The Nome nugget., 1928-11-17

OCtopeT FOX oIceucE $ NdZctlc, d condensed report obtained by Dr. G. Ennis Smith at the Experimental Fox Ranch at Sunamerside The ex- periments referred to were for the purpose of determining some of the factors controlling the breed ing of foxes, particularly the ad- visibility of having the females fat or lean for best breeding.
 Dr. Smith has now prepared a paper which elaborates on the i'm formation already published by the Fox Breeders Gazette, and which Is printed in full in a recent num- Der of the Canadian publication, Fox News.
 Against Previous Ideas
 Some of the findings recorded at the experimental ranch are con- trary to the ideas of many breed CTS. In the opening paragraph of the article the following general statement is made:
 ''The evidence obtained in our experimental work demonstrates that those conditions that tend to produce normal reproduction also induce development of the SUI preme qualities of the texture, col or and growth of the fur"
 "The most satisfactory results" according to Dr. Smith. have been obtained in the Experimental Fox Ranch with the females that have been reduced in weight during the summer months and have gained fifty per cent or more in weight from the beginning of September to the end of December
 No Failure Recorded
 Tt has been found that such females are in a condition to breed successfully each year and also that they come in heat at the same time each succeeding year With such females there does not appear to be the slightest difficulty with regard to their nursing their pups; in fact. in the Experimental Ranch, there has not been a single case where the mothers have failed to nurse their young and raise them success fully where they have made a gain in weight Of over forty per cent during the fall"
 Two typical examples illustrating these findings are given. Fox No. IS remained about the same weight or reduced slightly during the sum- mer months each year, from 1922 1925 inclusive But from Septem- Der she gained steadily, adding from four to five pounds body weight, approximately 50 per cent. Two of these years she mated on February and two on February 3, raising a litter each year.
 Gaining Weight in Summer
 The history of Fox No. 16 was similar except flor the year 1924. During that summer she was fad diet much higher in protein fp-eb- ably more meat). As result she gained instead of lost. weight dur ing the summer. hut on the other hand, her gain throughout the subsequent months was less than usual. At the end of December her weight was not up to normal for that period and during the succeed ing breeding season she did not come in heat Regarding this Dr. Smith says:
 "It has been an inevitable exper- fence during our experimental work that whenever foxes have heli their weight during the summer months they never make a very large gain during the fall; and inste?d of get tiry in bette- condition az the breeding season. approaches they appear to be on the down erade.'
 With such females tha. have hold their weight during tho sum- mer months snd failed to make what is considered a satisfactory gain during the fall. when fe :! heav- ilv at the beHinning of ih, year and throughout the breed"s sea s,n. the evidence obtained indicated flat the chances of breeding arc very remote that season. On the