The Basin Record Newsletter Vol.2 Issue 2

The article in the last newsletter struck a chord with many throughout the Columbia Basin. Dalcy Gripich sent us an article from the Pincher Creek Echo of February 27, 1925 that said in part: “…British Columbia is taking her place with the other provinces in fox farming is shown in the increasing interest in foxes in that province. Breeding foxes have been imported by Kootenay, Okanagan, Thompson River, Fraser ValleyandVancouver Islandduring the past fewmonths, which gives some idea of the activity in fur farming. These farms which have been established for some time, have been successful, and this no doubt has given an impetus to the business.” This surgeof interestwasmirrored in a letter from Ted Berrey of Brisco, who recollects that at one time there were five fur farms operating there: Eric Lindon who raised both mink and foxes; Chris Peterson who owned a fox farm; and LloydWatkins, Otto Malberg and Ted’s father, Percival W. Berrey, each ran a mink farm. In 1902 Percival Berrey homesteaded in Brisco and, in the early 1920’s, had trapping rights on the Columbia River. At one point he caught a pregnant mink in a leghold trap and took her home alive. She gave birth to several kits and Percival sent to Ontario for a ranch-raised male mink. Mr. Berrey was issued the first Fur Farming License in the Kootenay Land District. The pelts were sold through the Canadian Fur Auction sales in Winnipeg. During WW II Percival Berrey went out of business, but started up again after the war. He shifted into Silver Blue hybrids as well as the standard black mink. The hybrids were also known as “mutated mink.” When fur prices dropped in the mid 1950’s Berrey went out of the fur farming business completely. Lister Canning also responded with a story about a ranch he lived on at Sheep Creek. Harry “Chappie” Arnold purchased a fur farm that had been moved by Ted Cretney from Fort Steele to the Sheep Creek ranch. That enterprise had about 20 foxes and even more mink. The mink were kept in elevated cages while the foxes were on the ground in roofed open-air pens. We also heard from Jean Warren Wilson, daughter Strikes A Chord With Many of Willard Webster Warren whom we mentioned last time as founder of the Cranbrook Silver Fox Company Ltd. located on Durick (now 7 th ) Avenue and 5 th Street. She stated that the pens were made of chicken wire, with little houses where the foxes could get out of the sun. Another chicken wire enclosure surrounded the ranch so that if animals escaped their pens they weren’t lost. The pelts were dried on stretchers before being bagged and shipped to Montreal for sale. Several respondents said that the feed used on fur farms was ground horse meat, usually with a kind of porridge or meal mixed in as a supplement. The Berrey farm’s horse meat was at first supplied by the Shuswap Band and was stored in the ground in an insulated box that contained a galvanized tank. Ice from the farm’s icehousewas chopped up weekly and placed in the insulated box to keep the meat in the tank fresh in warmer weather. In later years Mr. Berrey got his horse meat shipped to him by a company in Calgary, Alberta via the Kootenay Central Railway. It was already ground and frozen in 50 pound blocks. Fish, squirrels and gophers were also used as secondary feed. Wearestillveryinterestedinobtainingmoreinformation and photos about fur farms in the Columbia Basin. We also intend to investigate the part played by government in the fur farm industry. The following from The Cranbrook Courier of October 14, 1926 implies that fur farming was recommended by the Department of Agriculture in the U.S.: “FOX FARMING – The new industry that pays big dividends and recommended by the Department of Agriculture. We supply you with the breeding stock of high quality Alaska Blues and also Silver Foxes, pen raised and pedigreed. Booklet free describing foxes and kennels. Cash or Terms. References – Bradstreets and Six Bank Presidents. Write today Cleary Bros., Fox Farms, Seattle Wash. or our Breeder – Agent, Wardner Fox and Fur Farm, Wardner B.C.” The Columbia Basin Institute of Regional History would be interested in hearing from anyone who knows more about the Wardner Fox and Fur Farm. Also let us know about other aspects of our history that you think should be explored. Fur Farm Article