THE OPOSSUM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15552, 6 September 1912, Page 2

THE OPOSSUM.

IS IT TO BE .EXTERMINATED?

GOVERNMENT'S ACTION CONDEMNED.

'•Thoro is no question lhal the Government has mado n mislako in removing all protection from tho killing of tho opossum." Thus epoko Mr G. W. M'lntbsh, president of tho Otago Acclimatisation Socioty, vesterday to a Daily Times reporter,' who lad waited on him to get his opinion of tho action of tho Government in declaring that orxwsums shall ceaso to bo doomed imported Sfamo, within tho meaning of tho Animals' Protection Act, as from August I 9JL Continuing, Mr MTntoah said his society had sent a ranger to tho Owaka district to investigate tho assertions mado by Mr Malcolm, ALP., that fruit gardens and tho farms of the settlers were Buffering from tho depredations of tho opossum. Tho ranger's report went lo show that a big majority of tho settlers considered that tho opossum was not a harmful animal. "Tbcro is no doubt in my mind that tho removal of tho protection will shortly result in tho extermination of tho littlo marsupial," continued .Mr M'lntofih. "At the iii6tigntion of Mr Malcolm, acting tinder tho influcuco of ono or two Owaka residents, tho Mackenzie Government ignored tho recommendation of our society that tho protection of tlio opossum should be removed for only tlireo months in tho winter; they to bo trapped, shot, or hunted, but not poisoned; tho skins to bo offered, if thought fit, for sale, but not moro than 30 animals to bo taken in tho season by one licensee. Tho present Government has now 5011 c ono butter, and knocked off tho restrictions altogether. What would havo been a very' profitable local industry, therefore, bids fair to bo shortly "nipped in tho bud." As showing how tho opossums are now being " dealt with," ono Owaka man is at tho present timo averaging a catch of M animals' a day—grey skins realising 4s each, blacks fo, and blues 10a. Tho business of trapping is therefore proving sucli a profitable one that it will attract largo numbers of men to tako it up, and if they aro anywhere near as successful as the before-mentioned trapner, it is easy to seo that tho opossum is doomed. Tho foregoing prices, it must bo remembered, aro for winter skins—the skins of tho animals killed in tho Biimmor aro of very littlo valuo. Tho opinion was expressed, howoyer, that tho opossums will bo slaughtered without discrimuiation, winter and Bununor alike.

Within Iho last thrco months— thai is. prior to the latest rcgulation-somo .10,000 skins (roughly) havo been sent away' from Dunedin, theso having been taken surreptitiously. Tho local society issued somo 60 licenses to kill opossums during tho year— ouch licensee being allowed to tnko 30 animals. Multiplying theso two totals, tho grand legitimate "take" totalled 1800. These figures are somewhat' at variancewith 10,000, and show that cither tlw licensees are killing more than they ntfo legitimately entitled to do, or that others arc also killing them, or that both licensed and non-licensed men arc taking a hand! at knocking over the opossum, with Iho restrictions now completely taken off it is hard to sec how tho animals can cscapo extinction—and that at an early dalo. Mr Malcolm says it will bo in tho interest of tho settlor to_ prcsorvo the opossum. ''Then," queried Mr M'Jntosh, "why should all restrictions as to their killing be removed? > Tho attitude taken up by Mr .Malcolm is a most anomalous one. Neither can opossum trapping bo compared to rabbit trapping. Tho opossum has nothing liko the fecundity of the rabbit. There is certainly no question in my mind that the Government has made a huge mistake," concluded the president of the Otago Acclimatisation Society, DISCUSSION IN WELLINGTON. {Pbb United Pbem Association.) WELLINGTON, September 5. At a meeting of tho Wellington Acclimatisation Society Mr L. 0. Tripp (chairman) said ho had received notice from tho Minister of Internal Affairs that the protection of opossums had been removed. He had also received a letter from a farmer pointing out that it was a mistake to wholly remove tho protection, as it wonld be sufficient to remove it for the winter mouths only. The winter skins were the valuable ones. Mr Tripp said he was making inquiries into the subjeet with a view of approaching tho Government. Good winter skins were worth 10s each. The trade in skins was a valuable one, and if would employ many men in the winter, when as a rule the genornl demand for labour was scarce. The protection could, if required, he removed in Hie fruit districts. The question of protection was important. There was no sport in shooting opossums, so Uie matter was purely a commercial one.