Page 126 - One Thousand Ways to Make $1000

subject, reading every available book published and every government
pamphlet on it. She also visited the few mink ranches scattered throughout
the East and the Middle West. Most of these ranches, she found, were
stocked with Mississippi minks, whereas, the finest type of mink comes from
the north shore of Labrador. The pelts of these animals are as dark and glossy
as sable. A coat made of an inferior grade of mink may bring only from $500
to $800, whereas, a coat made of Labrador skins brings from $6,000 to
$12,000. She reasoned that she might as well raise the best as long as she was
going to risk her time and money into the venture.

She purchased her breeding stock, consisting of 11 males and 19 females,
from a rancher in northeastern Quebec. These animals were pure Labradors
just one generation removed from the wild. She set up her pens on the South
Salem estate and began experimenting, becoming so far as is known the first
woman in this particular work. This was in 1929. In 1930 she was asked to
exhibit her pets at the Woman’s Exposition of Arts and Industries, and it was
this event which marked the turning point in her career. Not one visitor in ten
at this exposition had ever heard of a mink ranch and interest ran high.

From that time on, she was kept busy supplying breeding stock to people who
wanted to start their own mink farms. As a matter of fact, while she started
mink raising to sell the pelts, she has never been able to pelt any of her
animals. They have all been sold as breeding stock to amateur mink ranchers.

From raising minks she has drifted naturally into teaching others how to raise
them. The beginners are instructed in methods of constructing pens and
runways and in proper ways of handling and feeding the animals. Her interest
in her customers, or students, as she terms them, extends a year after they
have purchased their herds. During this time they may write to her about their
problems and she will advise them on points of feeding and handling.

As keeping the minks free from vermin is one difficulty in raising them, Mrs.
Fox emphasizes the importance of building pens so that they are raised from
the ground. With the exception of death from pneumonia, there are almost no
fatalities from disease and if their bedding is always dry minks are not likely
to have even this disease. The minks are fed a varied diet of beef, horse meat,