Up until 1900, Charles Dalton and Robert Oulton were the only individuals breeding foxes in the West Prince area of Prince Edward Island, Canada. In 1900, Dalton sold a pair of breeders to Robert Tuplin and Captain James Gordon and another to B.I. and Silas Raynor. These six men formed the "Big Six Combine" and made a pact not to sell outside the circle. Robert Tuplin soon sold a pair to his nephew, Frank. Frank, unlike the "Big Six Combine" could sell to anyone. Fox farming soon spread throughout the Island with many men, including J.P. Hooper from Charlottetown, shown here, becoming involved in the industry. Photo credit: Public Archives and Record Office of Prince Edward Island, Fox Farming in Prince Edward Islands, Acc. 3466/HF 76.57.5

When the fox industry began in Prince Edward Island, Canada, foxes were kept in communal enclosures. When in these enclosures, foxes tended to kill their pups and fight amongst themselves. Individual pens were soon adopted by breeders. The wire used in making the pens was laid on the ground so foxes could not escape. In 1913, 277 Island fox farms were listed. There was a slight decrease to 252 farms during the war years but the industry rebounded and by 1923, there were 448 farms on Prince Edward Island: 291 in Prince County, 129 in Queens County and 28 in Kings County. Photo Credit: Public Archives and Record Office of Prince Edward Island, Fox Farming in Prince Edward Islands, Acc. 3466/HF 77.147.4