The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-19
CALIFORNIA; RABBIT PEST.
IT THREATENS 10 me- As SERIOUS
A MATTER As dUSTRALIA'S.


All Attempts TO xiii or the Rabbits on the
Pacific Coast Unsuccessful The Damage
In n single County Last Year Eatimntea
at BGOO,OOO The Pest In Australia.
Californin's rabbit nuisance IL assuming pro-
portions and making progress which most un-
pleasantly suggest comparison with the actual
plague of rabbits that aniicts Australia; af-
ficts II In n hopeless degree, according 10 the
latest reports Of the various colonial Governs
incnts. California has lately adopted some
Australian methods Of thinning out the rab-
bits. and apparently with about the same linn.
tied measure OF success. In Australia the atr
tempt to cXterminate them has been given up,
and every effort Is now directed 10 combining
the rabbits TO certain areas, or rather TO keep
ing them ont Of certain cultivated regions.
Even this entails enormous expense on the Gov
ernments and landowners, is by no means sure,
and often Ia unsuccessful.
II Is stated that in one county alone In Calf
fornia tho loss to farmers from rabbits and
hares amounted last year to fully 5000. 900.
Many experiments with poison have been
made, but the farmers have about concluded
that the only thing to do Is occa 'ionally to thin
out the rabbits by holding big round up hunts
or drives. The story Of several OF these drives
recently undertaken has been told In THE SUN.
II Is estimated that ~ n result of lao drives In
all held In California $50, 100 rabbits have
been killed. But tho latest reports say there
is no apprcciable d!mlnution In their numbers
Some years ago the Government of New
South Wales offered n reward Of fc3. 900 TO
any one who suggested y really efficient method
OF getting rid Of the rabbits. This offer stood
open for several wears. and more than 1900
schemes we're offered, coming from all parts
found to bo wholly satiSfncturv. aud finally thu
offer was withdrawn. and the Australians
tried to make up their minds tU the lDCNltahls
pernnrNnCp Df the nest. lprTptg. -tppts. and
wrasels were imported and bred in Thousands,
and they have dong GOOD work. loisons OF all
we're introduced. aud they also did good ser.
vice. But the rabbits multiply III such an ns-
held their own, and have spread into new ro-
rions. destroying II large proportion of a,l crops
wherever they have penetrated
Directly and indirectly South Australia loses
fully E5oo.o00 a year from rabbits. TIE GOV;
since 1850 irving to keep down thH plague, and
has spent more than goo. 900 in the work. Tn,
,amGgmt Of money sncmt by f3rmors amd other
ing n lUrg' estate. has spent Gl5. 600 in tho
lat few years fighting rabbits; Tn !ioycrn:
colony Of Victoria, is Infested 6y rabbits.
May schemes Lave been Offered for making
use of the rabbits commercially. ar,I thus re-
coupling ct least a little of the loss they cause.
used. and something of a trade has hrcn built
up In. the shipmcnt % rabbits to England and
But thSworid can't live on rHbhit meat. aid :
would Need TO in order to afford to thcAuatra-
lians n profitable way Of making use of their
rabbits. The skins are largely used for many
374.ooo rabbit skins every ySnr; and in the
last seventeen years. about 6s,o0O,OOO skins
have been exported from Victoria.
There have been intercolonial conferences,
attended hv rcpr, spntatiyes OF the various
Governments and delegates from the agri-
cultural societies. at Which every phase OF The
Cision seems to be that determination Is i'm
possible. nnl that the most e~tfectual way OF
dealing with the evil is in building long fences
Of rabbit proof netting to keep the animals ont
food supplies. and also TO get them together ms
m"ch rs possible so that they can be ralded by
me1ns Of drives.
some Of the fences are hundreds of miles
land border. follows the Main Trunk line from
Bourke, and ends at CorOwa, extending in an
unhroken line for 4O7 miles. There is another
such fence along the entire western boundary
of New South Wales. $40 miles long. But even
this heroic remedy IA not unfailing. Tho
fences are liable TO break down. especially in
times OF flood. and particularly where they
cross rivers and creeks. II is impossible 10
keep the fences under complete and constant
supervision in order that breaks may be re-
for n few thousand rabbits. To pour Through, a
break once they find Il. 1t Is stated that In
many instances hundreds of thousands of rab-
bits have been seen dead or dying on the outer
side OF the fence. having eaten MP all the avail.
able food supplies. and making vain efforts 70
lean over the closely woven wire netting.
These fences are expensive TO build ana exc
pcnsiv" 20 maintain. They have to be sunk
considerable depth as we'll AS built up quite high.
But after many years Of heavy loss and. dis
hcartentng struggles the Australians have
come to consider this as the only means OF
dealing with the pest.