OPOSSUMS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1930, Page 7

OPOSSUMS

STOCKS IN CANTERBURY. / » ' • CHRISTCHURCH, May 14. The report of the Opossum Committee, which is incorporated in the annual report of the 1 North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, gives some interesting information regarding invest!’ gations relative to the stocks of opossums made since January last. It states that on account of the high nr ices paid for skins during the last few seasons opossums have been trapped more diligently and are apparently being thinned out to a great extent. The general opinion is that they are not increasing and in certain places will soon bo exterminated. Opossums in the society's district have a very wide range—from sea-level to 4500 ft—and il -‘s evident that in previous yedrs the season has opened before the skins from the lower levels have been in the best condition, though those taken in +he back country were in excellent order. After carefully weighing all facts ■riven by trappers and pthers, it was the committee’s recommendation that the 1030 season should be of one month’s duration, July 1-31. fPrevipusly the season was from June 15 to August 15). “In view of the alarming nature of some of the reports regarding the killing out' of the opossums, it may be necessary to close the season altogether for two or three years, though the committee has not sufficient evidence as >’et to warrant such a drastic step,” states the report. “The cornmittee would welcome correspondence on this subject with anyone interested.” The society derived £357 from royalty on skins during the year, compared with £298 in the previous season. TV number of skins recorded was 13,147 compared with 10,(160 during the previous period.