H.—2B

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The animals to be liberated in the area should, if obtained in New Zealand, not be taken indiscriminately from all districts in which opossums are now found, but only from places where the stock is particularly good, as Stewart Island. Undoubtedly the best plan, and one that would conduce to the greatest permanent advantage, would be to obtain from Tasmania as many " mountain black " opossums as are necessary. This would be more expensive than the plan of liberating animals trapped in New Zealand. Transport would be more expensive, there would be mortality on the road, and there would be at least a royalty to be paid to the Tasmanian Government; but the results would certainly justify the additional expenditure. I suggest that about five thousand animals should be liberated, not of necessity all in one year, and I estimate the cost at about £7,500. The animals obtained should be liberated in fifties or in hundreds at different places on both sides of the range, the localities chosen generally being about twenty miles apart. On the western side liberation would be most easily effected by a steamer landing at different suitable places. The opossums should be liberated, generally speaking, not in the immediate neighbourhood of settlement, but as far back as possible. Every centre of liberation should be chosen with regard to the natural boundaries that would tend to limit distribution. Thus, if the locality has on either side of it two broad rivers running up near to the snow-line, that would be an insular locality so far as the opossums are concerned. They might accidentally be transported out of this locality by flood or otherwise, but they would not be likely to distribute themselves voluntarily. Also, an extensive tract of open country should be considered a barrier. The animals should be so liberated that every isolated tract should have a centre of liberation, and where there are large unisolated tracts there should be several centres of liberation. It is safe to say that the stocking of this subalpine area, if carried out on the scale mentioned, would prove to be a remunerative investment probably within a score of years. The brown or " black " opossum is a more valuable animal than the grey, owing in part to its larger size, in part to the quality of the fur being generally better. The proposal to stock the Great Alpine Range with, opossums brings up the question as to whether opossums would succeed in the pure beech forests that form so important a part of the forest covering in the mountain country. As opossums were reported to be numerous and on the increase at the head of Lake Wakatipu, I made careful examination of typical localities at Mount Alfred and the Routeburn Valley, the valley of the Rees, and the Lower Dart generally. I found no evidence that opossums were numerous. About Paradise they are evidently present in fair numbers. In the Rees and the Routeburn Valleys very few traces were found. I did not see any opossums in this district, but the skins are said to be good. That opossums can maintain themselves in a beech forest is certain, but I am unable to say whether such a forest is as suitable as a mixed forest. Mr. Sadd, Commissioner of Crown Lands at Dunedin, informs me that opossums are numerous and flourishing in a beech forest on the Lees River, near Brightwater, in the Nelson District. I had not time to visit this district. Among the advocates for stocking the Great Alpine Range before declaring an open season is Mr. Thomas Telford, of Otanomomo, a well-known and successful animal-breeder, a successful farmer, and one who has preserved a bush well stocked with opossums, which he has always done his best to protect—a man, in short, thoroughly well qualified to speak. He points out that in his own bush, as at Catlin's and other places, opossums could now be secured easily for liberation in various parts of the Central and West Coast forests, but if an open season is first declared it would be more difficult to obtain the animals for liberation; that once an adequate number have been liberated an open season could be declared without interfering with the increase in the newly stocked areas, which would not be trapped for many years, at all events not until opossums became so numerous there that there would be an inducement to the trapper to follow them into the remote forests found difficult of access. If my suggestion to import " black " opossums from Tasmania for stocking the Alpine Range be given effect to there is no need to consider the objection stated above. If the range is to be stocked by means of opossums obtained in New Zealand, the objection is worthy of the gravest consideration. There are certain considerations to be taken into account: (1.) It is generally advisable when a state of indifference to law exists to end that state as speedily as possible. In particular, it is advisable that at the earliest possible date a band of men should find their interests on the side of the law instead of opposed to it. (2.) The value of skins has never been so high as it is now, and therefore the present is a better time than there has ever been for formally entering the world's market. (3.) The bulk of the export trade is with America, and the world position in respect of trade makes it of great importance just now that we should sell to America and not merely buy from her. It scorns to me that an open season should be declared as soon as possible, not applying to any district in New Zealand, from which opossums for the Great Alpine Range are to be taken. These should be taken and liberated at the earliest possible date. This is on the supposition that opossums are not to be obtained from Tasmania. XV. Summary. I may summarize the conclusion. I have come to in the following fashion : — Damage is done to orchards. Districts in which fruitgrowing constitutes an important industry, and perhaps certain other districts, should be declared " fruit districts," with a perpetual open season under the rights and restrictions referred to in Section XL Although plantations are liable to suffer, as in South Australia, from attack by opossum, New Zealand bush does not suffer appreciably, and can be heavily stocked with opossums without endangering its existence or even its welfare (Section V). The opossum trade is already a valuable one, almost certainly not less than £15,000 a year, and could be made many times more valuable if developed (Section X). To develop it the following steps are recommended : The institution of an open season when this is recommended by the rangers ; the issue of licenses to trappers, the license good only for the open season ; the institution of penalties for unlicensed trappers ; revenue to be derived from the license fee, and from the sale of trapping-