FUR SKINS FROM NEW ZEALAND.

Dunstan Times, Issue 947, 11 June 1880, Page 3

FUR SKINS FROM NEW ZEALAND.

The subject is of such interest that we offer no apology for occupying so much of our space with it.

The following letter came from the Agent General per last mail (says the New Zealand Times), and is published as an addendum to official communications on the same subject previously appearing in our columns :

“ 113 Queen Victoria street, London, “ March 25th, 1880. run SKINS FROM NEW ZEALAND. “ Sir— Since I wrote to you on the above subject, a large business has been done in Australian rabbit-skins, and I am to-day enabled, not only'to corroborate the statements made in my letter of 25th February, but to prove the importance of this article by statistical facts £the trade in felt hats is increasing every year, and it is not as some may think tossed about by the caprice of fashion. No ; the consumption of felt hats is increasing steadily, and new ground for the sale of this manufacture is continually found. For example, Japan has become a strong buyer, and is continuing the introduction of felt hats.

“As I mentioned in my last felt is made of rabbit and Ten years ago none of these were imported from Australia ; at the present time close upon a million dozen per annum are brought over, and although from year to year this quantity becomes larger, prices do not abate, 3s per dozen being about the average to-day ; and while the best English and French rabbits are being selected for furriers’ purposes (muffmaking, &c.), which otherwise would with the rest go for feltmaking, there is no chance of skins becoming any cheaper.

“ I would advise shippers to sort the skins well, and to pack the black and silvery ones in separate bales. “ Opossums keep iu good demand, 4d to Is being freely paid, according to size and quality. “ Penguins, about 1200 skins, fetch from Is 4d to Is 6,sd each. ‘ 1 Sealskins—The tone of the market remains favourable.

“ I remain, Sir, “ Gustav Ellis. “Sir Julius Vogel, Agent-General for New Zealand.”

Yesterday we publiehed a copy of an application made by Mr Krause (now located in this city) to the New Zealand Government for assistance in developing the preparation of rabbitikius, and which application resulted in his being granted the use of a portion of the Immigration Barracks to work in. Our reporter yesterday paid Mr Krause a visit to gain further information concerning what promises to become an important and lucrative local industry. The following is his report The process by which Mr Krause prepares the skins is a very simple one. They are first cup open and damped, care being taken to keep the fur dry. They are then allowed to sweat a few hours, after which they are scraped on a blunt knife, which is fixed on a suitable bench. By this process all fatty matter is removed from the inner side of the skin, while the skin itself is made perfectly smooth and pliable. The next process is that of pulling, forcing, or plucking, and is the last that is required to make the skins marketable. It is a very simple one, though it takes a little more time than the other, and most of the hands are therefore engaged iu it. The only tool required is a sharp knife, and with this all the coarse hair, which projects above the soft and valuable fur, is plucked out. The remaining fur is like silk to the touch, and is valued, after being removed from the skin, at from 6s to 9s per pound, according to quality. It is said to be the softest of all furs, and is therefore in great request for all descriptions of flue felt work. Regarding the present mode of drying the skins, Mr Krause informs ns that all the rabbit-hunters make a very great mistake in streaching the skins too much, and into an oval in place of a square. Most of the skins that are sent home are about double the size they should be, and the result is a threefold loss. In the first place the fat

penetrates the porea and spoils the fur. Then the process of plucking takes a great deal longer, owing to the surface which has to be gone over being enlarged. The cutting of course also takes longer in proportion. All these faults naturally detract from the value of the article. The skins which Mr Krause Las ai present in his hands will be sent home through one of the local shipping firms, in order to test their value.