The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1921-05-31
FOX FARMING IS ON
THE INCREASE IN U. S.
ANIMALS AND EQUIPMENT
REPRESENT A VALUE OF
MORE THAN 100000.

Approximately 4,849 siiver-black
foxes are being bred in captivity in
the United States, according to reports
to the bureau of biological survey,
United States department of agricul-
ture, from us fox ranches, represent
ing value in animals and equipment
estimated at $4,279,830. Ali reports
have not yet been received, and con-
servative estimates place the number
of silver-b1ack foxes in this country
at from 5000 to 5000. Some ranch
men estimate the number as high as
10000.
Statistics on the fox ranching bus
mess being gathered by the bureau in
dictate that fox raising in the United
States, especially in the northern tier
of states, is rapidly becoming an i'm
portant industry. The information
sought has to do chiefly with the To-
cation and number of ranches, number
of foxes and money invested.
Prince Edward island, Canada, is
regarded as the center of the indus
try. Many foxes are now bred in a
great number of states, including
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont,
Massachusetts, New York, Pennsyl-
vania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin,
Oregon, Washington, Colorado and
California and in Alaska. 1t is prob
able that there are other states in
which fox farming is carried on, as
the records of the bureau are not yet
complete.
Ranchers Reticent About Business.
Officials say it is very difficult to Sc
cure authentic information for the
reason that some ranchers decline to
fill out and return the questionnaires
sent them. Many rancherS who voun
teer information report it i'll such a
manner that it is sometimes very dit
fcut to interpret Then, too, in addi-
ton to raising silver-black foxes,
skunks, martens and muskrats, the
amount of money invested and report
ed, therefore, in such cases naturally
covers the whole project, making it
to allot the correct amount
for breeding silver-black foxes. Some
ranchers board foxes for other breed
ers. which also adds to the difficulty
of securing correct information. These
facts, it is said, should be borne in
mind in determining the value of the
following figures concerning silver
black foxes. These figures are prelim-
mary, as the reports have not all been
received.
Approximate number and value of
silver-black foxes and fur-farm equip
ment reported in the United States
follows: Ranches 215, number OF fox
es 4,849, value of animals and equip
ment $4,279,830. The fox farms are
located in the eastern and northwest
ern states, Michigan leading all other
states.
Importation Is Increasing.
The permits issued by the depart"
ment of agriculture for the importa-
ton of foxes into the United States
from Canada for the year 1920 totaled
805 as compared with 335 in 1919.
Here, again, it is impossible to ascer-
tain the exact number of foxes COM
ing in for the reason that many are
brought in for exhibition purposes and
then returned to Canada.
The number of silver-black foxes in
Canada in 1919 is given in prelimi-
nary report of the dominion bureau of
statistics as 6.433, with animals valued
at $3,013,115, not including equipment.
There were 1920 pelts sold at a total
valuation of $482, 364. These figures,
it is said, are as nearly correct as it is
possible to secure; but it is thought
that there are undoubtedly many more
foxes in Canada than are here reported.