OPOSSUM SKINS SALE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 180, 1 August 1935, Page 4

OPOSSUM SKINS SALE.

GOOD PRICES MADE AT DUNEDfN. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., have received the following report from their Dunedin branch with reference to the opossum skin sale held at that centre on July 2o': — At the first sale of the season held today the total offering distributed among the eight selling brokers was 10,773 skins, of which the catalogue comprised 7290 skins, drawn from all parts of Otago, also Canterbury, West Coast. Kelson, Taranaki, Wanganui and Auckland districts. Owing to tlio late opening of the Otago season, there was only a comparatively small quantity of southern skins offered, these being practically all in our catalogue. The result of the sale was very much as anticipated, and on our catalogue we quote light, colours, i.e., blues and greys, etc., 1/ to l/(i higher than last season aud blacks and browns 6d to 1/6 lower than October and fully 2/ lower than last July. The top prices for the sale were !2/0 for blues and 5/6 for blacks. Actually prices for dark colours were better than expectations, especially when it is borne in mind that practically the whole of last season's exports, and some of the previous year's, *>f these colours are still in London quite unsaleable, due to the complete absence of demand from the chief using countries on the Continent. Some excellent averages were made, Catlins skins selling up to 8/7 each all over, while from Wanganui and Auckland numerous consignments averaged between 6/ and 7/. In other districts averages varied considerably according to the proportion of dark colours. Averages obtained in our catalogue for representative consignments from various districts were: Otago and Catlins, 6/6 to 8/7; Southland, 5/ to 6/0; South Canterbury, 3/6 to 4/3; North Canterbury. 5/ to 6/6: Nelson. 4/6 to O'O; West Coast, 3/ to 4/; Auckland, 6/ to 7/; Wanganui, 5/0 to 7/; Taranaki, 4/0 to 6/. Some of our best Riles were: —Blues: 25 at 12/0. 20 at 12/, 3'i at 11/11, 1!) nt 11 <i 82 nt 11/0, 20 at 10/11. 26 at 11/. 82 at 11/3, 29 at 11/7. Greys: 25 at 11/, 67 at 10/1, 4 at 10/10. 13 at 9/11. Blacks: 17 at 5/8\ 18 at 5/4, 87 at 5/3, 25 at 5/. 2G7 at 4/8. 30 at 4/11. 131 at 4/10, 202 at 4/. The range of prices at our sale for grades from 2nds was as follows:—South Island (including large North Island): Blacks. 2/8 to 5/6; browns, 1/9 to 3/11; blues, (5 7 to 12/6; greys, 0/4 to 11/; red necks, 4/5 to 0/; rusties, 5/ to 8/1; small blacks, 1/ to 2/3; blues and greys. 1/0 to 3/tf: inferior and damigid. 9d to 3/. North Island (light skinsl: Blacks, 2/8 to 4/; browns. 1/9 to 3/4; blue:., 5/7 to 11/7: greys. 5/ to 9/11; red necks, 4/ to 5/7: rusties, ■!/ to 6/.