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Hokitika Guardian, 28 September 1928, Page 4

ItKPKnniNG again to the value of the opossum industry to this district, it seems advisable that the Government should he urged to lift the protection on stoats and weasels, certainly in localities which are not rabbit infested. Tli© rabbits, in any case, appear to' be decreasing, so that there is less need for the same number of weasels. But many weasels are running wild in the lnisb, and judging by-the totals said to be caught in traps by the opossum , trappers, the number at large is far more than most people would consoler possible in the circumstances. It certainly seems a case for offering a reward for the extermination of the vermin, rather than that they should be allowed at large under protection to prey upon the bird-life of the country in particular. With the declining number of rabbits weasels must look for other fare, and they certainly appear to favour feathers. As regards the opossum, it certainly appears to be well established in Westland ill the territory ranging from the Teremakaif to the Hokitika rivers. Adjacent to Kuimara and at Lake Kanieri were the first localities where the opossums were liberated originally. They hs.ve, certainly multiplied very considerably. The West Coast bush seems to be a favourable habitat, and the' work of the trappers has resulted in the opoesomj going further back into the higher bush country; The opossum is not so numerous in the lower country now. bait is far from being exterminated as the returns show. The greater number, however, were caught in the back country, and the fact that there was a material increase in the previous large total, indicates that the little animal continues to be prolific. It is satisfactory to find that very littb poisoning has been done. This method is not profitable as affecting the value of the fur, and it must have a serious effect on bird life. Under effective ranging the risk in poisoning is hardly likely to be taken and experienced trappers should unite in suppressing so evil a practice. . On tlie whole it seems reasonable to ask for an open season again next year, and the local Society could hot do better than take the advice of the trappers 'at the recent meeting, and limit the period to two months. If with this', protection is lifted from the weasel, and a reward offered for extermination, the ultimate effect on the bird life will be material.