THE FUR TRADE.

Waipa Post, Volume XXI, Issue 1279, 10 August 1922, Page 7

THE FUR TRADE.

THE ORIGIN OF “ CONEY-SEAL.”

Writes an Auckland correspondent: “1 had an interesting chat with a Canadian who was passing through Auckland; and who is an expert manufacturer of fur coats, stoles, and other articles. He seems to think that the opossum-skin industry is likely to prove a valuable one to New Zeal'and. At the present time it is worth from £30,000 to £35,000 per annum to the Dominion, and in tihe course of a very few years it is expected to be worth quite £IOO,OOO per annum. The skins also command from 5s to something under £1 apiece and the demand exceeds the supply. Nearly all these skins are exported to Canada or the U.S.A., where they are fashioned into fur garments, which And their way to many countries, including New Zealand in due course, and sell at fancy prices. By the way, I was shown some really beautiful fur coats for ladies’ wear the other day by a retailer. I was told they were made of “ coney seal,” and rhat the price was forty guineas. “ Conevseal ?” I repeated, a little perplexed “ does that mean rabbitskin ?” The shop-keeper laughed and said it did. So the despised bunny is worth something after all !