MONEY IN OPOSSUMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20075, 12 October 1928, Page 16

MONEY IN OPOSSUMS.

WELLINGTON'S GOOD TOTAL.

ABOUT £30,000 FOR SEASON

RECORD FOR THE DOMINION. So far there arc no ofiicial figures available as to the actual number of opossums taken in the Wellington Acclimatisation Society's district during the season just closed, but those with some knowledge of the position say they believe the yield to lie approximately 60,000 skins. If this is true it establishes not only a new record for 'the Wellington district but one for any opossum district in the Dominion. As the highest price paid for skins this season was 23s—from the Waikaremoana dis triet —it might be fair to average the price of the skins taken in tho Wellington district at about 10s, so that the yield for tho season must have approximated some £30,000.

One curious thing about the season was the number of bush rats taken in the traps. The Trappers' Association has reported to the Wellington Acclimatisation Society that the number of rats taken by trappers belonging to the association was 33.000. but the society's rangers estimate that the number must have been nearer 50,000. The rangers consider that the chief enemies of the native birds are these rats, and that the opossum is not a delinquent in that respect; indeed, they hold that the native birds flourish in opossum districts, because of (he vast numbers of rats that are caught and killed in opossum traps. Another rather amazing thing about opossum-trapping is that no bait of any kind is used in tho traps. These animals are in tho habit of making their own peculiar 111 tie tracks or runs in the bush, and wherever these are discovered a series of traps lire placed along the line, and it is the sight among the dead leaves and bracken of a piece of ironmongery entirely foreign to nature that tempts the furry creature to step or nose into the teeth. There is a sharp click—and it is all over. Although the opossum has been connner ciallv trapped foi only six years past in the Wellington district the first o! the tribe wen; imported by tho Wellington Acclimatisation Society 40 years ago from Tasmania. Ihe blue-brown species which are now producing such good money. Later some greys were imported from New South Wales, but these wero not so artistocratic us (hose brought- from Tasmania. On account ol the big catches made in recent voars, the Government wa-s inclined to ordei a close season this year to preserve the new " golden lleece" that, is developing, but as each season more are taken than in the previous one tho Acch utilisation Society sees no reason for such action.