The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-04-01
FOX FARM Planned
FOR THIS. DISTRICT
Local Men Are Interested in
Promoting Novel Enter
prise Near Missoula.
LOCATION IS GOOD
Government Locates This
City in One of Best Fur
Bearing Sections.
LOCATION. IS GOOD

@--
Missoula is to have fox farm
Moreover it iS to be the home of the
aristocrat Of foxes, the silver blacl
fox. Recently company was incor.
rorated under the name of the Mon.
tanl Silver Black Fox company Will
q capital stock of 100000, with Mis-
soula and Butte men as the principal
stockholders. for the purpose of es-
tablishing such n farm in Montana
The location Of the farm has not been
definitely decided upon, but two sites
near Misso,lla are under consideration
and one of them will be chosen. Defi-
mite arrangements will be made and
the farm started this summer, say
some of the stockholders.
With the advance Of civilization the
natural sources Of commercial fur are
disappearing and the establishment OF
farms for the demonstration and
breeding Of r-bearing animals is
fast becoming q profitable business
Last year the expenditure for fur over
the entire world amounted to $780,
100000. Several skunk, mink and
beaycr farms are now being operated
with signal success, but it is the silver
black fox farms that are proving the
most profitable. The owners of the
proposed fox farm here at Missoula
arc planning to make an effort to raise
mink. martin, beaver and otter in adj
dition to the foxes.
Good Natural Location.
Missoula has been selected as the
location of the farm on the recommen-
cation of the government. The coun-
ty lies in the heart Of one of the few
fur-bearing districts in the United
States. Believing that the demand
from similar farms for pi,re-bred
specimens will warrant it. the man
agement will direct its efforts to rails
ing foxes for breeding purposes only
for the first two or three years. and ii
will not be until the demand for live
specimens has decreased that the ami
mails will be killed for their pelts
Breeding silver foxes was first un-
dertaken about 20 years ago on Prince
Edward island. Canada. There are as
yet very few fox farms in the United
States. Maine has about 10, Michigan
has ono and Wisconsin has one. The
industry has, however, passed the ex-
detrimental stage and is becoming Il
matter of practical business with ar
enormous field for development.
Easily Cared For.
The care and feeding of the foxes
Is simple. In the wild state they ar,
not entirely carnivorous, subsisting or
grass and berries as well as meat. Ir
captivity they are fed on horse meat
Old horses are bought for the pur-
pose. The meat is carefully dressed
and kept in cold storage until needed
Any old horse is good enough fol-
this use If the animal is without dis
ease. 1t is estimated that s25 viii cas-,
lily pay for the feed of a pair of foxe.
for n year.
Foxes are mated in pairs and To-
life--unless some serious disagree
,nent occurs. which is seldom. Eacl
fox has an enclosure Of 25x5O feet al
It's own. that of the male and the fe
male being side by side and inter
communicating. The division is neve
closed, except in pupping time. whel
the male fox is excluded from TIL,
nursery. This is done to prevent hin
from eating up the babies, which h
sometimes does.
While the price of a pair OF silve
black foxes is very high, they easil
pay for themselves. They breed ono
Il year and usually have litter o
from four to eight pups. They are
very healthy animal and there are n
known fox diseases. The fox rancho
usually counts on raising the entir
litter.
The raising of pure bred foxes /
pairs is probably one of the mos
profitable branches of the industr,
II the animals have strain of re
fox blood in them it will show in tn
succeeding generations and pure bre
animals are valuable for breedin
purposes. Pure bred silver blac
foxes have sold for as high as $4,000
n pair.
People who know realize somethin
OF the enormous value of the 70.
Their present value on the mark,
ranges about as follows:
Pure black pelts are the most va
nable, the prices ranging from s5(
to $4,000 each, according to their qua
ity. These pure black pelts alwa,
have few silver hairs on Il
launches and about the face. The.
silver hairs do not enhance the beaut
Of the fur, but they make it impossib
to initiate. Too many silver hair
j., however. detract from the beaut,
therefore, the pelts grade down, qua
ter black, half black and three qua
ter blacks-the price ranging dow
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