30 MAMMALIA 



arhoreum) and come to the shed where horsefeed is kept, and help 

 themselves to the oats. 



Protection and Legislation. In 1891, protection of the opos- 

 sums was urged on the Governcment by an Invercargill merchant who 

 stated (in Southland Times of 20th January) that some New Zealand 

 skins were worth 105. each, and he noted that the supply of skins 

 from Australia and Tasmania was diminishing. 



At the same time complaints began to be made by settlers in bush 

 districts that the opossums were robbing their fields and orchards, 

 and destroying plantations — apparently an attempt to justify the 

 destruction of the animals which was then commencing. Such a 

 charge was not supported by evidence. On the other hand Mr T. C. 

 Plante of Melbourne, writing to the Premier of New Zealand on 

 the subject (in 1891) says: 



Tasmania is the orchard of Australia, yet so little harm is caused by this 

 animal and so well is its commercial value appreciated, that a close season 

 is prescribed for it, and indeed for all marsupials. Although the species 

 of Victoria yield a fur of little value, except such as live in the cold and 

 mountainous parts, the case is different with the Tasmanian species, which 

 are of much greater value ; the animal is larger, producing fur denser and 

 of much better quality, and the colour is black or reddish-black. Now 

 this is the kind that has been introduced into New Zealand, and from 

 specimens caught in Riverton bush that have been shown to me, I can 

 vouch that in New Zealand they grow even larger and produce fur of better 

 quality. At the October (1890) fur sales Tasmanian skins realised up to 

 8s. 6d. each. 



Mr Plante recommended trapping from June to September when 

 the fur is fully grown, with a close season during the summer months. 



Owing to the increasing destruction which went on in succeeding 

 years in all districts where opossums were found, the societies interested 

 brought pressure to bear on the Government, and in 191 1 an Order 

 in Council was issued {Gazette, 16th November), declaring these 

 animals to be "Imported Game within the meaning of the Animals 

 Protection Act, 1908." Thus it became illegal to catch or destroy 

 them. By this time, however, the settlers in bush districts — ^at least 

 in Otago — had found the trapping of opossums a very profitable 

 business, and though they do not appear in published returns of 

 exports, the probability is that their skins were classed and counted 

 with rabbit-skins. Accordingly they set to work through their repre- 

 sentatives in Parliament and got the restrictions removed. By Gazette 

 notices of 22nd August, 1912, it was stated that "opossums of every 

 variety shall cease to be deemed to be imported game," and "all 

 protection of opossums has consequently been removed, and they 

 may be taken or killed without restriction, and their skins sold." This 



