TAKING OF OPOSSUMS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11224, 1 June 1922, Page 4

TAKING OF OPOSSUMS

NEW ORDER IN COUNCIL BETTER CLEANING AND DRYING NECESSARY. LOW PRICES FOR SKINS. A new Order-in-Council, under tha general regulations of Part. IH. of the Animals Protection and Game Act, respecting opossums was issued yesterday. METHODS OF TAKING. Opossums may only be taken or killed by means of a running noose, shooting with a pea-rifle (except in scenic reserves), bf the American jump trap, box or ordinary rabbit trap, such traps to be placed on the ground while in use. Authorised officers may seise illegal traps and; take possession of skins not believed to be legally taken. A licence i 6 required to take opossums. and if in a State forest, the written consent of the conservator ox responsible officer of the Forest Service must also be obtained.

Any person retaining opossum skins for hie own use must pay a royalty of Is per skin, and the royalty paid stamp must be affixed before the skins are tanned or preserved. Special exceptions are made in the regulations where injury or damage to any land is likely to arise through the presence of opossums, while a number of paragraphs deal with the disposal and otherwise of skin 6 obtained, with the penalties provided for breaches of the regulations. AH stocks of opossum skins in tho possession of any licensed broker or any dealer in opossum skins, trapper, or other person shall, on demand, be produced for inspection by any constable, officer of an acclimatisation society, ranger, or authorised officer; and any person illegally in possession of skins shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine of not less than £1 or more than £5 for each skin found in his possession, and such skins shall be forfeited and become the property of the Crown.

WHERE TO FIND THEijI. The Rimu taka and Akatarawa ran* ges are the principal places in this part of the island to find opossums, and also the Wainui State forest at the back of Paekakariki, while they are also to be found in the Nelson and Hawke’s Bay areas. The areas where opossums may be taken or killed with license are mentioned in the regulations, a copy of which should he obtained before entering upon the chase.

CARE IN CURING SKINS. A “Times” reporter was yesterday informed that opossum skins had not been fetching as good prices as they should, probably because the proper attention has not been given in skinning and diying. If trappers would either obtain information on the subject of skinning and drying—which they can obtain through the Acclimatisation Society or the Department of Internal Affairs—they would: undoubtedly get a much better return for their skins. Recent prices hare been as high as 18s per skin,, and as low as 3e> but, while actual figures for the year are not yet available, the average is by no means the average of the two figures mentioned. Skins which have been fetching 3s would have produced from 6s to 10s with proper handling. . An opossum should not he skinned or handled while warm, as the hair comes out freely then, but it is quite firm when the body is cold.