KILLING OF OPOSSUMS

Hokitika Guardian, 20 May 1930, Page 5

KILLING OF OPOSSUMS

REVISED REG ULATIONS

The general regulations governing the taking or killing of opossums have been brought up to date and consolidated, and have been published in a supplementary “Gazette.” Opportunity has been taken to amend the old rqgi (ation iij some respects. Amongst the alterations is one which lays down that traps need not, necessarily be set on, the ground, provided the trap and opossum will fall to tiie ground immediately the animal is caught- A new clause has -been -framed requiring occupiers of registered orchards and property in open areas to obtain permits for taking or killing opossums. No fee is charged for the permit. Steps have been taken in another clause to eraibody the Departmental practice of refusing to issue trapping licences to licensed brokers. A new clause provides for the marking of skins by trappers with their surname and initials, .licence number, and year in which the opossum was taken, and making it an offence for certain persons to deal in the skins not so mark- ' ed. A provision of this nature has been asked for by various interests, and it is considered that the clause will b,e a direct benefit to the trapper himself, The price off a broker’s licence has been increased to £2 10s, and the issue of a broker’s licence to it licensed trapper has been prohibited, Several clauses have been ?"■ altered ia order to provide for the ," stamping of opossum .skins outside ; the district in which the animals were j killed. An additional royalty of 3d per skin may be demanded in such cases. Where the skins are stamped in the district in which the opossums were taken, the royalty remains at Is per skin. An alteration in order to provide for the stamping of skins within one month from the closing dates of the open season in the district in which the animals were taken has been made, instead of within one month of the close of tlie latest season in any paricular year, as previously.- In cases where an extension of stamped time is applied for, an additional royalty of 3d per skin will be demanded.

Open seasons have been declared as follow:

Ashburton,' from June 16 to August 17; Auckland, from June 16 to August 2; Butler, from June 2 to August 2; East Coast, from July 1 to

August 1; Grey Dstrict, from June 2 to August 2; Hawera, from June 2 to September 2; Nelson, from July 1 to September 1; North Canterbury, from July 1 to August 1; Otago, from

June 2 to July 17; Rotorua, from July 1 to August 1; South Canter-

'bury, from June 2 to July 2; Southland, from June 2 to July 17 ; Stratford, from June 2 tp September 2; Taranaki, from June 2 to September 2; Waiapu, from. June 14 to August 1; "Wainiate, from June 2 to July 2;

Wanganui, from July 1 to September 1; Wellington, from July 21 to September 2; Westland, from June 2 to

August 2.