FUR SKIN SALES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 37, 12 August 1930, Page 12

FUR SKIN SALES

DEPRESSED OVERSEAS ■'--■' MARKETS

. Messrs. Dalgety aud Co., Ltd., the New Zealand Loau and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., and Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd,, report on opossum and rabbit skin sales, heldi in Wellington, as follows: — Opossum: Skins were drawn chiefly from the Stratford, ■ Taranaki, Rotovua, and West Coast districts. As the season tor the Wellington district is not over till the 2nd September, only a few consignments were available for the sale. The quality- arid the condition of-the offering was medium, very few supers and fusts being submitted. The opossum skin market at' Home is in a very depressed state, and prices in London to-day are now quite 10 per cent, lower than the April sales. It is expected that the October London sales will . show a further decline of 20 per cent., to 25 per cent., and m view.,,, of, 'this, ■ buyers at the Wellington sale were very cautious. Prices were fully 60 per cent, lower than last' season's rates. If America comes in the market, better prices may be expected, especially for super blues and greys. Blacks and browns were in the best demand at the Wellington offering, and were quitted at fair prices. The better class. ol «rcys and blues also sold fairly well. I he following is the range of prices per skin: Blacks 3s to' 7s Id, browns 2s 9d to 0s lid greys 2s 10d to Gs 6d, reds 2s Cd to 3s 7d, moles 3s 3d to 4s, inferior Gd to Is* Gd. Smalls, rumpers, kittens, and damaged skins sold at very low rates, and m some cases did not realise the royalty oi Is per skin/. ■ . ■-• ' The same brokers report on the littn saie'of. rabbit skins as follows:—A very attractive offering of all grades was submitted to -a large attendance of. buyers. The offering comprised some good consignments drawn from the Marlborugh district, .Wiirarapa, King' Country, Taihapc. and various parts of the >iorth Islaud. Since last sale London sales showed si further drop of from 15 per cent, to 30 pei' cent, and this depreciation was naturally reflected: at the local sale. tremendous stocks of skins arc still unsold in London, and until these are disposed of no improvement in the market can be looked for. Until trade improves in England and on the Continent, and the stocks 'go into ' consumption, prices cannot improve. Exporters and shippers have lost heavily on their • purchases, and at present only feel inclined to purchase at low rates. Some good winter skins vere available, and these were bought chiefly on American account. The following- is the range of prices:—Runners and suckers 5V4d to 6%d, summers and springs o%d to 10% d, light racks to lO'/ad, prime racks to 10d, dawny autumns 12% dto 13*,4 d, early autumns 12% dto 15% d, late autumns 13% dto 22%' d, autumns to 18d, inc. winters 14d to 28% d, early winters 20d to 30d. super early winter bucks, 37d to 39% d, super early winter docs, 23d to 31% d, super winter bucks 45d to SSVicl, super winter does 40 ]/2d to 40 1,4 d, super ; incoming winter . bucks, 30d, super in'cbming ■ winter docs. 3jd, first winter :bucks. 30 1,4 dto 38% d- first .winter does.3od to SGV&d, winter broken WM Ito la/d, spotted winters 19d to' 2-lMjd,. I prime blanks to 40% d, winter blacks ]8d to 25%dj fawns 20d,tn 63d, hareskins Gd to o%d.