Restricted demand for opossum fur

Press, 13 June 1984, Page 27

Restricted demand for opossum fur

PA Dunedin Dalgety Crown (Dunedin) held the seventh New Zealand fur auction of the 198-384 season with a total offering of 101,845 wild opossum furs and had a 52 per cent clearance. Most of the collection was caught in late summer and autumn, with fur damage being prevalent, the result of animals being taken during the mating season. The bidding was somewhat restricted on all types, said the fur manager of Daigety Crown, Mr S. M. Dyet. “Compared with the April auction, of the lots that were sold on the day, the market could be quoted as being 8 per cent dearer,” he said. Prices realised in the main grades, with quantities in brackets, were:

Large: Red brown, firsts, withdrawn; seconds, $8.50 (1340); thirds, withdrawn. Dark brown, firsts withdrawn; seconds, $lO (3242); thirds, $6.30 (3623). Red neck, seconds, $5.25

(246); thirds, withdrawn. Rusty, firsts, $9.10 (407); seconds, $6.25 (1794); thirds, withdrawn. Pale, firsts, withdrawn; seconds, $7.35 (1997); thirds, $4.95 (3065). Grey, firsts, withdrawn; seconds, withdrawn; thirds, $5 (1483). Medium-large: Red brown, seconds, $4.95 (320); thirds, withdrawn. Dark brown, firsts, withdrawn; seconds, $6.57 (1668); thirds, withdrawn. Red neck, thirds, withdrawn, rusty, firsts, $4.50 (165); seconds, withdrawn; thirds, withdrawn. Pale, firsts, withdrawn; seconds, $5.65 (1760); thirds, $3.34 (5500). Grey, firsts, $8.50 (265); seconds, $6.05 (1460); thirds, $4.30 (3200). Medium: Dark, firsts, $5.50 (230); seconds, withdrawn. Light, firsts, $4.85 (568); seconds, withdrawn. Small: Dark, firsts, $3.05 (4000). Light, firsts, withdrawn. Fourths: Withdrawn. Light, fourths withdrawn.

The prompt date is June 21. The next auction will be held on July 19, 1984.