Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-13
TIE MoNooosE QUESTION.
Some Testimony Showing That the lGongoos
10 Not an Unlnixed Blessing.

10 Not an Unlnixed Blessing.
| To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
An article in last Saturdays SrAs makes the
| announcement that the Depar tment Of Agricul-
ture is about to try the experiment Of natural
izing the Indian mongoose in this country for
the purpose of reducing the pest Of rats and
other injurious rodents.
The mongoosc is represented - entirely
harmless to domestic fowls but Q dire enemy
to snakes and rats. This is avery misleading
statement The mongoose, like all the weasel
| and ferret family. to which it belongs, ID en-
| tirely carnivorous, preying indifferently upon
| oil birds, reptiles and small mammals which it
| may be able to catch. When IL can..easily find
an abundance Of rats and snakes IL II content,
| but should they fail it becomes most dsstruc-
tive and persistent pest Of the poultry yard
and of all land game birds.
Their power Of increase is disproportiouately
| great to that OF any Of their enemies when in
| troduced to foreign country, and in this, AZ
| your correspondent well points out In regard
1 to the pglish sparrow Chinese pheasauts and
other exotic animals domesticated in this and
other countries. lies the real danger.
l have no means Of ascertaiaing how the
mongoose IL now regarded In the Sandwich
Islands, but 1t is very erroneous to say that the
results OF its introduction in Jamaica satis-
| factory. While on . visit to the interior Of
that island in 1890 the writer heard ana cav
constant evidence Of the havoc wrought by this
| steelthy little animal, which now literally
swarms in the thickets and among the loosely
butt stone walls which fence the plantations.
The mongoose was first brought to Jamaica
dozen years ago in the interest of the sugar
planters, 20 rid their caachelds Of destruc tive
! rodent known locally az the "cane-piece raj"
which gaaws the canes down just before they
are ready for cutting. This the mongooso has
entirely failed to do the rats, disturbed on
the ground by their imported enemy, have be-
como arborcal, taking TO the cocoanut tree,
whore they row nest, and vary their forays in
the corHfe!d by cutting down the miniature
cocoanuts, which are all important exporting
| product 1t is true that the snakes OF Jamaica
| have been almost wholly ex,erminated since the
advent OF the mongoose, but that is q small
gain. as the island contained no poisonous
species, and they were never specially numer-
, Gus.
When the snakes became scarce anu the rats
| more cautious the mongooac grew more preda-
J tory ard took to blId nesting aud chicken
stealing. ard at tho present time the game
birds, some OF which were imported, as the
pheasant and wild guinea fowl, and which wore
formerly very plentiful, seem 10 be totally ex-
terminated, with tho solo exception OF some
native pigeons, which nest in trees
Poultry products have doubled anu even
| treI!ed in price and are now very scarce and
difficult to produce. The black peasantry.
| always helpless and lacking in energy. seem
| utterly unable to cope with the agile intruder
and IN most cases have given up the struggle.
They scarcely raise enough chickens and eggs
for their own use.
So bad has the mongoose pest become that
Commission was authorized by the local legis-
iature aud appointed in 1890 by the governor
| to investigate the mongoose question. This
commission took testimony for several months
from the planters and laboring people. The
evidence. while somewhat conflicting, as IL
usual with unframed observers, showed con-
had =,
unbcarable nuisance, aud had failed to dispose
OF or apprs ciably reduce the numbers Of the
cane-piece rat, which was the primary cause Of
Its introduction, and tho committee SO stated
in its report
Thus this little animal has done much to re-
duce the pleasures Of country residence in
this delightful island by its constant and I'M
ceasins deprcdations On domestic poultry and
wild game fowls. 1t is not to be supposed that
the Yankee rat will be less wary than its creole
cousin, and 1t will promptly decline to be
taken in" by the mongoose, if Uncle Sam
should see fit to bring him over.
What with rats, weasels, minks, skunks
hawks, owls, crows and cats, as well AZ the mid
night thief. the poultry-loving housewife has
her hands full now to carry to maturity small
percentage Of her chicks, and she IL not likely
to view with equanimity the contest with
another and more formidable enemy.
Our present bitter experience with the
postiferous sparrow should make individuals
IN all eff orts for the scciimatization Of exotic
animals. w. VAN FLEET. N, u.
NERO, Va, February 8. 1892.
Thirteen Counts to the indictment.
To the Editor OF Til. Evening Star.
l. know that the nongoose was imported
into Jamaica, rs published in The EVENING
SrAn Of Saturday, the 9Th instant
2. That it was done at tho suggestion of a
,hn, eL =
Henry Eormans administration.
8. That if they are imported into this coun-
try they WILL to a great extent, destroy the
rats, but not less will they destroy fowls,
birds. &c.
4. That had to abandon fowl rearing on &C.
count of the little pests destroying all my eggs
and chickens.
5. That many poor families, who depended
solely on the small tritie they 60: from the
peddiers for their fowls to keep them from Pc
cuniary embarrassment, are entirely ruined
from their lncursions.
6. That they breed very fast, at an average
OF three males to one female.
2. That they will not 60 hear the house where
dog is kept.
8. That they are always at full speed wher-
ever You meet with them.
O.. That they do not prowl abroad at nights,
or the destruction to poultry would be sooner
10. That they will stand on their hind legs
and watch your movements when they are near
the hen roost.
IL. That it is burning question in Jamaica
how to get rid OF them
IL. That in n debate in the council how to
e1terminate them some suggested poisoning"
others traps" while some preferred ..yoting
for lump sum, say $4,000 CSC, C00), and give
ID 70 cents) for every female caught and Id
q cents) for each male"
IL. That soon after their arrival they will
proclaim the balance Of their history sheet.
z. N. STEPHENSON.
Love Indeed.
Our love is donel
would not have it back, say,
would not have my whole year Mayi
But yet for our dead passions sake,
Kiss me once more and strive to make
Our last kiss the supremest one;
For love Is done.
Our love il done'
And still my eyes with tears are wet
Our souls are stirred with vain regret;
We gaze farewell, yet cannot speak,
And firm resolve grows strangely weak,