The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1914-02-07
HOW FOXES
ARE REARED
G. !. Parker, The Medora Raneher,
Writes les Another Letter In
Series Of P. E. l..
Stories. !

Prince EDWARD, got possession OF q red
fox and kept him chained to stake in
the garden. He was a very foxy fox
and would remain for long time as
though dead, until some unwary old
biddy hen came within the limit of his
circle when he would spring upon her
with such rapidity that she usually
died of heart failure before you could
bat an eye. At that time red fox
was of u little commercial value.
black one was said to be a freak of
nature and one Of that color was seldom
seen. Now it is proved that they can
be bred with q certainty as to color.
twas customary for; trappers catch
ing young foxes in warm weather to
keep them alive until December when
the fur would be ct its best, before
killing. But preyious to 1878 there is
no record Of any in captivity having
reared q litter. We learn that the first
man to succeed along that line was
BENJAMIN Haywood, Tignish, Prince
Island. Later Charles Dalton
secured two pairs of Silver foxes and
with Robert r. Oulton experimental
with them but with Indifferent success.
But eventually they succeeded in rear
ing litters OF pups and in breeding up a
distinct type or strain of Royal Silver
Black foxes and in placing the fox
raising industry ON commercial basis.
This is the same Dalton who IS years
ago put 500 into foxes and last year
sold 20 pairs for $b25. 1000.
For some years this business was COM
Quoted with as little publicity as pos
sible and their chief concern was to
keep of prying neishboEsz from their
For they were growing rich
from sales Of pelts sent to London and
felt, no doubt: like hanging to a good
thing as long as possible. But later
James Luplin. James Gordan, Silas
Raymer, Frank r. Luplin and few
others got started and at the present
time it is said that the probable pelt
value Of foxes secured by those parties
aggregates 100000 and the value OF
their stock as breeders is now in such
demand that possibly $4,000, 900 could
Ebe obtained for it. = VI
S AS late as 1910 there were as few as
q dozen ranches in exislannce and from
government statistics issued this season,
we find that there are now 233, fox
ranches in Prince Edward Island, con.
tanning foxes of all colors, Of which 641
| are old Silver Blacks and 683 pups OF
the same. The sworn, valuation of this
years young foxes was about So, 100, 900.
on which is paid a tax of / per cent
The total value of the industry, includ'
ing ranches ETC., is over $4,000, 600
AS it is proven beyond doubt that the
finest foxes in captivity are decendent
OF foxes captured in Prince Edwart
Island, therefore the best foxes, it i
affirmed, belong to this distinct sub
species or geographical race. becaus
they have been cut off from the main
land. i, ...z,. .E..s i ..,s -,
Being very anxious to see those preci
]ous animals / was much pleased to b
liable to view at close range a pair il
transit in the baggage car of a P. E
/. r. r.. passenger train. my first da
on the Island. Those happened to b
Ea pair Of pups and would not weig
more than seven pounds each. Tn
:Itull grown animal is from nine t
twelve pounds; the pelt from eight t
|5 Continued on page 81