The New York herald., 1922-09-17

item Of information, for It Is not
generally known that these Titles foxes
are not unlike some folk who go through
life clothed In purple and nne linen.
using their gorgeous attire to cover many
sins. Thus do these wee potentates get
by. blissfully unconscious OF their
natural aroma--which one cannot really
compare to peach garden.
silver Strain Developed.
The origin OF the silver black fox Is
somewhat obscure. A Mr.. Oulton.
pioneer In fur farming in New Bruins
wick says the original black foxes came
from Newfoundland but the silver strain
has been a development in breeding.
The native fox OF New Brunswick Is
red and the fur of little value.
The fox Is a small animal of the
cat species and in size between cat
and .. small dog. When fully furred
out, as in the winter season. it appears
much larger. This little animal is seen
at its worst at this season. and Is
rather lean and lanky looking The
silver streaks are just now beginning
to appear coming first In the forehead
and gradually spreading over the body.
BY December the fur will be thick and
heavy, and II Is then those animals
which do not prove satisfactory breed
ers are "pelted" for market The fox
Is. very cute looking little animal
though not as shapely as the skunk.
Timidity and suspicion are its chief
characteristics. and ii is not at all
vicious, being handled with ease. Few
OF them become tame although when
THE New YORK HERALD correspondent
visited the Colpitt branch the other day
one of the particular pets would answer
the call of the proprietor and would
feed out OF his hand.
Formerly foxes were caught in the
wild state In all part of Canada, but
destruction of wild life goes on at a
rapid pace I'm all parts Of the world
DR.. Hornaday, director OF the New
York Geological Park. is authority for
the statement that In New York state
there are 500 destructionists TO every
while In the West and
in Canada there are a thousand TO one.
in Alaska the ratio is 1000 to one and
in South Africa there are one hundred
thousand destroying wild life to every
one preserving It. The buffalo which
once roamed the prairies. is quite extinct.
except for specimens in the Government
reservations or national parks, and so 1t
is with most other native wild animals.
7bs Fox Farms In Canada.
Hence the fur farms. and fur farming
official statistics show that there arc
794 fur farms in Canada, OF which 75S
are fox. IL mink. 9 raccoon. Z marten,
skunk. karakul sheep. beaver, 3
muskrat. The increase in the number
OF farms over 1920 is 206. The number
OF animals on these farms Is 2,455,
valued at $5,775,095, as compared with
16.529 animals valued at $4.722,905 In
the previous year There are hundreds
Of small ranches which are not included
In this enumeration. There are two
fox breeders associations in Canada
and two in the United States The
Canadian associations are the Silver
Black Fox Breeders of Prince Edward
Island and the Canadian Silver Fox
Breeders.
Foxes in the wild state form colony
and live together II not disturbed. The
old couple remain ar-the home burrow
year after year IL food conditions hold
out and will burrow dozens OF holes In
the same hillside. The young ones
dropped In March will get out for them
selves In October and find n burrow OF
their own. When the proper season
comes they seek mate. II the male
finds O female burrOW during the mat
ing season and takes fancy to her he
will hunt and carry presents OF rab-
bits, which he places at the entrance
Of the burrow. IL she accepts his gifts
they mate, If not he carries them away
again.
After the little ones are born the fe-
male remains at home and the male
spends his time hunting, and keeping
watch. He will starve himself X nee
essary to feed his mate and young ones.
A good male will examine an food and
II he gets dainty morsel will carry 1t
to the entrance of the burrow while
the female Is nursing the young and
call her out and give 1t to her. Many
fathers can take lesson from the fox
In providing for his family and yet
many ranchers separate male and fe-
male after mating season.
In the United States are the Amer
lean Fox Breeders Association of Boston
and the National Silver Fox Breeders
Association of Muskegon.
There are fur farms of different kinds
in most Of the United States as well as
in all the provinces OF Canada. States
reporting ranches are New York, New
Jersey, Massachusetts, Maine, New
Hampshire. Vermont, Illinois, Indiana,
Pennsylvania, Iowa. Michigan, Ohio.
California. Colorado. Idaho, Kansas,