A. Except for trappers selling their own catches, any person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of buying or selling unprocessed skins or pelts of any fur-bearing animal is a "fur dealer." It is a misdemeanor to engage in business as a fur dealer or solicit such business without first procuring a fur dealer license, except that resident fur dealers who buy and sell less than fifty skins or pelts of fur-bearing animals each year need not purchase a fur dealer license.

B. Every fur dealer shall file with the department of game and fish, not later than the tenth of each month, a sworn statement showing the number and kind of skins and pelts of fur-bearing animals purchased and sold during the preceding month.

C. The provisions of this section apply to fur dealers who buy and sell the skins or pelts of predatory animals as well as to those who buy and sell the skins or pelts of protected nonpredatory fur-bearing animals.

History: Laws 1939, ch. 178, § 6; 1941 Comp., § 43-506; 1953 Comp., § 53-5-6; Laws 1964 (1st S.S.), ch. 17, § 10.

Cross references. — For power of commission to withhold license, see 17-1-14 NMSA 1978.

For duration of license, see 17-3-1 NMSA 1978.

For amount of license fee, see 17-3-13 NMSA 1978.

For revocation of license, see 17-5-9 NMSA 1978.

Effective date provision is invalid. — Laws 1964 (1st S.S.), ch. 17, § 12, making the act effective on April 1, 1964, was a nullity under N.M. Const., art. IV, § 23. Since the act did not pass as an emergency measure, the legislature was proscribed by the constitution from providing that the act would go into effect sooner than 90 days after adjournment on February 25, 1964. 1964 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 64-91.

Permit required whether animals bred or trapped. — All persons, whether dealing in pelts resulting from the commercial enterprise of fur-bearing animal breeding or whether dealing in pelts resulting from the trapping of wild fur-bearing animals, are required by law to secure the permit provided for before engaging in such business. 1954 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 54-6043.

Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 51 Am. Jur. 2d Licenses and Permits § 31.