The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-06-24
THE RABBITS OF AUSTRALIA.
At First They Were = Pair, Then . Pest. and
Now They Bring o. .OOO. 900 In Two Years.
From the CHICAGO Daiiy Neus.

From the Chicago Daily Nous.
MELBOURNE, May about forty years ago
a pair Of rabbits was brought to Australia
and turned loose on a farm about fifty miles
from Melbourne, In an incredibly short
time they multiplied TO such an extent that they
became a pest. The rabbits spread In millions
over the western and northern areas Of Victoria.
They invaded New South Wales and pressed
on. still increasing. a thousand miles northward
into Queensland.
The western part OF Victoria, once called
Australia Felix. embraces some OF the rich
est soil on earth. II was a paradise for the
rabbits, who soon made II n desert. The grass
began TO disappear. Every green blade and
shrub was swept away as by fire. The settlers
saw their cattle and sheep starving, but were
helpless. The substantial stone fences round
the farms were harbors for the imported plague,
and they were reluctantly torn down. Wire
fencing. with rabbit proof netting carried well
below the ground, was substituted. Then this
innocent creature took to climbing the fences
and displayed marvellous gymnastio ability In its
endeavors TO get at the crops.
All means Of destroying the rabbits proved
Intellectual. Shooting only served TO make
them flourish. as It killed out enough Of the
colonies to leave more food for the remain
der. Dogs and beaters were tried. Rabbit
drives were instituted. Thousands were
killed In every battue, but still the rabbits in
creased. Poisoned wheat served for a time.
but led by instinct the rabbits at last refused
the doctored grain. Poisoned carrots could
not be resisted until wisdom again taught the
rabbit that TO eat was TO die. Then nothing
would induce him to look at a carrot. Arsenic
and apples brought a like expert nee.
Nnf IAEnftn tho N al m nv
p%erience, the rabbits were slowly beaten back
from point TO point, Every hole and .crevice
that could offer the least shelter was blocked
up. The wire-netted fences were constantly
guarded. Men and dogs were every where on
the watch to hunt TO death every stray rabbit.
So bitter was the fight that the rabbit came TO
than those with which the average Australian
now regards the bubonlo plague.
Beaten In the west. the rabbits invaded the
north and northeast. Here they found a coun-
try suited to their habits. They increased
and multiplied until they came To hold men,
dogs and guns In contempt. Sometimes tho
hordes Of the vermin. Despairing dbeaten.
the settlers invoked the aid OF the State. Mean
While the rabbits had swept on to the Male
country, the home Of the dIngo and outlawcd
suited the Dummies. They ate II bare. 1t was
possible TO trave! hundreds Of miles without
seeing a blade OF grass, Here they ruled as
this tract, discovered that 1t would grow wheat,
lie determined to do so.
His first step was a crusade against the rabbits
lnclosing an enormous space with rabbit
proof and cattle-proof netting. he began a
war on the rabbits that ended in their destruc-
ton. Poisoned water was one, Of his l%avorite
and most successful agents. All the tanks and
water holes in his dry land are fenced like
fortresses with the strongest of wire nettings
and barbs. The wild cattle. when summer
has dried up the natural sources Of supply.
drop dead around them in their frantic efforts
TO reach the precious water; the rabbits fall by
thousands at the base Of the im~pregnable
barriers.
The poisoned troughs are then resorted TO.
and the number OF rabbits destroyed in this
way Is almost incredible. From one colony to
another the pest, spread. The, most rigorous
law were enacted against II, and ultimately its
numbers were reduced TO reasonable limits.
Now the refrigerator andtl.e preserving can are
In use, and the shipment Of rabbits to England
every year by these means has attained enor-
nous proportions. Last year 9.I2l. 200 rabbits
were shipped. The cash returns were Sal AIS.
A great rabbit industry has been built up.
and where formerly the creature was a source
Of loss and expense. II now affords a profitable
business filling stores and ships. feeding millions
and providing hats, rug and cloaks for other
millions.