CHINCHILLA FARM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 296, 15 December 1938, Page 9

CHINCHILLA FARM.

FIRST IN ENGLAND. NEW ZEALANDER'S VENTURE. TO BREAK AMERICAN MONOPOLY. (Special.—By Air Mall.) LONDON", November 26. With eight little rats, each worth its weight in gold, a New Zealander, Mr. Fletcher Robert, has started England's

first chinchilla farm at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. His belief that the chinchilla will thrive in England has already been justified by the arrival of four healthy offspring. More are expected. "With less than average luck," Mr. Robert said this week, "each pair should in live years multiply to GO. I believe we shall have better chinchillas even than in America." The chinchilla's fur is the most expensive in the world. A coat made from about 120 pelts would cost £20,000; most of the few coats in England to-day are heirlooms. There are fewer than 2000 chinchilla rats in the world. Owing to their scarcity there have been none killed to make fur coats for the past 20 years. In America their price is £040 a pair. Mr. Robert is to attempt to break down the American monopoly.