Collecting Alligator
p. 38 · Read in the full issue
Skins
Hunters at Work in Papua
From Our Own Correspondent.
Pt. Moresby, June 13.
MESSRS. BURCHETT and Contempree arrived in Papua from Sydney by the Montoro on June 2, and left on June 5, for Vilirupu, 100 miles east of Port Moresby, to collect alligator skins in the shallow creeks and mangrove flats, where the rep tiles thrive. There is a market for these skins in Australia, provided they are pre pared and marketed in a satisfactory man ner.
Early in 1932, what is believed to have been the first auction sale of crocodile skins in Melbourne was conducted by a wool house. About 180 skins, all from Townsville, Queensland, were offered, and prices ranged from 6/- to 27/- a dozen, which was hardly remunerative to the col lectors. Imported skins at the time brought about £5 a dozen.
Ninety per cent, of the offerings were bought by Messrs. Geo. Pizzey and Son, Ltd., tanners, of Pitzroy, who are large buyers of crocodile skins for shoes and ladies’ handbags. This company imported most of their skins from India and the East, and there should be a good market open for Papuan skins with similar Arms throughout Australia, provided the prices are satisfactory.
Years ago Messrs. Tost and Rohu, of Sydney, offered £5 each for good skins from Papua; but it is doubtful whether the same price would be offered to-day.