittoria
i^allinafad

MANITOBA
Fur-farming Companies and Fur-farmers

Winnipeg Fur Co., Ltd.
Grenon, J. P

Lac du Bonnet
Winnipeeosis

2S0

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

t\..

ALBERTA
Fox Companies Licensed in Alberta

Alberta Black and Silver Fox Co., Ltd

Athabasca Black and Silver Fox Co., Ltd.

Calgary Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd

Edmonton Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd

Lamont Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd

$ 90,000

50,000

375,000

50,000

Northern Fox Co., Ltd

Pioneer Black Fox Co., Ltd

Prince Edward Island Silver Black Fox Company of Alberta

Ltd

Star Silver Black Fox Co., Ltd

100,000
100,000

20,000
40,000

BRITISH COLUMBIA
Incorporated Fur-farming Companies

British Columbia Black Foxes, Ltd., Vancouver $250,000

British Columbia and Yukon Fox Co. |
Ltd Vanco uver I

Fur-farming Companies Operating Under Dominion Charters

Place of business

Capital-
ization

Black Banks Pedigreed, P. E. I

British Canadian Fur and Trading Com

pany. Limited

Canada Fur Company, Limited
Cascapedia Silver Black F x Company,

Limited

Dominion Black Foxes, Limited

Dominion Karakul- Arabi Sheep and Fur

Company, Limited

Gaspe Fur Farmers, Limited

Grand Cascapedia. .
SackviUe, N. B

Lawrencetown, N. S.
St. John, N. B

100,000
250,000

150,000
250,000

FUR-FARMINO COMPANIES AND FUR-FARMERS

2S1

PIuco of basiness

Capital-
ization

Gulf Shore Silver lilack Fox and Fur

Compapy

International Black Foxea, Limited

North Canadian Furs Company, Limiti-d
Shorbrooke Black Fox Company, Limited
Silver Black Fox Company, Limited ....

Tantramar Black Foxes, Limited

Westmorland Black Foxes, Limited. . . .

Chatham, N. B. . .
Shorbrooke, P. Q
Montreal, Que.. . .
Sherbrooko, P. (J

Toronto, Ont

Sackville, N. B....
Port Elgin, N. B..

45,000
500,000
100,000
150,000
S450,000
200,000
200,000

Appendix XII

Report of Sale of Furs
Bt C. M. Lampson & Co.

64 QuEiN Street, E.G.,

London, Sro April, 1914.

CoBvared with lut Juiury Sale

OPOSSUM, AUSTRALIAN R«aij«»d Old Pkicbs.

The Blue and Thiidi sold comparatively better than the other kinds

OPOSSUM, RING TAIL Dbcliniid 10 Pub Cent.

WOMBAT Too small an offering to quote.

WALLABY Declined 5 Per Cent.

The Victorian and Tr jnanian kinds brought fully last sale's prices, as did

also the Thirds and the Second quality Furriers Silvery Li^t sides, but

the first quality of these latter show a reduction of about 10 per cent

in values.

KANGAROO Reauzed Old Prices.

FOX, RED AUSTRALIAN Declined 15 Per Cent.

The offering consisted of late caught skins, and the decline was most

marked on the lower qualities.

Compared with last March Sale

SKUNK Declined 27i Per Cent.

The Black and Short Striped sold at about 10 per cent below January,

but the Long Striped and White realized nearly January orices.

The Southwestern kinds did not sell as well as those from the better

sections.

MUSQUASH Declined 32i Per Cent.

" Southern " 45 " "

" Black " 15 " "

were maintained.

The few "Spring" contained in the Catalogue were mostly early-caught.

The strong-pelted "Winter" were keenly competed for, and the Fall and

Southern were somewhat higher.

Black met with good demand, and prices show a material improvement

as compared with January.
SABLE RUSSIAN Realized Old Prices.

The offering, which consisted almost exclusively of Kamschatka skins,

met with good competition, and realized fully last March values.
OPOSSUM, AMERICAN Declined 20 Per Cent.

These barely brought January prices. The bidding was without animation,

and it was evident that the unusually hea/y offering had a depressing

effect.
RACCOON Declined 35 Per Cent.

Mainly owinf to the extremely large offering, January prices could not

be maintainec:, and values show an average production of 15 per cent

REPORT OF SALE OF FURS

253

as compared with that sale, the imall lelling better than the larger lisea.

The "Dark" did not sell at all well. A noticeable feature of the Sale

%-M the abanncc of the luual support from Canada and the United States.
CHINCHILLA Declined 35 Per Cent.

The offering, which consisted principally of Chinchillona, also contained

several small parcels of Peru\'ian. The few Bastards show a decline of

10 per cent.

T' ER REALinsD Old Prices.

LEOP VRD Sold Well Without Chanqb.

SQUIRREL Rbaliied Old Prices.

&ACS, 4c Realiied Old Prices.

BEAVER Declined 25 Per Cent.

The demand was poor, anil prices receded from those of January.

The reduction was more especially noticeable in the pale kinds and in the

small sixes.

OTTER Dkclined 30 Per Cent.

The Canada and United States kinds show a decline on the reduced prices

of last January, this being particularly apparent in the paler sorts.

The South American, .\fricun and Chinese, on the other hand, realized

full values.
SEA OTTER Realiied Old Prices.

Full March prices were obtained, the best Black rcaliiing relatively higher

values than the Brown and poorer colours.
FOX, CROSS Advanced 20 Per Cent.

The heavy lecline in values which took place in January has been further

accentuated; i evertheless, valu-^s are still 20 per cent above those of last

March.

In sympathy vrith the strong demand for Silver Fox, the Silvery kinds of

Cross Fox realised excellent prices, but the reddish pale and off-colour

skins barely brought March rates.
FOX, SILVER Advanced 25 Per Cent.

These were in excellent request and, although not as high as in January,

are distinctly higher than last March.

The fresh blue, slight silvery skins were keenly competed for at considerably

enhanced prices, and there was a brisk demand even for the poorer sorts.

A feature of the Sale was the entire absence of demand for the Black skins,

which in many instances brought less than half former values.

This is a serious matter to the breeders of black foxes in Eastern Canada,

as values will assuredly be lower when the supply of this class of skins is

largely increased.
FOX, WHITE Realised Old Prices.

There was keen competition at full March prices.
FOX, BLUE Realibed Old Prices.

The collection contained a good many Siberian and Arctic skins, and

these, together with the Alaskas, brought full values.
LYNX Declined 40 Per Cent

Sold steadily at full January prices.
FISHER Declined 30 Per Cent.

On the average, values are about the same as in January. The dark

•old at an advance, whilst the pale show a corresponding decline.

COMMISSION' t(F CONSERVATION

t I

WOLVERENE Declined 40 Pf.ii Cent.

There was a further considerable dcrlinp on last January, which was special-
ly marked in the good coloum, whrrras the pule sold relatively higher

MUSK OX Too tnuOl Mt ofTeriog to quota.

MOLE Show no recovery from the depression existing in January and prices are
below those o' last March.

MARMOT Sold Badlv.

MARTEN Declined 40 Peb Cent.

Values receded considerably as compared with last March, especially for the

pale.

The Light Brown and best colours on the other hand roaliied full prices.

MARTEN, BAUM Declined 10 Per Cent.

MARTEN, STt)NE. Declined 15 Per C-.ni-.

MARTEN, JAPANESE Kealiied Old Pricio.

KOLINSKY ^ Chinese Declined 60 Per Cent.

\ Siberian Declined 10 Per Cent.

FITCH Advanced 50 Per Cent.

ERMINE Decuned 40 Per Cent.

Prices receded still further from January, especially so far as the Firsts and
Seconds were concerned.

FOX, RED DKn.iNKn T) Prn Cent.

Tlie Nuiib American and Continental kin'ls were «ell cumpated (or at a
sliuht advance on last sale's prices, but the flat Chinese were considerably
lower.

FOX, GRAY Declined 25 Per Cent.

FOX, KITT Declined 25 Per Cent.

The best fine pelted large sized Patagonian skins, which ire b-^coming
scarce, realiied an advance on January, but all the smaller sorts and the
heavier pelted skins from further North were difBcult to sell even at reduced
prices

HAIR SEAL, DRY Realued Old Prices.

CA'T', WILD Declined 40 Per Cent.

CAT, HOUSE. Declined 40 Per Cent.

The Black and Blue brought advanced prices, but other colours show a
corresponding decline.

CAT, CIVET. Declined 30 Per Cent.

MINK Declined 40 Per Cen i.

Owing to the extremely large offering and the lack f support from the
United States and Canada, prices show a further serious decline from
January; the Northern and Eastern sold better than Western and South-
western kinds.

FOX, JAPANESE Realized Old Prices.

The few good skins sold at high prices.

BADGER Sold at Vert Low Prices.

BADGER, JAPANESE Realieed Old Prices.

BEAR, BLACK & BROWN Declined 25 Per Cent.

BEAR, GRIZZLY. Declined 10 Per Cent.

WOLF Declined 10 Per Cent.

In spite of the good demand which has existed during the past winter,
this fur sold considerably lower than in January, mainly in consequence
of the large quantity offered.

UEPORT OF SALE OF FURS

398

STATIMllIT OF QUAIfTmiS OF FURS SOLD BY C. U. LAMPSON * CO.

1013

Totals
for

1914

1013

Janiuury .March

June October

Janiwry

March

Skins Skins

Skin.s Skins

Skins

Skin!.

Skins

RACCOON- .

70,!»11 110,011

54,9()6 30,229

.302,720

81,110

21Ki,0.57

MUSQUASH .

1, 03.5, 7tyss2ll,. 301

784, .575 (11,273

<,8()1,010

1,5.34,005

1,079, .371

" BUok

1(),H70 17,{J60

30,10,5 12,729

70,704

22,733

03,802

SKUNK . .

314,7.S3 :m,370 I5.-),()H.S .-.!),4,3,'»

863, Ols

314,870

5I(»,432

CAT, Civet . . .

37,102 .37,340

19,891 13,S23

108, 10^

23,117

101,149

OPOSSUM,

Arnor'n.

272,068 323,303 10.5,. ''..■>2 54, ."..SI

815,594

321,.S(y2

0.35,021

MINK

32,020 ,51,12.-)

12,20:t 21,071

120,019

18,119

95,. 5.58

MARTKN . .

0,428 S,S7«

5,997 0,2.57

27,. 561

6,721

12,331

FOX, Hed . . .

15, .303 17,8.Si>

20,2.51 30,8.50

90,. 39.-

15. HO

21,5.36

" Cross . .

5,3!) 2,0.30

.502 1,041

4,112

411

1,980

" Silver. .

77 5.53

US 213

9til

102

514

" Gray. . .

5,720 1.3, 11. s

-.'■1 0,.593

.33,022

11,080

.32,. 306

" Kitt . .

17,806 5,893

8,140 31,443

03,288

29,730

18,8.35

" White .

5,196

2,279

1,018

4,2,50

12,743

2, .301

2,8.36

" Hluo...

24S

2,38!>

7,s7

3,511

173

985

OTTKU

5,003

4,420

2,403

2,, 571

14,403

4,892

4,. 5.39

SEA OITKU.

124

CAT. Wild, &c.

8,942

6,59^

5,797

13,977

35,310

12,023

14,029

" House. . . .

14,561

35,239

23,450

24,427

97.077

31.079

35,320

LYNX

1,571

717

2,051

3,161

8,100

2,721

3,331

FISHER ....

433

1,042

448

49!)

2 422

270

1,703

DAnr.ER ...

1,887

3,529

4,438

2,90l

12,7.58

2,, 572

8,073

BEAVER. . . .

7,575

7,49S

3,417

4,. 580

23,070

4,4.50

12,286

BEAR

3,150

5,294

3,900

5,098

17,508

2,, 591

3,049

WOLF

18,036

20,380

8,312

6,487

,53,215

9,306

34,107

WOLVERENE

250

692

190

Oin)

1,741

2.53

701

HAIR SEAL,

Drv

1,229

207

1,540

181

728

GREBE

13,510

1,328

600

15,444

6,002

1,630

FUR SEAL,

Drv

204

238

.53

181

" " Salted

5,570

1,795

570

7,010

14,945

450

1,224

SABLE,

Russian

1,670

8,294

1,487

11,510

1,461

5,557

KOLINSKY .

18,640

22,900

15,326

86,94j

143,817

114,791

64,500

MARTEN,

BftUXQ

541

471

977

1,093

3,082

404

1,220

" StOTM

1,033

2,596

1,039

2,052

7,620

1,878

1,575

PITCH

4,0.50

6,777

10,043

S,14.5

29,015

4,031

16,679

ERMINE

58,747

79,718

70,315

43,252

?j2,032

42,821

194,406

396

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

STATBMiirr or QUAimms or rtms sold bt c. m. iampsor * co.

{Continutd)

1913

Totalt

I«i4

for

1013

SUm

January

1
March!

June

October

SUM

January i

March

SUni

SkiH 1

SUM

BUM i

SUm

SQUIRREL . .

212,79(t

12:1,1971

14l,6.'),s

150,. 532

628,177

156,706

101,194

8ACH, 4o

7,910

4,932

4,314

5,SK)f>

23,071

1,8.59

2,494

CHINCHILLA

Real

3,02-1

12,30(»

1,731

2,3.39

19,991

4,021

5,M2

Bastard

MINK,

Japanese

23,283

28,020

16,412

16,K,5«!

at, 607

10,597

725

MARTEN,

Jopancsc

5,i:.3

.550

683

2,36(1

9,05.'-

307

1,124

SABLE,

Japane«<

170

227

FOX,

Japanese

4,474

3,10('.

1,679

6,05S

15,317

8,287

11,017

BADGER,

Jiipanosc

1,254

1,9,35

97.V

1,092

5,25(

907

673

MOLE

203,985

312,44(1

147.161

191,. 520

1,455,12-1

544,431

-101,825

OPOSSU'

Austrin.

90,15S

87,50(1

20,49S

77,447

275,601

57,470

42,919

" Ring Tail

61,6-11

33,231

3,711

193,426

292,012

79,806

156,031

WALLABY,

331,017

171,117

I. "2, 702

225,6.54

880,491

202,239

181,943

Austrin.

KANGAROO

Austrin.

4,022

4,29.-

695

16,682

25,694

3,927

8,-592

WOMBAT,

Austrin.

1,106

„.. 1 ,622

1,696

4,671

843

261

FOX, RED,

Austrin.

45,69S

19,995 10, .560

49,4.57

125,707

22.943

8,288

Index

•^ I'MIE

Abs<-Ilt Drhtor Art, I'.i:. I.: I, nfrrnno* to . ,-„

A[>.tra,.,.ffur...,al,,u,,p •[ ...m^H*

Afrini, fur [(ruiliictKiii cf

karakul sliii p in

ruiiiri' (if foTcH in -^^

Ala.sku, iipiFroprialiim for nimUrr in -'..'...'..'.'.'.... ii3

hiiic or Arctic fox in . ,„

l)luc fox brccilcrs in ,„

lilui" foxes from, in Canada f,j

cutdi of fur s<'al-i in ' .„.

foxili^-aws in, (i. .M. Howcrs i|iiotcil

foxes obtaiiicil from, in IsOs ','.

foxes of ■

fur seals, avcriiKc prices of .>!- .. j

fur seals, production of "'' 7,,|.

fur-seal skins from ,,,.

""•;■• "' i,H)

registration of reindeer in , . ,

reindeer profress in .'.,

reindeer service in ...',' .'.'

transportation in "' '.'.

Alaska Commercial Co., fiaures furnished by -o

Alaska I'ox Co., f , niiii;; of blue foxes by. . ], ,[, -q

Alask* sable, reference to '. ',

Allxrta, fur-farmers in, li.st of .^i^

Alberton, V. K ' 'n.l, early fox ran, lies at. . '. . . . „; ' i^

centre . .ix industry |. ,

Aleutian islamls, exploitatirm of fur-bearers on '...'. c's

Algonquin park, Out., I^eaver In jl'g

re revenue from ,

Alle-iliany mountains, range for elk in ' , , '

American Bn cders' Association, re kamkul sheep v'l*

ol'jmsof j'^

report, of,,, noted .^ „,, ^,. ,3,,; ^^^

American sable - see under M:irtcn).

America, fox skins priduced annually in, . . ,.jo

['"■•'7'''"'''""';f ■■:''::':::;:::::iso-iw

turs, dyenii; of, in .,,.

furs, i|uantities of, in .xit o."U

I 1,1 JUl, JyKS

Karakul sheep in „-

mink skins produced in q,

production of lie,iver in ,,.

'American I'orestry,' quoted re rei.ideor tgo

Amsterdam, fur-seal skins from ,n«

^Vndrunica i.^liuul, lo.x.rarm on -f.

Antelope, reference to skins of

3S8

( OMM1B8ION OF rONBBRVATIOX

tiWi

PAOI

Antlcortl UUna. enrly fo» tmnn on • ! ' . ' „i

Arubi «hocp. («-•« uU. under A:«r..Au/ .*«p) ch«raru-n-t.« of

Uerivtttion of name

Arrtic, trunHportotion Ir

Ariionu, utt«r In

Alia, karakul dieep ii.'lu«try in

leaver, production rf. in

fox skiiw produce*! annually in ^^' j^'

(iir prtxluction of

mink Bkln* produced in

range of foxes in

A^trnkhan, derivation of name

f\irx, reference to

where obtained

Atliabanka Landinn, conveyance ..f reindeer to

Athnbaska Uiver country, foxes of

Attu island, foxes on

Australia, fox skins produced annually in ^ ^'

fur exports '

fur prixluction of

fur-seal nkins from,

use of rabbit skinn in

Austria-Hungary, fur pnxluction of

1«

83
113
100

81
111
183
IMO

7
81
115
29
60
132
129
IW)
lOS
. 65
188

Baby lamb furs, reference to

where obtained

156

100

HiiiUy, \cmon, quoted re otter ^^^ ^^

Haltimorc, consumption of muskrats in ' ^.^

Harrow point, reindeer at

Bateaon, Prof. W., quoted re colour phases in foxes

Bear, Alaska, reference to ^^

Bear skins sold on London market Jj^

Bciiver, domestication of jj2

farming of jj2

f<»od of .4, 111

habitat of o.

number shipped to P. E. Island 1912-1913 ^^^

possibility of ranchinfr of ^^^

price of, per pair jj2

skins of, value of ^ • 112

stock from Dept. of Lands, Forests and Mines, Ontario 1 J^

time of mating of , j^

uses of jg2

Bectz, Johann, article on game by jj

breeding of foxes by ^

on fiwd for foxes ^28

Bciirium, rabbit i^kins from gg

Behsville, Md., experimental farm at ^q

Hetlli's, James, blue fox fanner

INDEX

9fiS

HI)

70
77
78
71
74

1«7

Bin Xiiknl i.land, U>o*d for fur-f»rmini{ jq

Hi"I..Ki«il Survey, U.S. IVpt, of ARricult ,iro, eirouUr .,f, .,u„to| . , . . ."gfl, )08

Hluik Manko, early expcriiiwnt willi foxen at <*

HIark, (liau'llcr & Co., «t(«twtii-» from ^^

Hliii'k fox brpfding

Hli«li i.ilftrxl, loaw'd for fur-farming

Hluf fiixcK, in Akika

l)rtTilrni of, in Alaska

lin'odinR of

dil«-U!IVfl of

of I'rilill.if inland- .. ...... ......'..., .....

wlocting Im-cdiTN ,

trappinK of, on St. (it-orp. i.<land . . 7;j 79

white foxe« found In litt^ni of ' yg

llliw fox-farminK

Kokhara, fur tnimopoly licld liy.

habitat of karakuls

Holivin, fur productidn of ,

protpcfion for chindiilla in

Honiiio, Isaac, quotwl re raisinR dwr .,,

l^>'\\^'Ts. Grorgo M., quoted re fox di.soascs in Ala.ika 35

Mc.yd. M. M., mcinhor American Breeders' AsHociation '.....'. ui

Hr««, Mr., quoted re skunk raininR joij

Brass, Kmil, estimatei of fox skins by .(in, I3l 132

estiniates of world's prixluction of U^aver by ... ' ni

estimate-s of worlds supply of mink by '..."....'..'. 91

fur statistics by '. ^^ j^o, 2IO

fur price.s, statistics by "' 1.,

re karakul .sheep „.

quoted rr fur production jj^ ig-

quoted re raccoon pelts ' gg

Bree<linjr, of fur^mimals, conclu.sions of Americiin Hro<-.lors' A!=lociation, re

of fiir.t>carers

of N'irciilia deer

of Wiipiti

BrceilinR stock, foxes, records of sales of,

British Columbia, lieaver in

fur-famiin(r companies in 251

Broadtail furs, reference to

Bruce, fox rancher

Buckskin, price of

Bureau of Manufacturers, report of, on London fur trade 128

Burrowman, T. L., breeding of foxes by .....in 16

situation of fox pens of '34

style of kennel used by 42

Busby, Wm., blue fox farmer -q

Butler, W., quoted re tlie muskrat 1,59

Byers, Wm., blue fox farmer. -a

1.51
US
U.)
14 1

m
111

, 81

1.>1

200 COM MISSION- OF COXSERVATION

Q PAGE

, 164

'Canil)riilso Ilcrorcl, (MmtPil jj^

Campbell, K. U., <>ii nindecr in Canada ^

Canada, fur-farmins in jjj

rcindwr in _ j^j jg^j

fur-t'xports from, referred to "' '

Canadian Otter (see under OlUr). ^^

Canadian furs sold by Ncsbitt & Co ^^

Cape Elizabeth island, fur-farming on ■ ; ■ • ^^^

Cape of Goo<l Hop.;, fur-seals skins from " • ^^.

Cape Horn, fur-seal skins from ^.^

Cape Wales, reindeer at 2

Capital invest.d in fur-farmins ^^

Carlson, Louis, blue fox farmer .^

Olaf, blue fox farmer ^^

Camivora, economic uses of ^2

species comprising

Ca^eumpeciue bay, reference to •

Castle, Prof. W. K., quoted re colour phases m foxes ^_-_- ^^^_ • ^-^

Cat. "vet _■ jg ■ j3,' J--' 189

'lo"J''^t"= 156, ISO, 191

wild J44

Caton, John D., quoted on raisinR wapiti. ^^

Cedar Point IIuntinR Club, muskrat farmmg by ^^

Champion, Jolm, beginnings of fox-ranches by.

Oiarlottetown, P. E. Island, centre of fox mdustr}- ^

karakul sheep fanning at

Chemabura island, foxes on .^

leased for fur-farming

, 17

aierry island, fox ranch on ^^^

Chesapeake bay, habitat of muskrats ~-79

Chichester, Mr., quoted re blue foxes " ^^^

Chile, fur-seal skins from j.^^' ' j^^^' j^^

China, fur production in "" ' ' ' ^^.

Chincliilla, durability of fur of -t r, U

reference to 'ji^y

Chinchillina, reference to .^

Chirikof island, lea.sod for fur-farming _^

Christensen, Christ, blue fox farmer ^^

Clark, l?ev. George, breeding of foxes by ^7

quoted re colour phases of foxes _.! ' J., .„

, , , . . .71, 1 1, IS. 'S'

Clark, Major, quoted W blue foxes ^^^

Clarksville, Texas, raising Virginia deer at _^

Cloudman, Pres., blue fox farmer g_

Cocks, A. II., re breeding martens 2i

Colour phases in foxes ^jj

Colovui, Alaska, reindeer at ,„,

Commission on Fish, and Fisheries, United States, quoted 017 2I8

Copper island, average price of fur-seal skins from -^^^ ^^^

fur seal skins of ' ' ,„

Copper River, AImIm, prospectus of ranch at, quoted

INDEX

261

I'AGE

CDtswolil, slieep croswd with kariikuls ^^ ^^

Cones, Elliott, quoted re mink ' ,„

Crozet island, fur seal skins from ,,,-

Culverwcll, IJrooks & Co., statistics fn)m lys. j,,,,^ 2()0

Cummings, fox rancher , -

Dalton, Chas., early work of, with foxes jy

Data for fox breeders

Davenport, Dr. Kugene, quoted re .Mendel's law 24

Deer, \ir^nia, raisins of m m ' U5; 146

Dcleware bay, habitat of muskrats ,,„

Delaware, nmskrat skins from ,„„

Demidof island, reference to -„

Desormeau, .Mr., quoted re mink-farming 93

Dcpt. of Lands, Forests and .Mines, Ontario, Ijcavcr stock from ........[ 112

Digestive disorders of foxes ,,

Diseases of blue foxes _„

Diseases of foxes , '

Distemper in foxes ' ,_

Dog, Manchurian, reference to skins of g

Dominion Furriers and Fur-farming Associatioi. suggested ............! 66

Dominion Government, work of, with reindeer 114

Donaldson, George, blue fox farmer 70

Doozbai sheep, charactcri.stics of on

Dressing of furs ■■■■■................. ....122 123

Drj- island, fox-farming on "' _„

Dyeing of furs .

Eastern Cliugatz island, reference to -«

lOdmonton, conveyance of reindeer to ,,-

lOland, raising of

Elk, breeding of ■■'■■■'■.....'..............'.'". 144' 14-

Elk, Edward, blue fox farmer 70

Ellamar, Alaska, blue fox farms at -«

Emory, E. H., member .Vmericaii Breeders' A.ssociation 141

Emu skins, on London market jjg

England, dyeing of furs in '.....'. loi

Ermine, durability of 10-

sales of, on London market , %

Eskimo, use of reinrleer liy . ?.'

i:ureka Springs, elk-breoding at ,?'.

Europe, production of beaver in ...

production of fox skins annually in 132

production of furs in ," "Y^'^ ',^- ' ,'^,,' ^^

production of mink skins in ' ' ni

262

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

Fairmount island, leased for fur-farming

Falkland islands, fur-seal skins from

Fences for fox ranches

marten

mink

otter

raccoon

skunk

Fequet, Mr., referred to re game license in Quebec

PAGE
. 70

.. 195
.. 3S
.. 97
.. 92
. . 103

.105,

Financial aspects of fox industrj-

Fisher, decrease in number of

description of •

fur, reference to

haunts of, destruction of .'

e O,

mcrease m price ot ,

number of, shipped to P. E. Island, 1912-1913 ^

ranching methods for

90,

109
184
59
5
99
7
4
99

Fleming, George, blue fox farmer ^^

Florida, otter in

Food and feeding of foxes • • ■

Foreign Commerce and Navigation of United States, quoted ^^^

•Forest and Stream,' article from, referred to ^^^

Fort Smith, reindeer at ^

Foxes, Baltic, reference to ^^^

black, breeding of ^^

biscuits as food for

blue, breeders of, in Alaska '^^

breeding of

decrease in pelts of

diseases of •

domestication of

farming of g.

food supply of, on St. George island ^^

imported into Canada ' ' _

of St. George island _

white foxes found in litters of

for breeding, advance in price of

calming excited mothers

in captivity in Canada, 1912

capturing escaped „

care of pups of 56 74

capturing and handling of '

classification of 2i

colour phases of 2o

common red, range of 27

cross, as breeders e

cross, decrease in numbers of

increase in price o f ^

reference to fur of

149

INDEX

_, , ,. PAOB

Ifom, dangerous diseases of 55

data for breeders of ^g

digestive disorders of 5j

diseases of malnutrition of 50

domestication of j2

dressing of fur of ' 123

early attempts to domesticate I5

[^'^^B of '..'.'..'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. A:i, '45, 55

food, securing of, for m

fur value of skins of o

furs, geographical classification of 132

■•"'««" if '.'.'.'.'..'.'..'...'..■..■..■.■.■ 60

iiyg.ene and diseases of .0

imported stuck 29

increase in numbers of o,

jackal, reference to skin of q

judging skins of silver " gg

kennels, construction of 4.

of Kodiak islands an

, . , . o'J

legislation re, in New Brunswick 47 177

in Ontario jan

in P. E. Island 47, 105' jy^

in Quebec 47 179

in Saskatchewan jgl

lethal chambers for slaughtering 5g

marking and identification of 56

mating and gestation of ^

meat diet for ^

nests, construction of 42

in vciition of .7

numbT of wild, shipped to P. E. Island . . . . ' 31

optioas on stock of -^

pens, area of \1

arrangements of ^o

construction of ,«

"performance" records of 66

poisons for slaughtering of so

Polar, description of g«

of Pribilof island en

., . . d9

pups, silver, rise in prices of 19

of Quebec, description of I02

ranches, location of 20 11

sites for, described 34 35

best conditiona for '32

failure in 46

ranch fences „.

wire used ia n-

JO, .!<

prices of BntLih-make wire 39

ranoUng practice 31

rearing of silvers from reds 2fi

records of sales of breeding stock 6()

264 COMMISSION OF CO NSERVATION

PAGE

FoxM, riit, dt'iTcaw in pelts uf •_'

increase in price i^f iielts dI' •'

silver, dccroaso in pelts of ■*

increase in price of pelts of •*

a precious fur-l)e;ir.>r "

sales of skins '^J|

reruov:il of nule fn.n pens •»'

skin diseases of ''■"

skinning of '^^

slaupliterinp of, for fur ^'

treatment of, for ilisteinper "^^

for inflammation of eyes '>3

lor rinfiwi irm ''•'

Fox skins, production of ^^•'

yield of, on St. (jeorse island '^

Vox, white, decrease in pelts of

increase in price of pelts of ^

reference to '' '^

'VI

Fox surgery •"

Fox Tax Act, P. K. Island, reference to 165

Foxcroft, Me., early experiments with foxes at 18

Fox-farming, in Alaska

in Canada '■^

capital invested in *

causes of early failure ■_ '

early development of industry 1>.

financial aspects of industry

progress of, in 1909

Bpecu!»tiTe »t present ^

France, fur production of J^

fur trade of '^

rabbit skins fr( m ^^

Frankfort-on-the-Oder, fur fiur at 126

Fraser, Alfed, tables re pelts by °

Friend, Neb., elk and deer breeding at l*^

Fr< St, Weslev, quoted, re effecU of cUmate on fur 32

quoted re fox industry in P. E. Island 61

Fur, effect of cUmate on ""

the romance of ^

sales of I alton, (Tiarlee J^

Gordon, J. S -If

Hudson's Bay Co 2^-213

Lampson, (C. .\1.) & Co 130, 282

Fur animals, rules for handling •• •• J*

Fur-bearers, American Breeders' Association, report of, quoted 147

capturing live ^

cruelty of trapping of ■ J^

domestication of 1*' ^^

farmed

INDEX

285

Fur beirera, hunting and trapping of

killini; of

li'sislatiiin re

10
118
ISl

201

-•JOO

12r,

128

58,

I'm, 1711, 177. 171), ISO, ..

names of prci-ioiis . ,

species for brpoijing j lo

'Fur-li<>arinK Animals in Xature anil Cummfrce,' n I'rcnco i,, 3'>

l''ur catalomics. abstracts of .7,

Fur-farniinj; in Canada

rur-farmin<», Mamial of

Tur-farminc for Profit. i|ur)tod

I'ur fair, at Frankfort -on-tlic-( idcr

at Irbit, Siberia

at I^^ipziR, Ci-rmany

at Xijni-Xovirorod, Hussia yZ

'Fur News Manazine' quoted ti, 99, 1 ID, 132. 161, 219

Fur News Publishing Co., publication of, (juoted

Fur prices, current

stati.stics Te

Fur-producers, organization of

Fur-production, statistics re

Fur sale at I.shini. Siberia

Fur S^al treaty, reference to

Fur-seals, Alaska, reference to

average price of 217

catch of

offerings of, at London sales 193

Ftir-trade, centres of '

219

215

186

126

21S

194

195

126

English, returns of J2g

French competition in joo

'Fur Trade Review,' quoted re prices for otter loi, 132 149

^ American and Canadian, sales of ' "' igQ

American, quantities of 201 '>02

buying of, by samples ' jgg

centres of trade in

Furs,

commerce in raw.
demand and supply.

126
126
3

dressing of ' ' ^^

durability of ' J25

dyeing of ....'...'......... 121

esteemed natural colours of 122

frauds in selling of „

imitations and misnaming of o

importation of, to London, 1855, 1875 jgi 192

listings of C. M. Larapaon <fe Co., 1910 ' 131

lists of, on markets 131, jge, 187, 190^192! 215

London dealers in .27

misdescriptions of n

muskrat, trade in Iqq

popularizing less costly g

^^"^ °f 131,' 133', ' '217, 218, 219

268

COMMISSION OF CONSF.RVATION

PAOII

124
Fun, process of manufacture of '"

production of, statistics re ^™

quantities of

renaminff of

gales of 127, 130, 133, 136, 156, 203-214

varieties of, sold on London market 1*~

Gage island, leased for fur-farming '"

Game Act, Saskatchewan, extracts from |o^

Game, conservation of, in Quebec, article on *°*

growing scarceness of

licenses, Quebec, suggestions re |°^

preserves. National ^|

Generosoff, V., information obtained from **

re karakul sheep

work of, in Russia

Geographical classification of furs

Sjcnet.' reference to

Germany, dyeing of furs in ■ •• ■

fur production in 1***'

karakul sheep industry in

Gibson, W. H., re dressing of muskrat fur

Gilbert, J. W., on raising elk

Goat, Chinese, reference to skin of

Goose island, leased for fur-farming 'J^

Gordon, James, experiments of, with foxes

inventor of fox nest

Glacier island, fox farm on

Grand Valley, Ont.. re fox diseases at

Great Britain ,re fur-seal treaty

132

121

180

162

143

17
17
70
48
4
116

Great Slave lake, reindeer at.

Grebe, skins on London market ^^

Greely, Maj. Gen. A., on foxes of Alaska ^

Greene island, fox-farm on ^^

Grenfell, Dr. \V., work of, re reindeer l^'

Hamilton, R. E., quoted re fox diseases ^^

Hamster fur, reference to ^> ^' *'*°

HandUng of foxqs ^

Harlan, quoted re muskrat ^^

Harmony Co., fur dealers J*°

Harriinan Alaska Expedition, report of, referred to !■»»

Harris, R. H., member American Breeders' Association 141

quoted re Virginia deer "°

Haywood, Benjamin, experiment with foxes by 1*

Ilenley-on-Thamc-s, breeding of marten at ^^

Highland black-face sheep, re crossing with karakuls 84

INDEX

267

PAOS

Hofer, T. E., quoted re fox-farming 149

Hill, Joshua, breeding of elk by I44

Holland, Louis, early discovery of, re foxes 28

Holt, Henfrew, dc Co., fox ranch of I5

Homer, Alaska, blue fox-fnrmi at 70

Hoofed animals, classification of 12 13

House cats, skins on London markets 7, 131, 157^ i(j9

Hudson Bay seal, how made HO

Hudson's Bay Co., --ompctition against 129

fur sales of 127, 2()i-214

reference to 128

statistics f rtmi 198.202

Hungary, karakul sheep in 81

Hunter-trapper age, pa-ssing 10

'Hunter-Trader-Trapper' Magazine, quoted 105

Huth, Frederick & Co., fur dealers 127

Hygiene of foxes 4g

Identification of foxes 55

India, range of foxes in 20

Interior, Dept. of the, work of, re reindeer 115

Irbit, Siberia, fur fair at 125

Irkutsk, Siberia, sables from 2

Irwin, W. M., member American Breeders' Association 141

Ishim, Siberia, fur fair at 126

Jackson, Peter, blue fox farmer 70

Jackson, Dr. Sheldon, re reindeer in Alaska II3

Japan, fur exports from 129

fur-production in Igg^ 189

fur..8eal skins from I95

fur-seal treaty with 4

Johnson, John L., blue fox farmer 70

Joncas, Richard, game license in Quebec 184

Jones, C. J., member American Breeders' Association 141

Judge, James, quoted re blue foxes 71

Judging a silver fox skin, points to observe in 58

Kachemak bay, fox-farm on island in 70

Kangaroo, skins of, on London market I57

Kansas, foxes from, importations of 30

karakul sheep in 87

Karakul-Barbado cross, .-esults of 88

Karakul, derivation of ten>i 8'

Karakul, district of, habitat of karakul sheep 8i

Karakul sheep, breeds of 81

crossing of, with native sheep for fur 84

26*4 fOMMtSSloN* OF CO N S K II V A P I O V

>'\ ,i;

Kar.>kul ibeep, i in uliir on, by U. S. Dopt. of ' jricultun! ><'^

ililliciiltii-» in nbtaininR ^^^

• xpcrinifnts of U. S. Dcpt. vt A(:riMilliirc, rclVrntl to W5, SS

fine WfM)l tyjio, wliere breil '"^2

lii;;li price of hrcoding stock ***

liow to remove xkin of ^"*

iiiiportatiinn of, to America. ^'-< ^■'

ill I'rinci' I'Mward Inland •'*!

reference to ' ■ -• '

in United StatCH " • ^'>

Kurakul skins, number of, and how imported **'

preparing and marketing **^

Karakul wool, utiliration of, in Hokhara >^^

ICirpov, M., (luoted r* prices of furs *^

quoted re Tartar names ^

referred to, re karakul sheep **! • ^^

Karshi, district of, habitat of karakul sheep ^1

Kendall & Sterling, blue fox fanners '"

Kennels for foxes ■•*• *^

Kerki, district of, habitat of karakul sheep **!

Kliiva, kha te of, karakul industry in ■ ^^

Kodiak islands, fox-farmers on 69, (0

Koordiuk, derivation of term ^

Kotzcbue, Alaska, use of reindeer at 153, lo3

Krimmer furs, reference to '

where obtained ^'

Kuskokwim river, Alaska *"■"

Labrador, diseases of foxes in ^5

fox-ranching in 29

fur exports from, referred to 129

otter in 1^

reindeer herds in 1 '•'

Lac Chaud, Quebec, mink ranch at ^1

La Compagnie Zootechnique de Labelle, mink-farmers 91

Lomb, baby "■ ^^

Thibet, reference to skin of **

Lampson, C. M. 4 Co., fur dealers 127

fur sales of ^-^^t 252

furs sold to l^-l. !•''•['

sample fur purchases of 131, IS.i

statement base J on sales of '^

statistics fro*,, 198.200

Lantz, D. E., chairman American Breeders' Association 1-11

estimate of, re species of animals 12

quoted, re muskrat 159

IjO Tuque, Que

Laurentian plateau, mink pelts of, valuable ^

INDEX

260

PAOE

IjiW, Alfred, hlue fox fariiior 70

LcipziK, (if-rniany, fur fair ut 120

I*(si.slutiiin, re f'lxcs in 1". K. Island ICm, ITd

re fur-lxuriTs in New IlriiiiHwick 1 77

in Ontario I.S0

in IJuebcc . 1 79

in SiiMlcutt'liowiin ISl

Lenibkt-y, Mr., re disoiisi'i of blur foxes 70

I<o<ipard >kins «ild on liondon inarkc) I.sifl

Lewisliurt:, Ohio, elk ami doer hrpodinK at II.-,

Lewis, Hurry, fox-raneliing by IS

Lilyi-gren, I'rod, blue fox farmer 70

Lincoln slioop, crosses of, with karakuls g.) ji^^

Lind, A. W., blue fox farmer 70

Little Konuifri island, fox-famiinp on 70

Little Nakc<i island, fox-fanninR on 70

Lobos island, averoEe price of seals of 217 218

catch t)f fur seals on I94

quantities of fur seals frotii I95

London, auction rooms in. biddinj: in I57

auction sales, offerings at 1Q3

auction sales, reference to 1

fur market in 12* Liyj

typical prices on 210

fur sales in, 1900 127

fur-seal sales in j 9fl

importation of furs to 191 192

importation of rabbit skins to 85

muskrat sales, quoted 1(51

seal, public s.iles at 19g 199

total fur sales at 128

Li-ndon Chamber of Commerce, rulinf;s of, re furs a, 9

Loi.'lon ZooloRJcal Society, reference to 1 13

Lor,; island (Ivoiliak group) fox-furniing on CO, 70

Lcpp, W. T., re reindeer in Alaska 165

Lynx, black, reference to .-, 7

Lynx, skins sold on London market 150

MacFariaiii'. R.. iiuoted re muskrat ir,9

McConnell, fox rancher 15

McPherson & Elk, blue fox farmers 70

McPherson, James, blue fox farmer 70

Maine, diseases of foxes in 5,5

early experiments with foxes in 16

fox ranches in 84

fox ranches in, in 1909 18

Mammals, breeding of exotic species of 142

Canadian, economic uses of 13

270

COMMISSION OK CONsr. liVAT IMX

rAoc

H""TT'f'', wild, objccU of breeding HI

ManaKemont o( fox imnclies, cauiei of failure in 46

Manitoba, fur-farmer», lilt of , in 880

Manufacture, preparing ikinf for 117

Manual oi fur-farming 20

Marine and Fliherieii, I)ept. of, awiftance of rt r<iiiil«ir 115

Maritime province*, (•ee also under New Bruniwick; Sovi Scolin and Prince
Edvard Ithnd).

blue foxes in 67

minlu found in 80

mink pelts of, valtiabic 90

Marketi.-<g «kinii of fur-bearers, how to pack 121

Marketing of foxes fi*

Marmot fur, reference to 7, 8

Marmot island, fox-farming on ■ • 70

Marten, American, value of nkin of 90

Marten, black, an imitation fur 7

description of ISO

domesticated by Romans 13

fur of, reference to 7

habits of 97

haunts of, destroyed 4

mating of 98

notes on 150

number of, shipped to P. E. Island, 1912-1913 31

progress in farming of 97

Marten, pine, decrease in number of 5

increase in price of 5

Maryland, karakul sheep in 87

muskrat skins from 160

Meat diet for foxes 44

Mendel's Ir ■• of hybrid" 24

Menier, J' . tperiments with foxes, by 18

Merchar 'farks Act, 18ST (England) reference to 8

Merria' '. .assification of red foxos by 20

Middle .ter Cattle Co., breeding: of karakul sheep by 81

Mink, description of 15"

destructiou of homes of 4

dressing of furs of 123

fur of, reference to '

Mink, notes on 1^

number of, shipped to P. E. Island, 1912-1913 31

reference to 1, 5, 10, 90

Mink-faming, the colony system of 93

experimental 8'

the natural plan, of 82

nests, description of 83

the pen system, of 84

practical hints on 86

sites for pens 95

INDICX

llink-funiillg, value of brrrdinit -tuvk for, 1013 97

Mink ikiiu, on I^indon market I57

value of gi

world's production of 9I

MinneRota, fox ranclu's In 04

Monkey, reference to akin of 8,157

MontoKue, P. E. Islnnil, fox industry at m

Montmorency Fnlln, silver foxes at 15

Moose, notes on 113 118

MoMow, convention of sheep hreeders at 1^

Murray Harbour, fox industry at 04

Musk-ox, reference to 4 |j|0

Muskrat, brcodins liabitx of I39

chiirnctcr of fur of i/jq

consumption of flesh of I54

dp.sfruction of homes of 4

farminu »' 110, 182

f"od of 159

fur of, home dresaini; of 181

reference to 5 7

skins of, sale of, on London market 156

trade in furs of igO

value of 1 10

Muaklida, monograph on, quoted 10

valuable fur-bearers of 90

Naii Pond, P. E. Island, curly fox ranch at 16

Naticmal game pn'Si-rves 112

Near island, reference to 70

Nesbitt, A. <k W., fur sales of 190

reference to 127

New Brunswick, (see also under Mnritime Provinces)

foxes in captivity in, in 1912 64

fur-farracrs, list of, in 246

fur-fiirming in, reference to . 1

fur-farming Iceislation m 47, 177

imported fox stock in 31

New England states, reference to fur-farming in 1

Newfoundland, fox ranching in 29

refcrcnco in fur-farraing in 1

undressed seal skins from 129

New Hampshire, fox ranches in 64

New Jersey, importation of foxes from 30

muskrat skins from 160

New Mexico, karakul sheep in 87

New Zealand, fur-seal skins from 195

rabbit skins from 128

Nijni-Novgorod, Russia, fur fair at 126

Niles, Mich., breeding of elk and deer at 145

rnMMI:^srn\ (iK t d N S I' H V A T ! i» V

Ndrfolk, r •■* .v., w iiKirktl f'T mu^Wriil flfsh

Sorth American ('■ nimpmal Co., f')X skills "old to

North AmoricB, fm pnMliiction in

HtiiliHlicM of fur pr'Hliiiiion in

.Vortli Piii'ifti!, f'ir-ip«l skiiH frum

North Scmiili UImkI. f<'x-fiti!iiiiiu; on

North Syilnrv, X. S., r.irly fox niiich iit

r\aa

.18S, 189, lOO

108

tK», 70

North \\< -"t CooHt. iili«tract of ciiliili'iim"- of fur» from IW

aviTiiKi' [>rif(' of fiir-wiiU from 217, 218

.-•Blcli of fur-wall on IM

i\ <cnl xkins from 195

pulilip ^:i!ca of «;nU from IM

Norlli West Tprritory, nu.leer in 115

N'irwny, fur prmluction of 188

undrr*H<'il wal from !?•

Ni v;\ Scotia (s(H' (ilso under Mnrilimi Prorinct»)

fox("< .11 captivity in. in 1012 64

fur-farmers, list of in 330

fur-furmin? in ■ ■ 1

importc<l fox stock in 31

Oliver, ffon. Frnnk, work of. rr rrindror 115

Ontario, early attempts at fox.l)rtH'(li!ii; in I

fo.xes in captivity in, in I'.ili M

fox ranches in, in I'.ltXt 18

fur-farmers, list of , in 249

fur-furminj: in 1. 27, 30

legislation re fur-lwarers in Iti4

< iplitlialmia, treatment of, in foxes 53

( 'possum, reference to 8, 156

( Irca, Alaska, blue fox-farms at •" "0

Otter, ( iUiailian, descriptiim of 99

destnutinii of homes of 4

lirtK'fliiii; liaUts of • • . 102

domestication of 1-19

fencin>; of yards for 103

IimmI habits of 102

Otter, I anadian, n- a fur-l>earer 100

-eneral habits of 100, 101

nricos of pelts of 99

ranchinK of 103

range of 100 101

reference to '. 8

< itter, fca, offerings of, at auction sales 193

skins of, on London market 157

fur of, standard for durability 125

reference to 5, 14

value of pelt of 90

INDEX

27:»

fHtj-r bliuiil, n4en«<t |.. « blue (ont

Oulton Island, fc-x ranrh on

Oulton, IlolNrt T , tarly work -.f, with fo«e»
Oiark mnuntnin^, range for elk in . ,

71
17

Iff
115

PiflUft Uro , fox-rnnitilni: l)y
P»rka olothinfc rffi'n-rir<< tn
'PutoraUnt M»(j«iinp,' infurnmtirm fniin

PiKagonU, fur hchI nkini from

Peak ialand, fox-farniinK nn

Pearl UUnd, fox-farming on

Pckun (we under Fisher)

VeiXit of fur-bearers, reference to

IVnnant Marten (mmj under Fifhrr)

Pen« and kennel* for foxes, ammKcment of

oonstniction of

"Performancp records" of foxes, desirability <.f
Perry Island, fox-famiing on. . . .
Pcnrian lamb (see alao under Karakul ahrep)
derivation of name .

poaiibiliticR for, in AmeriiH . .

reference to

■ales of

where obtained

Peru, fur production in

Peterson & Brower, blue fox farmers

Philadelphia, ai market for muakrat flesh

Piastre Bate, Que., breeding of foxcitut

Point Barrow, reindeer at

Pointe iileue, Que

Poisons for killing fui^bearers

Poland, Emeat, letter from, quotetl

statistics prepared by 104.199

Uenry, quoted re effect of climate <>n tur .

statistics prepared by 201

I' H. 4 Sons, statistics prepared by

^see also under Foxes, blue)

descrintion of

PoiUva Affricultural Society, re karakul sheep

Pond I Jani' fox-farming on

Pontiai , Mich., elk-breeding at

Pony, Tartar, reference to

Port £lgin, N.B., fox industry at

Prainik island, reference to

Piibilof islands, fox-farming on

seals of, reference to

Prices, cvii.-x-iit, for fun, .\pril, VSU \\

Prices of furs, statistics rt

lilS

. 70

•.,117

I'oland,

Poland,
Polar f )

2i;

■''•,

43
40

68
70

. ta
. II

. las

. 81

. 187

->. M
. 1S3
. IM

lis

. Vi'.i

218

202

193

83
70
144
8
&1
70
71

flii

■ i'
f

274 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

I'VOE

Prices o( pelta, table showing increase in ^

Price of silver fox pups, rise in 131 216

Prices o{ ff^aple skins

Prince Edward Island, blue foxes in

centre of fur-farming industry *

ciaie for fox-ownership in "^

early fox ranches in **•

foxes in captivity in, in 1912 M

foxes of, a distinct variety 20

fox-ranches in, in 1909 **

fur.fanner«, Hat of, in 223

fur-fumiing in ■^■

karakul sheep in ril

killing of foxes in ^*'

legislation re foxes in 31, 47, 165, 176

prices of skins from 133, 136

Russian sable in ^

silver fox pups, rise in price of , in •»

silver fox skins, at London sales 28

sales of 1905-12 136

wild animals shipped to ^l

Prince of Wales sound, fur-farms on islands in _^

Prince William sound, foxes on islands in

Quebec, city of, conveyance of reindeer to _

early 'ox ranch near _

fox industry at

Quebec, province of, conservation of game in, article on |»^

description of foxes of '

foxes in captivity in, in 1912 °*

fox ranches in, in 1909

fur-farmers, list of , in

fur-farming in oi V? i-q

legislation re fur-bearers, in J'. *'' ''-j

minks found in

suggestions re game licenses in

128
Rabbit skins, imports of, to London ^^

use of, in London and Australia

Raocoon, description of g^

number and value of pelts of

reference to breeding of

,, ',"

reference to fur of ,„

sale of skins of, in London ^^^

slaughtering of ^2^

Raw furs, commerce in .g

Rayner, Silas, fox-ranching by

IJIDEX

113,
115,

Registration, of "perfonnance records" of foxes sugKestcl m

of reindeer in Alaska ,m.

Reindeer, appropriations for, in Alaska ,?J

inAlaska j"

in Canada ]"

at Great Slave lake

in Labrador

in North West territorieB

registration of

stampede of, loss due to

transportation by, in Alaska j]^

Resurrection bay, foxes on islands in

Revillon Frftres, fox-ranching by.

fur dealers .^.

Richardson, C. D., article on wild animals hy... ...... ..].,', ,[]'']"[ ,37

member American Hm-dcrs" Association 141

quoted n muakrat

Ringworm in foxes

Ritchie, A. R., blue fox farmer

Robben island, fur-seal skins from .I?

Robertson. Dr., early experiment of, with foxes . . . . \ ig

Rodentia, animals comprising ,,

Rodents, description of animals comprisinR. . . j.^

Roseberry, C. H., article on Virginia deer, by joo

Ross, Dr. Alex., on fox diseases and surgery •« =.

Russ, G. W.. breeder of elk ' ?!

Russia, fox and ••bl.-farms in t.

fur-beareia^ farmed in

fur exports from

fur production in

fur-seal treaty with, referreti to

karakul sheep in

ranching of sable in

Russian lamb, annual consumption of

Russian sable, number shipped to P. E. Island, 1912-13

value of

Rustico, P. E. Island, model storage house at

113
116
lU
116
IM
116

70
15

159
53

.188,

120

189

7
31
90
44

Sable, Alaaka

Sable, durability of '

reference to (ur of _ ^

Sable, Russian, skins sold in London in 1906 ' ' ,27

vilue of skin of 14 131

St. .\nthony, Newfoundland, reindeer shipped from '114

St. Catharine , Ont., breeding of foxes :.t ,g

St. Geonje island, blue to«. on .....■...'. ..■.cs; 7i;V3. 76

seals formeriy killed on ,,

St. Joscph-d'Alma, Que., eariy fox ranch at ........' 15

'!|

'iiii.

276

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

FAOB

145

St. Louis, market for elk meat at ^^

St. Paul island, referred to re foxes ^^^

«., „ • t'X*"*""'""" m 127: 156; lOO-iga,' 195-216

Sales of fur m London '*"' »• • > ^^

Samalga island, fox-farming on " ' ■ .

Saskatchewan, 1 -islation re foxes and fur-bearers in ^L »»^

Seal, Alaska

public sales of ' " ' '

average price of ^^

catch of, fur j25

dunjbiUtyoffurof • - - ^^

public sales of

skins offered annually

varieties of

See UtUr, Sta

Semidi Propsgation Co., fox-farming by

Seton, Ernest Thompson, letters from, quoted

on blue foxes • ■

97,

14
196
218

. . .69,
.104,

.107,

195
7

70
154

98
147
153

190

125

133

on marten

on skunks

Shisbmerof, Alaska, rwi.deer at

Shumagin island, blue foxes on iua' Voo

Siberia, fur production m _

Silver fox, capitaliiation of companies farming

centres of industry "1

final value of

Silver fox furs, durability of

reference to

Silver fox skins, average price of

points in judging Z '.'.m.m

^^P^Kisiand. ::::::: ::::::::::::^^

Simeonof island, fox-farming on ' ^^

Skin diseases of foxes ._g

Skins, imports to England .„j^

lists of prices of ,2i

packing of, for market , ,_

preparing for manufacture

price of silver fox ..,„

Skint, production of fox j„

quantities sold

Skunk, habits of _,

number of, shipped to P. E. Island, 1912-13 ^ ^^

reference to 1 .„

slatightering of ^0^

capital required ,_^

fanning, development of ^^

methods used _

Skunk f\ir,renaming of ^^

sale of

INDEX

277

PAOB

Skunk pelts, value of (10, 105

Small island, fox-farming on 70

Smith bland, fox-fanning on 70

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, reference to 11

South America, fur production of 187, 189, 195

statistics of fur production 186

South Sea, fur seal skins from 195

South Semidi island, fur-farming on 70

Spence, Louis, discovery of, re foxes 28

SprattB Patent, quoted r* fox diseases 49

Squirrel island, fox-farming on 70

Statistics re American furs 201

re catch of fur seals 194

re import of turs to London 191, 192

of fur production 186

of fur-seal offerings 193, 105

of fur prices 215, 219

re Hudson's Bay Go's fur sales 201-214

re public sales of seal skins 195-200

Stevenson, Chas., quoted re dressing of fur 124

Story, Walter, blue fox farmer 70

Stretching boards, how made 120

Stretching cased skins 120

Summary Convictions Act, P. E. Island, reference to 177

Summerside, P. E. Island, fox-industry at 17, 18, 61, 61

Tartar names of fun and their meaning 83

Tcharjui, district of, habitat of karakul sheep 81

Texas, karakul sheep industry in 81, 85, 87

Thorer, Carl, estimates of, on Persian lamb sales 126

re karakul sheep 81

Thorstenacn, Louis, blue fox-farmer 70

Tignish, P. E. Island, early fox ranches at 15-16

'Times', London, article from, quoted 156

Toledo, Ohio, muskrat^arming at 163

'Trapper's World', quoted 161

Tuplin, Frank, early fox-rancher 17

Tuplin, Robert, early fox-rancher 17

Unalaska, blue foxes on islands near 70

ITnga island, foxes on island near 70

Vrmulaia, species comprising 12

United States, fur seal treaty with, referred to 4

karakul sheep in 11, 86, 88

undressed seal skins from 129

United States Commission on Fish and Fisheries, summary of report of 124

978

COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION

PAOI

United SUtei Dept. of Agriculture, bulletin of, quoted ISO

eiroular oi, on kankula, quoted 80

dreulu of, on minki, quoted 96

eiroulw of, on skunks, quoted 108

Virginia deer, rsiMng of 139, 140

Wallaby skins on London market 157

Wales, cape, reindeer at 153

Wallace, Prof., work of, with karakul sheep 81

Wapiti, breeding of 144

Wannth and weight of furs 124

Washburn, W. L., blue fox farmer 70

Washington, D.C., market for muskrat flesh UO

minks near I50

Weasel family, species included in. gO

Weasel, reference to skin of g

Weight of furs 124

Western Canada, fur-farming in 1

Whale island, fox-farming on 70

Whelpley, J. D., quoted re fur trade 128

Wild cat skins, sold on London market 156

Wilson, T. J., on raising elk 145

Wire used for fox ranch fences 36

for marten pens 97

for mink pens 92

for otter 103

for raccoons 89

for skimk pens 105, 109

Woodland site for fox ranch, advantages of 33

Wright, M. F., blue fox fanner 70

Wright, Peter, reference to game license held by 184

Wyoming, Ont., fox industry at 15, 64

Young, Dr. C. C, referred to re karakul sheep 81, 87

Yukon, information re foxes of 29

Yukon island, fur-farming on 70

Zeh, Lillian, article by, on rpfnOeer 152

Zoological Society of London, referred to 97

' Zoologist', referred to 97