Kensington in Prince County, Prince Edward Island — The Atlantic Provinces (North America)
A World Leader in Silver Foxes
Un chef de file mondial dans l'élevage du renard argenté
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 17, 2019
1. A World Leader in Silver Foxes Marker
The silver fox industry is a fascinating era in Island farming history. By the turn of the century, P.E.I. had gained attention as the world leader in this rare commodity. Robert Humphrey, of Kensington, was one of the Island's leading fox farmers, and won the Royal Winter Fair Championships between 1927 and 1930.
By 1913, during its peak, pelts sold for $1,500 to $2,600 each, and a pair of silver foxes sold for $25,000. However, the Great Depression era saw the demand for fox pelts decline drastically. By 1935, the industry suffered from severe overproduction and in 1948, pelt prices reached an all-time low. Earle Semple, a fox farmer in Kensington, recalls the year he was offered $800 for a single male fox, and how only one year later he received $35 for a high-quality pelt. Many farmers simply let all their foxes loose rather than keep paying to feed them.
L'industrie de l'élevage du renard argenté constitue un volet fascinant de l'histoire de l'agriculture de l'Île. Au début du vingtième siècle, l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard avait attiré l'attention sur son rôle de chef
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En 1913, les peaux se vendaient à leur apogée de 1 500 $ à 2 600 $ chacune et il fallait débourser 25 000 $ pour acquérir deux renards argentés. Pendant la « grande dépression » cependant, la demande de peaux de renards a chuté de façon draconienne. En 1935, l'industrie a été victime d'une grave surproduction et, en 1948, le prix des peaux a atteint un creux historique. M. Earle Semple, éleveur de renards à Kensington, se souvient de l'année où il s'est vu offrir 800 $ pour un seul renard et comment, seulement une année plus tard, il n'a reçu qu'un maigre 35 $ pour une peau de grande qualité. De nombreux agriculteurs ont tout simplement décidé de remettre tous leurs renards en liberté plutôt que de puiser dans leurs réserves financières afin de les nourrir.
Erected by Town of Kensington, and Department of Canadian Heritage.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Industry & Commerce.
Location. 46° 26.188′ N, 63° 38.463′ W. Marker is in Kensington, Prince Edward Island
2. Marker detail: 1929
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Early Days of Farm Equipment (a few steps from this marker); The Seven Year Rotation (a few steps from this marker); Farming Groups in Kensington (within shouting distance of this marker); Original Meaning of Horsepower (within shouting distance of this marker); Business and Agriculture (within shouting distance of this marker); A Woman's Work is Never Done (within shouting distance of this marker); Potato Farming Between the Tree Stumps (within shouting distance of this marker); Engine 1762 relocated to Kensington (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kensington.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Prince Edward Island Agriculture
Also see . . . Prince Edward Island's Silver Fox Bubble. The average price for a fox pelt in 1910 was $1,339. Back then, farm labourers made a dollar a day. The fox breeders tried to hide the size of their windfall, but as the cash rolled in, it was impossible to prevent
3. Marker detail: Live Fox Show
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 17, 2019
4. A World Leader in Silver Foxes Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on December 7, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 14, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 191 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 17, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 18, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
