THE OPOSSUM.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1539, 7 September 1912, Page 5

THE OPOSSUM.

REMOVAL OP PKOTECTION.

(By Toleerapli.-Press Association.)

Dunedin, September 5. "There is no question that tho Govern, ment lias made a mistake in removing all protection from the killing of opossums." Thus, spoke Miv-G. W. M'lntosh (president of the Otago Acclimatisation ■• Society) to a "Daily Times" reporter. Mr.| M'ln'osh said his society had sent a ranger to Owaka district to investigate the assertions mado by Mr. Malcolm, M.P., that tho fruit gardens and farms of settlers were suffering from the-depreda-tions of the opossum. Tho ranger's report v.-ent to show that a big majority of tho settlers considered (he opossum was not harmful. "There is no doubt in my mind that the removal of protection will shortly result in the extermination of tho 'little marsupial.' As showing how opossum:-; are now 'dealt with,' one O\val« man is at present averaging a. catch of 14 animals a day, grey skins realising Js, each, blacks Ik, and blues 10s. These prices are for winter skins. Tho skins of animals killed in the summer arc of very little value, but the opinion was expressed that (hey will bo slaughtered without discrimination winter and summer alike. Within the last three months E.onio 1(1,000 skins, roughly, have been 'sent aivay from Dunedin, these havingbeen taken surreptitiously. The local Acclimatisation Society issued some sixty licenses to kill opossums during the year, each licensee being allowed to take thirty animals. Tho legitimate 'lake' thus totalled 1800." "■ ...