Fitch prices advance

Press, 26 February 1983, Page 20

Fitch prices advance

PA Grey mouth Fitch prices advanced, with selected qualities and good colours being in great demand at the Hudson Bay Company's auction on February 22. the president of the New Zealand Fitch Breeders Association. Mr Peter Gray, said yesterday. From advice he had received, more than 33.000 pelts were offered, with more than 80 per cent selling at auction and the remainder still actively selling by private treaty. Top prices of the highland variety were:

Males $lOB and females $7B with an average of $47.85 ox - er all. This is the type which has been imported into New Zealand during the last two years, with the country now breeding from more than 6000 of these animals. Average prices of all varieties selected, and first quality goods, all sizes, males and females were: Colour one $71.20. colour two $54.20. colour three $32.85. colour four $20.50. colour five $15.50. . A statement by the Hudson Bay Company has given a

word of advice and caution to those farming or considering farming fitch by saying: "It must be remembered that colours one and two represent only a relatively small proportion of the total offering and it would be quite wrong to use the prices given above as a basis for preparing long-term budgets for New Zealand farms.” Mr Gray said this was sound advice, as at present the world demand is high, but as production increases, prices will almost certainly decline.