The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-12-03
SILVER FOX FARMING

Those thinking of engaging in fox farming as a source of profit should consider carefully the cautions and the data as to the expense of equip weigh Carefully the conservative
 statements as to the profits from this industry, which are Included in U. S. Department of Agriculture Bulletin 801, The Domestication of the Silver Fox.
 The bulletin points out that the
 prices of furs and of breeding ami nals have. fallen considerably since July, 1914, and states that the prices running into thousands of dollars for merIy paid for live silver foxes were based not on the fur value of the an 1mals, but on their possibilities as breeding animals, in an industry in which there was great speculative ex- c1tement. On this general point the author says: "The business of fox breeding will be on a much more stable basis than at present when the value of breeding animals bears an approximate relation to the value of their belts in the open market. The profits in silver fox farming prior to 1910 were realized mainly from the sale of pelts; since then, they have been derived almost entirely from the sale of live foxes for breeding pur- poses. There has been a recent sharp decline in the prices of breeding stock
 The choice of location of a, fox farm is of prime importance. The best furs come from cool, moderately hu-
 mid regions. If a. locality furnishes native furs of high grade, that lo- cality is favorable to the domestica- ton of fur bearers. The climate of the Middle and Southern states is not well suited to this industry, as shown by the medium or low prices com handed by furs from these areas The ratio of expense to income must be considered with care. One can not pay the 1exorbitant prices animals for stocking purposes sometimes bring and expect to raise fur at a profit. Neither can one expect to raise furs of fine quality from in ferior stock. But given a normal market for breeding stock and belts, a, favorable location. a. love for animals, and an ordinary degree of prudence, one may engage in black or silver fox farming with a good prospect of sat- isfactory returns, provided, of course, a high price for belts is sustained. Values of animals and belts were very high a few years, ago, when the industry was being launched, but are now on a much lower basis. Those who contemplate going actively into the business investing their money in corporations or companies organiz- ed for fox farming should investigate thoroughly all phases of the busi- ness.
 The records show that 133 silver fox skins of all grades offered in 1914 at g. London auction sale realized an average value of only SIS each.
 The silver fox is simply a color phase of the common red fox. The name "si1ver fox'' as commonly used by furriers, includes the dark phases of the ordinary red fox variousIy. call ed silver, silver gray, silver black, ie 4< h. with the gray, or tree fox, the fur of which is of comparatively little value The red, the typical cross fox, the silver, and the black fox all in terbreed and when one occurs occa- sionaI examples of the others may be expected This fact can be used, as the bulletin points out, to develop si1vers by cross mating, and selec-