The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1906-04-13
f: HAS "A FOX FARM,
MISSIONARY RAISES ANIMALS
FOR THEIR PELTs.
Experiment Pronounced Success, and
Others Are Engaging In the BusI-
ness-lnstance Of cannibalism Not
ed by Or. Grenfeil.

p. T. McGrath writes to The D1ls-
News from st. Johns, N. F.: "One at
the pet theories of the authoSs c.
mai stories, that creatures Of given
-"--'~e - sIErpiay marked affection for
.:-..l other, has received a rude shock
from the experience of DR.. Grenfell,
the well-known Labrador missionary,
who has added to his multitudinous
activities by establishing fox farm at
the mission hospital in the far north
|of this island, where he is wintering.
On Christmas day DR.. Grenfell had
given orders to the keeper of the lit
tie farm to provide the foxes with a
substantial Christmas dinner. But de-
spite the fact that they had never been
allowed to lack for whale meat, they
made for themselves special repast.
They killed and devoured. all but the
feet and tail, of one of their own num-
Der. In the pen where this foul deed
was perpetrated there we're four
young foxes and the one killed was a
brother of the fat fellow who ate most
of him. The establishment, there
OIS, 10 COIuplGlC.
"The industrial aspect Of the mat
ter. however, is more encouraging. Fox
farming. as a business, is now being
taken hold of in several parts Of mar
thine Canada and Newfoundland and
excellent results are accruing to those
engaged in the venture. 1t requires
careful preparation, though, else a
whole flock of the animals may be
lost. They resent their confinement
and will burrow down deep into the
earth to get under the fences which
inclose them, when they will all es-
cape. So it has become necessary to
dig g; trench round their pens and to
erect fence of wire netting therein,
carrying this up to the height of a
mans chest above ground, this plan
preventing their escape in any man
ner. DR.. Grenfell's great hope is to
be able to breed the silver gray, or
arctic foxes, the pelts of which sell at
from $50 to 5000 each. This is a COM
paratively unknown venture, the
breeding of the common red fox being
the general practice. Arctic foxes are
difficult to get. save in a habitat like
northern Newfoundland or Labrador,
where also it is possible to reproduce
the fur of a strength and beauty not
attainable in more southern areas.
Demonstration of foxes involves
careful attention to details Of food, ex-
ercise and surroundings, but in the
event OF success handsome results are
often realized. The foxes at first are
sullen. morose or vicious, constantly
quarreling or passionately beating
themselves against their prison walls,
frequently dying of the fever induced
by these paroxysms. In time, though,
by kind treatment, they become more
reasonable in their moods. and ulti-
mately they will mate and breed as
under natural conditions. The skins
of the offspring sometimes develop
ood markings or parti-colors, throw.
ing back or reversion to original con-
ditions which are interesting to sci
entists, but improbable to the farm.
err Red-fox skins bring So to SO
each if in prime condition, and as
their food is the only item of outlay,
it is easy to make the business prof
liable. The experiment of domesticat-
ing and breeding silver foxes promises
vastly more money than the other"