Abstract
Canada experienced a surge of fur farming during the first half of the twentieth century to meet the demands of fashion. The practice was promoted as a relatively easy way in which rural people could earn great income. In the province of New Brunswick, where cash-earning opportunities were limited, many turned to raising foxes. The fox is typically a wild animal and cares for itself when left in its natural habitat. In captivity, however, it required more attention. Farmers treated a wild animal like livestock and faced a range of challenges they needed to overcome if profiting from the animal’s fur had any chance of success. Farmers encountered difficulties in breeding, disease and parasites, and feeding. To help overcome these obstacles, farmers turned to modern scientific methods aided by the establishment of an experimental farm on Prince Edward Island. The farm produced and published a great deal of knowledge on the subject of raising foxes. But even if farmers could raise their animals from pup to pelt, great profits were not guaranteed because they also faced a volatile commodity market.
