RABBITSKIN FURS.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16815, 5 June 1926, Page 8

RABBITSKIN FURS.

OPPORTUNITY FOR DOMINION.

(By Telegraph. —Special to Times.) DUNEDIN, Friday.

“The rabbit, though looked upon as a pest in New Zealand, is much in evidence in tiie clothing of the world's people," remarked Mr R. S. Black, who lias just .returned from a trip round the world. The rabbitskin might he a humble grade of fur, bul for every one who wore sable, thousands wore the fur of rabbits disguised under many names. The rabbitskin trade would continue for many years, or as long as the trapper put thought into the handling of the skins. For example, in a fatty skin the grease would permeate the fur, and machinery had yet to' lie invented that would bring a greasy skin hack to its original brightness." If the skin were not dry Hie pelt would deteriorate. Mr Black said Hie New Zealand rabbitskins, owing to the climate, were preferred to those of oilier countries. Whether Hie New Zealand skins would rank with ils bullcr and lamb as the best in the world rested, however, with ttic trapper. Poland had closed her doors to the import of furs, and as that country was the largest users of opossum skins, Hie trade had been practically killed in New Zealand. High prices could no longer he hoped for. In fact, very high prices for all skins could not he obtained while war debts were curtailing the spending power of the countries which used them. Most of Russia's fur production was becoming smaller owing to disoiganisation. Central Otago, with its snowclad mountains, would lie an ideal place for the breeding of some of the highvalued fur animals, such as foxes, said at seoje am ‘os,moo JO •MY which they were kept would ha\c to be fenced. The animals could be fed on rabbits. Breeders of such anima s had many years ago asked if they could obtain rabbit meat from New Zealand to feed silver foxes.