Evening journal., 1890-02-04
TERRIBLE RABBIT PEST.
LITERALLY OvERRUN
WITH THE CREATURES.

eradicate 1t fr0m New Zealand. has been the |
constant aim Of the government and people
and the ways and means devised and put ia
operation 70 this end have been numerous
and ingenious. A rabbit department has
been established in the government, with
superintendent IN charge, iocal boards have
been created and private enterprises have
been set on foot, all having one common
object IN view--the externinafio0 Of tlse
rabbits.
"The sheep farmers Of New Zealand we're
principally from England, and were fond Of
the ways OF the old country and it is said
that rabbits were introduced for the chase
a popular amusement OF the Old Word
But il is OF little consequences now as to why
or how the rabbits were introduced it is
certain that they came They were brougl&
from England and Scotland aud from Tas
mania, aud were turned loose upon the coun-
try. There are several kinds-the silver
gray, the silver brown, and now aud then
would be found the black aud white fnrred.
but all belonging 20 the great rabbit family
and destined TO be see and felt in New Yea.
land. When IL is considere that rabbits
breed from six TO twelve times year, the
enormous increase that came from the rab-
bits first introduced Is not surprising. 1t is
certain that nothing has so overrun coun-
try since the locusts invaded Egypt
GREAT DAMAGE
ut is difficult to estimate the great damage
done TO that young colony by rabbits. The
pests have eaten out the ranges SO that the
capacity for raising sheep has been greatly
lessened. The sheep have fallen Off in mum
Der, and the loss has been immense, running
up into the millions. 1t is much easier to
give an estimate Of the money expended IN
destroying the pests than the amount de
stroyed by them. At the Australasan stock
conference held in Sydney ia October, 1885,
1t was shown that the rabbit nuisance was
more serious than was usually believed. The
carrying capacity OF the land had been re
duced third, and the fieeces had decreased
from pound TO 4 pounds per fleece in the
weight The lembing percentage had de
creased from 30 10 40 per cent, while the
death rate had increased from 3, and to
9, 10, II, 70 and 10 per cent
I'm 1892 what is know as the rabbit act
became law Since then the government
has expended annually S35, 900 on crown lands
government landi alone. One of the dele
gates 20 the Australasian stock conference,
mentioned above, estimated that $l,256000
was expended annually by private indiyid
uals During the last eight years there has
been expended the sum Of Sl2,000,0O0, and a
very much larger sum from the beginning Of
the warfare. but how much it is difficult TO
state.
"At the Australasian conference Mr.. J. d.
Lance a member IL the parliament OF New
Zealand and delegate brought up the rab-
bit pest, and in the course Of his address said
that committee Of both ht@es Of the New
Zealand parliament considered the question
for two months, aud legislation followed the
action Of the committees A bill was passed
\ which, while he could not say that 1t was per-
feet, was, nevertheless, q step IN the right di-
rection. He said that fencing was one Of the
great eementsof success, but In New Zealand
fencing was difficult on account OF the noun
famous backbone running through the in
Tested island parts Of which were so precipi
tous and rocky that they could not get pack
horse into a very large area, and poisoned
grain could not be carried there. Thereupon,
they could not see that on these mountainous
regions it was possible to carry out fencing
70 any extent There were spots, however,
where it could be done In the northern por-
| tion fencing could be erected, and there it
was proposed that IL should be done, but in
the southern portion fencing would be more
difficult but they hoped Co find fairly good
country over which to carry fencing, and he
thought If they did so they would save that
country from being overrun. II a fence were
erected aud the great wave Of rabbits should
come against it without any opposition, il
would never keep the rabbits back.
FERRErs INTRODUCED.
Therefore they proposed to build huts al
certain intervals along the fence at distance.
varying according TO the nature Of the coun.
try, and to have two men in each hut tc
breed ferrets as largely as they could and
turn them out on the country 70 make away
with the muchly despisod rabbit. The gov
eminent does not allow the natural enemies OF
the rabbit TO be destroyed by dogs or other.
wise. Ferrets would NOT live without plenty
Of water, and in one part Of the country
owing to lack OF water, they had become
nearly exterminated in few months time.
"The committee examined a number Of
witnesses and all were in favor OF the in
PRODUCTION Of stoats and weasels as the most
effective remedy for the evil and the com
mittee recommended that these animals be
largely imported. Upon examination into
the matter, Mr. Lance found that the wit
nesses favoring stoats aud vessels were
largely sheep raisers, or in some way con
nected with pastoral industry. The agri
, cultural farmers almost to man were op
posed TO the introduction Of stoats and
weasels, as they thought they would be des
, tructive 20 poultry. Cats are most useful il
] destroying rabbits. and with ferrets, fencing
I and poisoning sufficient power in all proba
! bility viii be brought TO bear to keep dowl
the pests Poisoning is valuable in keeping
) down the number OK rabbits and is much re
sorted 70 by the natives. The most efiica
) cious means of using poison was in phosphor
) lied oats There is danger Of fire from tn
. use Of II during the summer months whei
! the grass is dry. There has not been a ston
l left unturned TO find out better means 70
the destruction Of the rabbits
! II have here given the substance Of the re
3 marks of Mr. Lance so as to convey an ide
! Of the trouble the expense and annoyance o
' the rabbit pest. Large numbers of me
have been hired from time to time 70 max
war upon the rabbits These men are Gale
'rabbiters, and it is said these 'rabbiters
' encouraged rabbits in every way, so as 10 b
4 able to hold their positions for without th
rabbit their occupation would be gone. The
\ have been known to kill the stoats and fel
! rcts so as to give the rabbits an opportunit
q TO increase their numbers. The bonus syster
. was found to be Objectionable and expensiv
i and was consequently abolished. One Of I'll
! delegates q the conference stated that ID
{. | public expense Was nothing Compared wit
> that incurred by private individuals. II
!. calculated that quarter OF million pound
7. sterling led been annually expended, with
J. out Reckoning the loss OF grass and the faI
1 ing of In the condition OF sheep. n-St, Lou
! Republic.
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nrNm