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Show FOX-FARMING A GOLD MINE Some years ago one Lamb fa Canadian Cana-dian farmer of that name, and not a quadruped cherishing an hereditary resentment), while hunting some Strayed cattle in the woods, found two ilVer-fox pups, a male and a female, in a hollow log. He contrived to carry car-ry them home, anil swapped them with a neichbor for a cow and a few dollars dol-lars to boot. The neighbor experimenter experi-menter ior several years with various vari-ous Kinds of pens and trealmont, but finally krame discouraged and sold the foxes for eighty dollars to another neighbor, who also was no more successful suc-cessful than the late owner. This second man gave ever his experiment to a third man, who lived on an Island Is-land In Casnimper bay The quiet of the new place, the increasing tame-ness tame-ness of the foxes and the intelligence ol the new keeper produced conditions that relieved Mme Reynold's nervous apprehension for her young's sofetv, and three pups were reared to maturity matur-ity in two seasons This success, the result of eight years' experimentation, i gave a strong Impulse to a brand new Industry Farmers have not many new-Industries new-Industries to turn to nowadays and this one began In earnest About six men possessed a knowledge of the fine art of rearing foxes In captivity, and Jealously guarded their secret until 1910. Up to that time no live foxes j were sold exeept some light ' silvers'' to distant places. The surplus animals were killed and the pelts marketed in London One dark silver pelt was sold for $2.00i i at a London auction, and in 1910-11 prices of $2,700 an 1 $2,500 were obtained ob-tained Since then as ranch as $3. son has been realized, the biggest price ever paid for the pelt of any kind of animal. Now that the secret Is out, fox farms are springing up in Canada in all directions, di-rections, and ho n forth if would seem that the production of costlv fur is only a problem for the animal husbandman. hus-bandman. Perhaps the day will soon come when books of fox. marten, otter and mink pedigrees will be published. One 'fox farm recently visited by the writer on the banks of the St Iaw-rence Iaw-rence contained eighteen animals, for which the owner demanded $7."..-i00. Strand Magazine. |