Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-12-15
FOX FARMING PAYS
CANADIAN RANCHERS
On Prince Edward Island Il
Brings an Annual Revenue of
$1,000, 900 or More.

NV the holding here Of an exhibition Of
silver black foxes, which has brought
together what is described as I'M
doubtcdly the finest collection Of foxes
IN the world. n
Although the days of fabulous prices
Cor foxes are over, the 30O-odd little
animals IN the exhibition are valued
ri more than 100000. Not one Of
them would be sold for less than 81 900.
While many of them are valued at
5000 or more.
Fifteen years ago Blake Naunetter,
n farmers boy at Georgetown, Ont,
caught pair of ordinary wild foxes
on his fathers farm. Despite parental
opposition, he preserved then. and
they became the foundation OF the
largest fox ranch in Ontario. Thirty
four of his animals were found worthy
for the exhibition and all are registered
showing they conform with the Mende-
Ian process of breeding. A portion
Of the old Vaunetter farm has become
an all-stccl ranch, the first OF ITS KIND
in the world The home OF fox ranching
in Prince Edward Island, the baby
province of Canada.
Today the industry flourishes in
Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New
Brunswick. Michigan, New York State
and many other Eastern and western
States.
Prince Edward Islands foxes arc
valued at S6.OOO,OOO and they pro-
ducc in revenue two or three million |
dollars year. As the total population
OF the Province is less than 10000
IL will he seen what an important IN
dustry foxes have become for the IN
habitan's. Some OF the ranches repre- !
sent fortunes.
Altogether there arc 794 fur farms
IN Canada, Of which 15s are fox, i
mink. raccoon. marton, skunk,
karakul. 3 beaver, 3 muskrat.
The Province Of New Brunswick
claims the honor of possessing the
largest fox ranch in the world. This
ranch il situated on the Little River
fifteen miles from the city on Mono
ton. In 1913 the Colpit,s brothers
who then were farmers living IN a
sparscly settled agricultural district
used 10 their advantage knowledge
Of the habits of wild animals acquired
in hunting and trapping in earlier days.
Theirs was a modest venture OF
single pair OF foxes, while today they
are the proud possessors OF more than
1000 pups, apart from the old ones
numbering 600. thus placing this ranch
as the largest single ranch in the world
About 1910 the real development of
the fox industry in Canada began.
The knowledge that the men already
engaged IN the enterprises were reap
ing handsome profits from the sale
II pclts gradually leaked out and
scramble TO get possession OF founda-
ton stock became a veritable craze.
In 1913 promotions or companies sue
cecded ono another rapidly. Merchants,
professional men, farmers and traders
took hand at the game. There was
Wild scramble for options in the opening
months of the year and later stin wilder
Orsions moro or less secure comprised
III the capital needed by most of the
promoters More foxes were pledged in
advance Of their birth than survived
from httcrS horn. Prices advanced
during the fall to $4,000 per pair and
even higher. and these were capitalized
m many cases AZ double their cost.
The cost Of a pair steadily rose
from 5000 in 1910 to $4,000 in 1918,
and during the heydav Of the boom
- much as $4,000 was paid for excep-
tional specimens.
\ cash expenditure Of $4,000 20
$4,000 will now purchase ten pairs o.
the finest Young foxes, build and equip
ranch. and pay for care and admins
traiion for one wear. With results the
hrst season and the selling Of only
enough Of the young 20 provide for
extensions 20 the plant and for cur
rent expense. the owner should possess
o. the beginning OF the second veal
- lcaSi fifteen pairs In two more season.
hi- weld. II marketed with averag,
.hiu. should return the whole origina
Investment and leave the owner witt
% good business fully paid for
The ranches arc built either in s
grove OF trees, IN an orchard or IL
The orcn. The foxes are kept in pens
made 81 heavy galvanized mesh wire
sunk m the ground about three fee
20 prevent the foxes burrowing 10
freedom The wire fences are bull
about eight feet high and have AT
lycrhanglng wire shelf at the top {,
Keep the foxes from climbing over.
Tho ranch fox is fed on beef. NUT
ION. hor~c-meat. pork, beef and porl
hearts. beef t-ipe, beef liver, lami
plucks. tsh, fox biscuits. rice, rolled
oats. oatmeal, wholewheat -four, bral
honemeal. cornrneal. eggs. milk
swede turnips and codliver oil Tn
cos' 81 feeding averages about so cent
each per week.
There are now being built in P. T..
open ranches completely away iron
the old idea OF wooded places. Il
regard 10 small pens. one successful
rancher there SAWS that IN 1913. whe
he started. be- used pens 50y6O feet O
south SIDE slOping ground that rancher
said was an ideal spot. but for fiv
vears the best year he had was onl
li5 per cent, which is very low. b
accident he ranched female in
she'd and she had four and raised ever
one. Vie then adopted the shed an
small run. and tins year he had 200 u
cent increase, which means an averap
Of four 20 pair.
ioxes m the wild state form O colon
Hui live together II not disturbe,
The old couple remain al home, burro
1rar after wear n bood conditions hol
uui and will burrow dozens of holes
fhp sam. hillside. The Young on,
dropped IN March will get out for then
-elves IN October and find a burro
~ their own. When the proper seaso
hnds female burrow during the matir
-eason aud takes a fancy 10 her he vi
hunt and carry presents OF rabbit
whirh h. places at the entrance of n
purfoN II she accepts his gifts the
mate. n not he carries them away agai
After the little ones are born tb
lcmalr remains AZ home and the ma
sfrnds hie time hunting and keeplr