BLACK OPOSSUMS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 243, 11 October 1916, Page 9

BLACK OPOSSUMS.

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY'S PROPOSAL. *ACa C ™ on *? ll y meeting of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society's Council last night a definite statement of the Council s proposals in the matter of the liberation of opossums, was Imade It was stated that it was not at any time intended to go in for the wholesale liberation of opossums, but -to provide facilities for the liberation of the black i opossum in heavy bush country when residents there made application for the opossums. The intention was to introduce a fur animal which, by reason of its valuable pelt, provided the country with a splendid asset, and which would thrive excellently in xne heavy bush country away from the settled areas where! there were orchard-farms. Mr. B. Gray-1 son pointed out that there appeared to be a public misconception concerning the black and the grey opossums, as it was the latter that did damage to the orchards, and, at the same time, was of little value as a fur animal. The black opossum had a valuable ' fur, very niuch less mischievous in orchards. Mr. C. A. Whitney remarked that as the fur animals of America and other countries became each year more and more scaTce the value or the black opossum to New Zealand would become greater. The yearly revenue to Tas- ' mania from that source now amounted to £200.000, which -was greater than the revenue there from wool.