TO PREPARE MARSUPIAL SKINS FOR MARKET.

Lake County Press, Issue 2138, 4 October 1906, Page 7

TO PREPARE MARSUPIAL SKINS FOR MARKET.

This seems a detail at first, sight, but ibo preparation of these is a factor which affects the pockets of trappers very considerably, and if they could only realise in what measure "appearance" either enhances or decreases values we feel sure our remarks would not go unheeded. Skin hunting is a business, but like every, other business can be pursued to profit or loss, and now that, the new season for marsupial skins has begun a word or two to our scalp hunters may not come amiss. For the smaller animals, opossums, rabbits, &c, snaring will no doubt bo found tin.: most profitable manner of procuring the skins. Snaring is very extensively carried out in some districts and were it, more general the cheque for the work clone would be found far more substantial than ornamental and not only would trappers be the gainers thereby, but. all concerned in the different branches of the trade would benefit. The favourite and least expensive opossum snare is made with a wire noose. When the skin is taken off the animal it should be pegged out as square as possible in the shade ; do not dry in the sun, as this gives the skins a .yellow colour and doorcases their value.

For larger game such as kangaroo, wallaby, &.C., one needs a true rifle. (Jet the wind in > our face. Notice which way the 'roos go and workaccordingly. Shoot for quality as well as quantity, and above all avoid using shot, as it depreciates the value of the skins. Kangaroos carrying skins weighing Tibs per dozen upwards, and wallabys 4ft>s. per dozen upwards only should be shot, not the very small ones ; give them a chance to grow till their skins are of value. When skinning care should be taken to remove blood from the pelt (if the animal lias bled freely and smeared the skin on the flesh side) by a dry rag, or washing so long as it is done while the skin is green and immediately before it is pegged out to dry. Tanners find blood that, lias .soaked into and stained the skin renders the parts so affected utterly useless for leather. Blood stain in the skin is like improper branding or bad flaying of hides. When the skins are thoroughly dry they should be packed fur to fur spread out fiat and tied up securely. If *kins are properly [lacked they require less space in transit, are better preserved, and on arrival at destination present a nice even, and attractive appearance, and what, is ot paramount importance to the trapper command high prices. Ho not. hold skins for the market to advance further, as the longer they are kept the lighter they get, and the condition or substance also dries out of them. It will lie found far more profitable, when the skins are nice and fresh to send them to some reliable linn who will look after one's interests and return, cash promptly. Most of the larger firms export skins direct to tint manufacturers and so can' pay the highest prices ruling on the market, and as a rule do not charge any commission for the privilege of selling the skins to them. Heing constantly in receipt oi' largo orders from all parts of the world, they are enabled to pay well for the skins and do Hie right thing In- 1 heir country friends.