New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1884-10-29
BAD BUNNY.
How English Rabbits Have Overrun AZ.
tralio.

facts relative to the rabbit plague Of
Australia were detailed in this CORES
ponde1ce q couple of years ago, as.
gathered from statement forwarded
from New South Wales, showing the
country to be overrun with rabbits, so
much SO that agriculture and stock
raising were seriously threatened by
their presence. A curious fact in that
connection was that the rabbits had
been introduced from England but a
few years before by some generous
minded person who thought he was be-
slowing real boon upon an entirely
rabbitless country by this course.
So thoroughly were he and the COM
munity at large impressed with the
idea that Publication meeting, with
speeches and champagne, and bon
fires and a good time generally, was
held when the rabbits were liberated;
visions of rabbit-pie doomed up in the
mind of the colonist, without thought.
that the few innocent animals thus lib
Grated would populate the country
with their species in such numbers as
TO seriously threaten its most important
industries.
Consul General Spencer, Of Mel
bourne, writing to the state depart
ment on this subject, says: The null
DUPLICATION of rabbits in the colonies
has become veritable plague. A
single pair, introduced for the amuse-
ment Of the sportsman, has developed
into millions. .
Before the advance of the most timid
OF animals flocks and herds are COM
PEELED to retire, and even man himself
is starved into surrender. In some
instances squatters have been compelled
to abandon their sheep runs and select
ors to relinquish their holdings Their
advance is as noiseless and persistent
as the dreaded phylloxera. Crossing
rivers and mountain ranges they are
already advancing into the interior,
and ere long will probably be found in
every part of the island continent, oc-
casioning heavy losses to the agricult-
urist and grazier, and involving ex-
Penditures for suppression that will be
reckoned by many millions sterling.
10 exterminate the pest all the
many appliances of modern science
have been brought 10 bear, with the re-
suit, in some localities, of only check
ing its steady advance. Traps, pois-
ons, firearms, deadly gases, the dog,
the dingo, the mongoose, have been
brought into requisition, with hitherto
but partial or Indifferent success. Gov
eminent aid, too. has been invoked,
and there has been a generous re-
spouse. The parliaments of Victoria,
South Australia, and New South
Wales have already appropriated
nearly million of dollars for the
extirpation of the plague, and in all
probability will have to expend MANY
millions more even to keep it within
bounds.
Add to this sum the expenditure of
private individuals in the colonies
named, as well as Tasmania and New
Zealand, and the outlay, both past and
prospective, is something enormous.
According to the report of the chief in
spector of stock in New South Wales
no less than 100000 acres in that col
ony are infested with rabbits. On
tWenty-seven ssruns'' they are said to
be increasing, on thirty-six stationary,
and on fortyfour decreasing. Some
10 men, under supervision of inspect
ors, have latterly been employed in
trapping and poisoning, and report
having destroyed immense numbers.
OF the various means employed in this
war of determination, the most efficient
are trapping and poisoning, phosphor-
lied oats and sulphide of carbon hay-
ing been found especially effective.
Latterly some specimens of mon
goose family have been imported from
Colombo. After being kept in confine-
ment for some time they were turned
out on some large estates in those dis
tricts in Victoria and New South Wales
where the rabbits are most numerous.
and SO far as is known the result of the
experiment is said to be most favorable.
But even the rabbit plague has its
compensation; it has opened up new
channels of trade and given rise to new
industries. Not to speak Of the other
colonies, in 1882 Victoria exported 4,
929,432 rabbit skins, and New Zealand
9,198,837, Of the aggregate value Of
1861, 315. The various uses to which
these are applied, from felt hat to an
ermine tippet, are probably known
only to the initiated. - Washington, Cor.
s. Cincinnati zTnaes-Star.