FUR FARMING.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 July 1924, Page 3

FUR FARMING.

\ TASMANIAN SCHEME

SYDNEY, June 2G. A comprehensive proposal for utilis ing large areas in Tasmania which tiro not attractive for ordinary pastoral or agricultural purposes as great "fur farms," by developing oil them tho native fauna, has been laid before tho State Government by a well-known naturalist, Mr Hubert Hall, of Sandy Bay, near Hobart. If it i.s put into operation and produces, as .Mr Hall says it would, employment for thousands of people and a big annual revenue, the results will he of great interest to tin* rest of Australia, vhero similar schemes could easily he developed, and possibly also to New Zealand, where tho opossum lias been introduced and thrives. Mr Hall considers that 'Tasmania is especially suited to tho inauguration of ti scheme for the cultivation of furs by means of farming the fur-hearing native animals, and at the present time is seeking the assistance of the Government to give the venture a start. He thinks that some of the ringtail opossums found in the high lands ol Tasmania possess fur of quality equal to that of the American

squirrel, which i- employed extensive

ly for fashion purposes, while the fur of the brush variety of the same animal. could under suitable conditions he made 111 itcli heller than it is to-day. ••Country unsiiited to cattle and sheep, because of its cold and roughness, it slightly better grassed, will carry an improved population of native animals.” Mr Hall said. "If attention is given in the way of always taking the poorest animals, a gradual development in the size and silkiness of fur will show itself. By carefully farming furred animals, always on the highland-, the females with yoilng in the pouch need not have their young killed as now occurs on the lowlands of Tasmania. It is disastrous to have to say that 2-50 •joevs’ in every .500 mothers are murdered to satisfy the demand of the market. We should realise that this section of commerce

van never he sweet as long as it is built upon a suicidal way of supply. Research will show exactly when these young can he weaned and liberated to grow up. and the adults marketed or

freed. It will vary in (lie different types ol districts, and most probably will only be successful lit the highlands. Deep, dark gorges in certain lowlands will, in some probability, allow us to save the pouched young and market a proportion of the adults if the country is getting over stocked.

’he lower the altitude the lower the leriod of the best fur. and good-look-ng black fur on the lowlands will not old it- own with approximately the ante colour on the* highlands. It ic-ks the density, and consequently

ho warmth, li will ho wise* to sot out I) eliminate* a larger percentage ol the inlily animals, and lesson the prodiicion of their kind. I understand that nc-ky country and old age give us this ariety. I believe that the opossum nntiniH's to reproduce young up to tho nm* of it- natural death."

“It seems as if the 'pos-um ol ’las-' mania is of throe distinct colour types, with a phase or two in keeping with its n.itural surroundings.” Mr- Hall continues. “Some ol our highland ring-tails arc* equal to line squirrel, hut in certain years and districts disease* means ruin to their coats. Brush •possums, which will be induced to leave their rugged hollows in trees and ii-e the artificial boxes ol the bush traps, will certainly have better Inr l h«* following year. The system ol trap ureas varies with the* physical positions and the nature* ol the animals. ’There* -Imiilcl be c-omi-donicsl ieated areas. 'The laying ol *sl> miles of

snares in one segment ut a district will become an obsolete method. Infortnnately, from the animals’ point ni' view, the price ul till's is going tip, the demand is ever growing, and the stipple is yearly lessening. I* rom lime to time mankind steps in and balances nifnirs. The biggest opening at present is in Siberia, where they trap annually a million of one species ol squirrel alone. The next best, relatively. is in Tasmania, where, when allowed, we trap a million marsupials a year.”

The farming of these pouched animals would nut. Air Hall thought, appeal tu every man. but it was. noveri|„. l,.ss, good for those tn whom il did appeal. There was bread and butter in it for them, and the country would Ik-, lelil as il did with sheep and cattle.

while fur-farming would find a use for country unsuited tn the production of other known kinds ol loud and clothing. The food bill of the animals would be"mostly a debit to themselves. It was a natural produel, si iar. not introduced by man on a country not much used by man. The opportunity to improve the furred races and take advantage ot the profit that would accrue was well upon the horizon. There uere forest areas, steep ami rocky, calling for man to improve. II lie. added his quoin ol rock, and alpine grasses, and applied his scanty knowin button-grass plains where kangaroo roamed, In- might serve to increa.'e the animal population by millions; at least by one million. Whatever furs they grew in lasinania should he grown thought lully. Ihe hbd,lands must he used always, execu' in" certain cold hush lands. Infnrti.iiati'b. there was no good held hook on what to do. and every bushman would need eventually to use Ins own local judgm.nt. The day should come in Tasmania when I ill -bearing areas would be known in tho degree ot values, and subsidiary industries of a quiet nature would spring up to lend their suppport to occupations ol the summer months.