The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1888-11-10
TGe Australian Rabbit Plague

The Memphis Avalanche: While Rus
sia wrestles with Nihilists, Germany with
Socialists, France with B Boulanger, Great
Britain with landlordism, and America
with trusts-while some great social or
political oaxcer ia eating its way into the
vitals of ail the nations of the earth, Aus
tralis is making a desperate fight for OK
istence against millions of rabbits. The
problem of how to exterminate rabbits
is the greatest question that contronts
the people of Australia to. day, as their
| entire prosperity depends upon IL. 1t is
in tha hope that Yankee ingenuity may
be able to solve this important problem
that Mr.. James Watson of Victoria, an
extensive ranch owner, is now on visit
to America. A reward OF 100000 is of
fsred by the government for the best plan
for their determination. Pgsteur made
dismal failure, and none of the meth
ods which have been employed have met
with any success. One plan is to scatter
poisoned fruit on the ground; another to
set ordinary rat traps, but these methods
are entirely too expensive. law has
recently been passed that compels the
owners of lands to keep the rabbits down.
If he should fail TO do this he is fined $50
for the first otfense, and 500 for the sec
ond, and upon the third offsnse the gov
ernment employs men to astsnd to the
rabbits ut the expense OF the land owner.
In many instances owners are compelled
to give up their land, as the expense is
so great. The owner of 10000 acres Is
obliged to employ 100 men for killing
rabbits alone, and as result land that a
few years ago was worth $50 an acre is
now only worth 81. For instance, it cost
the government of Victoria 1926, 900 a
year TO keep the rabits down on the crown
(government) lands. The government
pays ten cents pair for all the rabbits
killed on their lands. good man can
make $40 waek killing rabbits. These
men use traps aud one man can work 100
traps.
The rabbits have not yet made their ap-
pearance in Queensland, and the Aus.
tralian government is now building \
fence of wire netting, which when COM
pleted, will be 5000 miles long, and which
will divide New South Wales and Qusens-
land.
Rabbits were introduced into Australia
| about twenty year. ago from England
for sporting purposes. pair will usual
| ly produce four does and two bucks. The
| does breed when two months old and they
have on an average four litters year
The calculation that a pair OF rabbits will
produce 100000 in two years is not pre-
posterous as it at first appears.
Mr.. Watson says he has found way by
which no eau keep the rabbits down and
make money by 1t, but of course every
| rarchman cannot do this. He mas start
cd rabbit canning factory. He osns
the rabbits much the same way that beef
is canned here, and his principal market
is in England. Al present ne Is canning
100000 rabbits year. all of which are
killed off his ranch, and still this number
doss not keep the pest down rs the
government requires, He puts rabbit
and half in a can and at present makes
81 cents profit on dozen cans. They
are retailed in England at II cents pei
pound, and conside ring the high price OF
beef 1T would be supposed rabbits would
becoms a tavorite dish with the poor oi
England, yet the rabbits are now only
purchased by the higher classes, who
consider then great dainty. Bu', a'
Mr.. Watson sTss, every rsnchmSn cannot
conduct a csnLing factory and some
other means must be employed.