The record-union., 1892-06-11
THE MONGOOSE.
A Pesky "Varmint" That California
Has No Use For.
1t Destroys Game Birds and Other
Fcathered Species, and is an
AII-Round Nuisance.

California has suffered not little in the
past from the introduction of undesirable
denizens of the earth and the waters un-
der the earth, and recently some one ad-
vanced the suggestion that the Govern
ment should introduce an animal of Aus
tralian pedigee and known as the mon
goose. The purpose of its proposed in
PRODUCTION was the destruction of squir-
rels and other burrowing creatures.
Fortunately. before the Government
could take action in the premises, how
ever, objections were urged against the
introduction OF the mongoose, and he has
not yet put in an appearance.
Now comes the following letter from a
resident of the Sandwich Islands to Fred
Cox, President of the State Agricultural
Society, who confirms all that has been
said against the mongoose:
DEAR SIR: In referring to the article
of the Weekly CdU (San Francisco of
May 8, 1892, against the introduction of
mongoose, think it but my duty for the
benefit of the public to state all that has
come to knowledge about the mongoose
They were introduced here about the
year 1885 for the destruction of rats and
mice, that did immense damage to the
sugar cane all over the group, and
have since become so plentiful that they
are a pest in every sense of the word.
Undeniably, the rats and mice have al
most disappeared, but so have also all
birds that breed on the ground, such as
plover, quail and the like. Chickens,
turkeys, ducks and other domestic fowls.
formerly SO easy to raise, can now ONLY
be raised in wire-netting Enclosures, as
the mongoose will not leave a place
wherever there are any eggs and young
poultry to have. The smallest hole to get
his head through will allow his BODY to
pass. If hungry, he'll kill and eat; if
not, he delights in sucking blood only
Any bird thai comes to the ground for
food is liable to become his victim, as he
is an expert jumper.
Wherever there are no, or few birds,
insects will soon take possession of any
country.
Not long ago the German Government
advised to kill crows and ravens. Now
it has to spend millions to save the forests
from destruction 10y insects, put up cleo
tric-light plants with suction fans behind
the light to catch the bugs, borers and
other insects at night time.
The number Of the mongoose on this
island alone must be about | 800 600, the
determination of which is simply an
impossibility. They are found on the
sheep stations near the snow-capped
9 Mauna kea," as well as in the tropical
cane fields. No stream will stop them
from crossing and no climate will kill
them. 1t will not be long before the cure
Will prove itself worse than the disease.
Bugs and cane-borers, especially the lat
ter, have increased already to an alarm
ing extent. In case this ground hawk
should be introduced in California, it
would only be question of time before
it would be spread all over the continent.
Caterpillars would rob the pastures, fruit
trees would be bare of fruit and foliage.
and the forests would represent ruins of
bygone splendor only.
Trusting that you'll make these facts
known to the public. remain yours.
very respectfully. EUGENE BARTELs.