OPOSSUM SKIN SALE

Hokitika Guardian, 25 September 1930, Page 2

OPOSSUM SKIN SALE

DALGETY’S AND COY. LTD. SALE At file third sale of the season held at Dunedin on September 19th. the total offering of the eight selling Brokers was approximately 18,000 skins of which our catalogue comprised 13,914 skins, or almost 80 per cent, of the total offering. Our catalogue was a very representative one,, and skins were displayed fiom. every part of New Zealand where- the opossum is to be found. Tbe quality was generally good, and with very few exceptions the get up of every consignment re fie-ted great credit on the trappers concerned. We arc pleased to report that price? showed an improvement on previoir rates of from 3d 4 o Is per skin for all grades. There were several orders in the market on account of overseas buyers, and the demand was keen and well distributed. Trappers who sold in our sale were again fortunate. As we bad control of practically tbe whop offering buyers were forced to bid thenfull limit.: on our catalogue am l trappers can rest assured that their results represent- full market value As usual we topped the marko 4 for all grades, bh-'eks selling to 11s and blues to 10s. Thrn-e were both excellent lots and comprised skins, in the case of blacks, from North Canterbury, West Const, Nelson! 'Wellington and Waikaremoana, and blues from Wellington. ‘Wanganui and Auckland districts. Amongst our best sales in blacks and browns were 499 at 8s 4d, £42 at 7s Id, 007 at- 8s 7d, 58 at Os 7d, 70 at 10* 7d 172 at Bs, 184 at 7s Bd. 4G at 8s Pd, 19 at 10s 2d, 40 at 11s, 42 at 8s od and in blues and greys 66 at 7s 3d, 345 at 6s Id, 256 at 7s 6d, 46 at 10s, 91 at 8s Bd, 157 at 8s 10d, 167 at 6s 6-1. 248 at 7s lid, 178 at 8s lid, 21 at D.s 2d, 23 a t 8s 6d.

During the recent years considerable quantities of Wellington skins have Deen sold at the Wellington sales, and we have always maintained that better prices could have been obtained here. Only a few Dunedin buyers attend the Wellington sales and competition is usually very restricted. This was again the case- at last week’s Wellington sale, when extremely low prices were bid. On ‘ Our catalogue to-day we consider results of anything from 25 per cent to 50 per cent better than Wellington results were realised for skins from that district.

At prices ruling at our sale to-day trappers in our opinion are well advised to .sell. It is reported that prac--icallv two million opossum skins are now' in London awaiting sale, and it is certam-'that the October sales there will show a ••severe decline. To-day’s prices are, we consider, about London parity, and the market can only he discribed as a false one caused through forward sellers at previous low rates having to fill their requirements at to-day’s sale. The following is the range of pr ices from seconds up for average consignments : —- Blacks 4s 4d to 11s, Browns 2s Sd to 6s 3d. Blues 3s lid to 10s. Grevs 3s Id to 7s lid. Reds 2s 3d to 6s sd. Slates 3s Id try 7s id. Small Blacks Is to 4s 4d. Small Blues and Greys Is Id to 3s. Very inferior and Dgd. 6d to Is 9d.

Although this was the last main sale for tlie season, we expect to receive numerous consignmeuts still, and intend offer inn; tlieso at our iortnightly rabbit-skin sales, which are a-tended by all o] ossum skin buyers. Wmle orders are still in the market we strongly advise trappers to sent us their skins immediately. Any of our hr-'m’liec in the Nar'h or Smith Island will be pleased to attend to the warding of sums to us.