The Ordway new era., 1922-11-10

CS il Try, says IL speciai us
- patch from Moncton,
n. B., to the New York
Herald It Is very doubtful If Call
fornla has anything on fox ranching
when, IN 40, the blast of her siren call
resoundPd from coast to coast, and
men became gold mad In their frenzy
TO get rich quick"
The province of New Brunswick
claims the honor of possessing the
largest ranch in the world. This
ranch is situated on the Little river,
10 miles from the city of Moncton. In
1913 the Colpitts brothers-who then
we're farmers living III n sparsely set
tied agricultural district--saw great
possibilities for fox ranching, and
used to their advantage knowledge of
the habits of wild animals acquired
In hunting and trapping in earlier
days
Theirs was Il modest venture of
single pair of foxes, while today they
are the proud possessors of more than
1000 pgps, apart from the old ones,
numbering 600, thus placing this ranch
us lllH lalS lStSl SlhSlt 80
world 1t may be of interest to follow
the evolution and workings of TINS
ranch. Besides the main Colpitts
ranch the Little river valley Is dotted
with smaller ranches. in all of which
they have an interest. The largest OF
these smaller ranches is the Anglo
American. with about 300 foxes. All
the foxes in these ranches are of the
silver black strain and nearly all OF
them from the original Colpitts pair.
Foxes breed but once n year, reported
cases of more frequent breeding being
moi well authenticated. Litters of five,
six, and even seven pups are not un-
common, although the usual number
is four and five.
The modern fox ranch at a distance
resembles a wartime ENHANCEMENT, be-
ing built entirely of heavy wire netting
seven or eight feet high, with an over
hang to prevent the foxes from making
their escape into the open or from get
ting from one pen to another. For
merly the ranches were inclosed by
high board fence with wire inside
TO prevent the foxes from burrowing
holes, and thus making their escape.
The idea was to keep the, foxes from
view because of their timid and suspi-
cious nature.
The best ranches, however, have
discarded the high board fence and
visitors are allowed not only to see
from the outside, but are taken
through the ranches and into the pens
right among the foxes. The Colpitts
ranch covers several acres, the great
inclosure being divided into hundreds
Of pens, each provided with wooden
box for shelter and breeding pen.
The fox likes the open and plays and
runs about, climbing the wire netting
and otherwise dIsporting himself, eS-
cept In hot or wet weather, when he
seeks shelter. They do not mind the
cold. and with the temperature be-
low zero will remain out In the open
without the slightest sign of discom-
fort. AS matter of fact. they ap-
pear to enjoy the extreme cold.
1t Is only in the mating and pupping
season that the fox is kept In seclu-
sion and outsiders barred from the
ranches. DIR. Il. A. Randall Of Truro,
Nova Scotia. an old fox farmer, says
After foxes have mated and have
been separated the ranchman makes
daily visits to the females pen, opens
1t every day and shuts her in the house
every night. She becomes accustomed
to these visits and shows very little
fear or nervousness. Pups are due
in 81 to So days after mating. When
the pups have arrived the female is
kept confined in the breeding pen for
three days. at the end Of which time
She becomes attached to 1t and does
not want to carry her pups out.