The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1900-08-31

mind as they watch the importation
and distribution of the Belgian hare.
y The Belgian hare in captivity Will
do nu HARM" said Dr Palm
er. in discussing the matter, 1--WE are
not prepared to say it will Go any
harm anyway But we are apprclen-
siye of what may happen IN case pro-
pcr safeguards are not taken. while
in The West recently, Secretary Will
son heard that there were not less 5O,'
900 Belgian harcs in Los Angeles alone. /
As they were introduced only a year
AGO last winter this il Il large increase,
We have been informed that several
thousand have broken bounds and are
at liberty. 1t is almost lnevltahle
that sooner or later the animals should
break or burrow out. and il IA proper
cheek were rot applied they might
gain II roothnld in this country and
rival the pest Of Australia
The history Of the Belgian hare in
this country is brief, hut full of action.
As nearly as can he learned 1t began
with an article in one of the Sunday
newspapers of Los Angeles. The
article was written merely as an in
| tcresling feature, but there was an
immediate response OF interest ana
| inquiry. and harc-raislng Sprang into
a thrifty " backyard industry" 1t
grew fat on newspaper ADVERTISING.
and spread to Denver, Kansas City.
Chicago aud indianapolis, and even
manifested itself in some eastern
cities. 1t was first exploited for Its
nronts, on the ground that there was
a market for the meat at ID to 70 cents
A mound. and for the fur for the manu-
facture of electric seal. But the rapit
, spread of the industry and the demant
for GOOD breeding animals soon re
| suited in making the hares TOO valu
: able TO kin. The values have increases
y TO the point where they are believes
to be largely speculative. as in tn
!, case of the Dutch tulip mania, an
fine animals are now held to be wort
from $500 to $1,000 apiece.
. That the rabbit has a commerce.
j. value and utility is not denied by tn
s department of agriculture. On I'll
n contrary. Secretary Wilson calls a
~ tention to the fact that our felt hat
Y are made from rabbit fur, and tina
# the greater part of this fur is import
f. ed from Australia. Some OF 1t come
If from Europe, and the smallest pal
IT. from the wild rabbits of this countr!
:. In one year, from July. 1884, to Jul.
d 1895. London imported from Austrian
A. - 500. 600 skins, ut total value {
"a 81 ,OOO. 900. 4 third Of the London IN
Is portation comes later to New Yor
Is 1t is estimated by one of the leadir
hot.makerS Of the East that his indu
@. try consumes II 100000 skins yea
n. vieling 100000 of fur, valued at VI
in $50. 600, exclusive Of thee cost OF cuttIn
IN The skins are also used for maklr
I'd iuiube. sizing and glue.
9. At present prices, however. the ~
80 gjan hare is more valuable to u
tn fancicr than to the hatmakcr III
rs department has no figures to sho
he how many have been imported duril
ht the last eighteen months, but IT
of known that they are coming IN
IN steady stream. from the frequent tie
IS, grams of inquiry which arrive 'rt
ire express and steamship companl'
* whether there are any Governme
re- regulations to be observed in reSpt
,st to them They all have to pay du
nj They might be exempt il the own'
IRE could submit TO the department
Sc "stud- book showing their high pc
he gree. but no such records have be
ng submitted.
ut. The department may declare, II
m investigations warrant 1t. to Ia
some action in regard to the whC
ith sale importation Of hares. Otherwl
ar it will coniine itself to recommen
,rn tions to local authorities and the G
MT tribution of useful information.
ad. reply to a flood OF inquiries. the
in partmcnt desires to state That
has literature ON the subject has b
gu prepared.
non The gold men dislike Bryan for
our friends he has made, Altgeld, !
,ish man. Croker and such.
ing -,
,uv The Methodists have l42 missit
,da res in China: the Presbyterians.
nod and the American Board Of Conn
arc sioners for Foreign Missions, ITO.
VA The man who affixed the name
"o Minneggglc to a small waterfall
~ the famous Minnehaha was undO'
edly humorist.
y it Since hearing that Towne was
we're meet him in his speaking tour IN
1898. West Teddy has decided that he