The Delta independent., 1890-08-19
THE RABBIT PLAQUE in AUS.
TRAIIA.

A recent report by the United States
Consul at Sydney. N. g. W., gives a
vivid idea OF the extent Of the rabbit
pest in Australia. The extraordinary
fecundity Of the animals under the
climatic conditions there prevailing
have caused the country to be COM
pletely overrun with them. Vast re-
gions are devastated, and the grass
and other herbage is cevoured. The
| government has spent immense sums
10 destroy and repress them. New
South Wales has spent nearly a, ,OO0,-
900. Several thousand miles of wire
| fencing has been erected, and large
amounts in bounties for scalps have
been paid. The bounty has varied
from two cents scalp to twenty-four
cents, according to the number OF rab-
bits in the district. The rabbit hunt
ers have earned from 500 up to $50 a
week. The natural consequence has
been that the determination or rab-
bits has been the last thing desired by
some Of the rabbit hunters, and the
bounty began to take the form OF q
practical subsidy or protection for the
very animals it was desired to destroy.
The employment Of the rabbit hunters
was made compulsory on the owners
Of the land. The determination has
at last been reached to discontinue
the payment OF such bounties.
Wire fencing has been found Of use.
A height OF three feet, with II mesh
and No. II wire, has been found ef-
fective in excluding them. A wooden
Mi to NJ txr{-
good results.
The figure Of five millions is given
as the possible increase OF two pair Of
rabbits in three years. Yet even
this is a low estimate OF the possibili-
ties Of reproduction Of rabbits. The
average life of rabbit is put at about
nine years. The doe may have young
eight times each year, averaging
eight each time. The first lit
ter Is produced when but four months
old. The progressions based on these
| figures lead to astonishing results.
For three years the possible progeny
of two rabbits has been calculated as
over IS, 100000, and for seven years
as 500, 900, 900. OF course these es-
Inmates may exceed reality, but they
indicate the impossibility OF killing
off the foreign invader. Fifteen mil
lion skins have been exported from
New South Wales in one year. yet the
rabbits are not diminished. The
climate OF Australia seems to be such
that no extraneous limit is placed to
their propagation. In other lands
they do not increase to any ex.
tent, and in settled places often be-
come extinct. Instances Of their de-
structive power are only too frequent
in the antipodes. At a place called
Terganynia, in 1889, 6O,OO0 acres OF
grass were destroyed by them, al
though 100000 were killed on this
Identical tract.
At present the southwestern part Of
the continent is most afflicted. Cur
iously enough, tame rabbits VIII not
spread. In the early history Of the
country they were introduced, but did
not thrive. The origin OF the present
evil is traced to a single pair OF wild
brown rabbits liberated in Victoria.
The first enactments against them
were passed in 1879.
While their destruction would seem
hopeless. in view not only Of the fig
ures given above, but an account Of
the experience OF the past decade, at
tempts are still In progress. Poison
is extensively used, Of course uniting
the animal for food. This Is held to
be an advantage, as any utilization OF
the animal is in the line OF opposition
to its determination. 1t Is largely on
account Of poisoning that many can
ming factories started to utilise rab-
bits as o food product have been aban-
noned. Ferrets are found useful, but
they have already done much harm to
poultry and some Of the interesting
Indigenous birds. Traps that kill the
rabbits kill ferrets also, SO tho use Of
wire pounds to capture them In guam
titles alive is advised.
It will be remembered that a reward
was offered by the government OF New
South Wales for method for the de-
struction Of rabbits. Up to the end
last year about 1900 methods had
been proposed and examined, but
none answered the requirements. No
less than 115 were for the destruction
by disease. One curious scheme con-
sisted In the killing Of the females and
letting the males escape. This, IT. is
claimed, will bring about prepon-
derance OF the males, who will worry
the females to death. This plan IL
| actually under trial now.
NJ. Pasteur, the eminent French bi-
ologist, proposed to introduce chicken
cholera by incubation. He reserved
as his secret the method Of preparing
the virus, which secret he agreed to
divulge only II the reward was given
him. The method was tried most
carefully under the superintendent
Of M. Pasteur's own assistants. Rodd
Island, near Sidney, was chosen for
the work. The commission reported
adversely, holding that practically
the virus was little or no better than
arsenic or other known poison.
Invalfds aged people nurainp mothers