RABSIT AND OPOSSUM SKINS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 290, 7 September 1928, Page 14

RABSIT AND OPOSSUM SKINS

PRICES AT YESTERDAY’S SALE. Messrs. Wright, Stephenson, and Co., Ltd., New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., Dalgety and Co., Ltd., and New Zealand Farmers’ Distributing Co., Ltd., in conjunction with the New Zealand Fur Trappers’ A s ‘ soc * at; ' 011 report : — The seventh monthy sale of the season was held yesterday, when an especially large catalogue of all grades of opossum and rabbit skins was submitted to a full bench of buyers representing all the leading fur-buying houses, furriers, and local trade. In sympathy with Southern sales, prices for rabbit skins generally were slightly easier. Low grade also showed a decline of 3d. to 6d. per pound. Seasonal conditions resulted in a good proportion of outgoing sorts coming for sale, and prices for these grades must be considered very satisfactory. The following is the range of prices for wellstretched and well got-.up skins: —Runners, 30d. to 36d.; summers and springs, 33d. to 48id.; light racks, 42d. to 45d. -, prime racks up to 46d.; autumn, 50Jd. to 65d.; milky does, 39d. to 44d.; hares, 50d. to 70d.; fawns, 90£d. to 121 |d.; spotted winters, 60d. to 85Jd.; incoming winters, 63d. to 90d.; outgoing winters, 62d. to 76}d.; late winters, 87d. to 109 d.; early winters, 91d. to 108 d.; prime bucks, 119 Ad. to 120 d.; prime dose, llljd. to 144 d.; first bucks, 97d. to 107 id.; first does, 120 d. to 1321 d.; prime blacks, 124 d. to 12Sd.; winter blacks, IOOd. to 115 d. For opossum skins this was the second sale of the season. A catalogue of over 10,000 skins was submitted to a full representation of buyers. Competition was exceptionally keen, especially for any super or firsts of all colours, these bringing astonishing high prices. Values generally were on a par with the last Southern sales, and, considering the quality of the skins brought forward, trappers who were fortunate in having their catches sold at auction, must feel highly pleased at the high prices realised. Super blues fetched up to 225. 6d., super grdy up to 205., super blacks up to 21s. 3d. Other grades sold remarkably well. The following is the range of prices for well stretched and cared for skins: — Super blues, 19s. 3d. to 225. 6d.; first blues. 17s. 3d. to 19s. lid.; second blues, 10s. lOd. to 155.; third blues, Bs. 6d. to 11s. 2d.; super greys, 17s. 6d. to 205.; first greys, 15s. to 16s. 6d.; second greys, 10s. 7d. to 14s. lid.; third greys, Bs. 2d. to 10s. 9d.; super blacks, ISs. lid. to 21s. 3d.; first black , 14s. to 15s. 7d.; second blacks, Ils. 6d. to 125.; third blacks, 7s. to 7s. 9d.; super browns, 13s. 3d. to 14s. 4d.; first browns, Ils .to 135.; second browns, Bs. 6d. to 10s. Gd.; first reds up to 10s. 6d.; red, ss. 7d. to Bs.; super rustys, Ils. lid. to 135.; first rustys, 10s. 6d. to 12s| 4d.; rustys, 6s. 3d. to 10s. 6d.; first red necks, 10s. 7d.; to Ils. 7d. \red necks, 6s. Id. to Bs.; rats, 2d. to 6d.