OPOSSUM SKINS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19980, 4 July 1939, Page 15

OPOSSUM SKINS

.MARKET PROSPECTS Although Gisborne merchants have not received any indication of the number of trappers who ' will be operating this season, it is stated that opossums are plentiful in the East Coast district and a large number of skins may be marketed.

A demand is expected from America for light coloured skins, 'blues and greys, but the German market has been lost in the meantime for dark skins, blacks and browns. Thousands ofi.skins, principally darks, were unsold in -London recently and sales had been effected only at low values.

The following is an outline of the market prospects supplied by Messrs. Dalgety and Company:— “Owing to the disturbed conditions overseas, especially on the Continent, it is difficult at present to get a line on values, but we expect the lights will be in fair demand, and super and first grade skims—good clean skins, welt furred—should bring from 4s (id to 7s each. Good seconds also will be required, but low values will be recorded for ordinary second and third grade skins. “Super and first .grade dark skins nrobably will bring between 3s and 4s Cd each, but anything under these grades will sell at low prices.” Sales will take place this year at Dunedin on the following dates: July 14, August 11, September 8 and October 13.