OPOSSUMS AND THE WEATHER

Hokitika Guardian, 17 September 1929, Page 2

OPOSSUMS AND THE WEATHER

RESULTS OF TRAPPING SEASON.

Wellington; sept. 1?

“From what I am able to gather from the rangers,” said Mr C. I. Dasent (secretary of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society) yesterday, “just as many' opossum skins have been taken this season as last, but owing to the greater number oi trappers at work 911 the different blocks the individual yield may not be so good. You have to remember that there has been a great deal of unemployment this winter, and many men without work turned their attention to opossum trapping during 1 the six weeks ended August 31. There were some 580 licenses issued in the district, which is very easily a record; that was not the only record, however, for there'were no fewer than 138 private permits issued to bona fide occupiers of opossum lands. That means over 700 trappers,—a small army.

“The only drawback to the season was two or three persistent nun storms, notably in July.” continued Mr Dasent. “There is always 1 p"'J v yield to the traps in very wet weather, *d the animals taken then are usually females.” “How do you account for that? ’

“Oh, opossums are the same as human beings 1” said Mr Dasent. “No matter what .the weather is like, mother has to keep going, but father, as often as not, just loafs around until the weather clears! Mother ’Possums kas her family to look after, but father just curls himsejf up and waits till the clouds roll by. That is why you get females mostly in wet weather, and both males and females when it is dry.”