Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-05-18
SILVER BLACK FOX
FARMING IN STATE
HAS WIDE OUTLOOK
Collins Corporation Now Forming at
Reedsburg viii Promote Ex-
tremely Profitable Industry.
Especial to The Daily Reporter).

| \OpCNldl " 2Nt Ddk1y RcpOk
Reedsburg, May 16.-All phases of
animal husbandry have been carried
| to high degree of development upon
scientific lines, and Wisconsin is again
leading the van by opening to the peo-
pie of the north central states the Won
derful new industry of fur farming, or
the production of Silver Black foxes in
captivity and the city of Reedsburg
has already "blazed the trail" by the
establishment in 1915, of the first fox
farm in the state, and by preparing to
open a second ranch incorporated I'M
der the title of the Silver Black Fox
company, with capital stock of $780,
900.
Both companies are under the per-
sonal direction and management of DR..
S. J. Collins, who first introduced the
new business into the state about a
year ago when he returned from north
ern Canada with twelve pairs of choice
silver foxes, organized the Reedsburg
Silver Black Fox company, constructed
and equipped a modern fox ranch, and
began the production of domesticated
foxes.
DR.. Collins attention was first di-
rected to the possibilities of the fur
farming industry, while acting as sub
stitute in the office of another veterin-
airy surgeon in Winnipeg. He was one
day called on to examine and certify
to the condition of health of three sill
yer black fox pups in order that they
might be insured during shipment
from Winnipeg to an eastern city,
where they had been consigned to a
fox breeder at the apparently 5enor-
nous price of $4,000.
Profits Attract Attention.
Upon learning the supposed value
of the three baby foxes, the doctor
looked upon the matter as a joke, or
the fancy of an unbalanced mind; but
inquiry and later investigation proved
conclusively that fur farming had pass
ed successfully through it's infancy
| and was then firmly established and
highly profitable industry on Prince
Edward Island, in New Brunswick,
| and other parts of eastern Canada.
Astonished and intensely interested,
he continued his study of the new
proposition and as a result was soon
on his way with dog teams and Indian
guides to search for furred beauties
of the northern woods.
After a never-to-be forgotten Win
ter, the party returned in canoes to
Norway House, Lake Winnipeg, with
so choice silver and royal black foxes,
which were at once shipped to the fox
farms of Prince Edward Island, where
they were in great demand for breed
ing purposes land sold for fabulous
prices.
Industry Carefully Studied.
Several later trips of similar inter
est and profit, were made, and having
by close observation and intelligent in
Ivestigation and study of the fox ranch
ing industry, convinced himself of its
untold possibilities, DR.. Collins decided
to open a fur farm at his home city,
knowing that the location, soil and eli
matte conditions are such as have al
ways produced excellent furs in their
wild state, and must therefore tend to
produce pelts of unsurpassed quality
from domesticated foxes carefully Sc
lected from foundation stock noted for
their high pelt value.
The demand for silver black fox
fur has always been large and has, in
recent years, increased SO rapidly that
the supply of pelts from the wild,
which has been growing less year by
year, is now almost depleted. This
lack of pelts in the natural state, and
the fact that during the twenty-five
year in which ranch-bred fox skins
have been on the fur markets OF the
world they have, on the average sold
at price six times as large as that
obtained for skins of wild silver black
foxes, points out the object, the final
aim Of the fox farmer, which is the
production of high grade furs.
With this aim in mind, and also
with the intention of putting within