MONEY IN RABBITS.

Shannon News, 18 August 1925, Page 4

MONEY IN RABBITS.

THE RETURNS FOB PELTS. DOMINION-WIDE INDUSTRY. DUNEDIN, August 1. For the past 15 or 20 years the rab-bit-skin auctioneers in Dunedin have been selling ail the year through. Dunedin is practically the ordy auctioneering market in New Zealand. Three or four sales during the year are held in Wellington. The cause of the market settling in Dunedin was that at one time Otago and Southland were the only districts in which the rabbit was a malignant pest. Of late years it has spread to the whole Dominion and skins now come to the Dunedin auctions from all parts from Auckland to Bluff. Very large supplies are being received from North Canterbury and the Mackenzie County. Taihape is one of the chief contributing districts in the North Island. Some of. the North Island skins compare favourably with those of Otago and Southland. These North Island skins come from high country, where the temperature must be at least as low as in the south. The offerings during the last year or two have appreciably increased. The total quantity sold in the Dune : din market at auction during August was 298,4181 b., the value being roughly estimated at from £90,000 to £150,000. As this money has ,all been earned by trappers it will be seen that the industry absorbs a large amount of labour. The bulk of the rabbits are killed by strychnine poisoning.. This does not affect the pelts. Prices for skins have been steadily high in the last two years. The largest buyers are the Americans, who, during the present season, have taken quite three-fourths of the total offerings. The Americans seem to have transferred their rabbit-skin buying to a large extent from London. They now buy in the country of origin. This means that they can pay prices quite equivalent to those of the London market. Trappers therefore get the full benefit of the American competition. The only skins that the ; Americans are not greatly interested in are the best descriptions of winter doe skins. Thev do not seem to be able to compete with the Continent in the make up of these thin and easily-torn pelts.