The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1911-02-09

Remington. Feb. b. Ono IL lh,
/ icis OF the last Legislature that
has created something Of a cummg.
don Is an amendment te the game
laws which prohibits the use OF
.errets In hunting rabbits or other
game Such a Law n. ia the statute
BOOKS Of almost every state IN the
anton, but measure II that na-
tpre has never been introduced IN
.he Vermont Legislature for the
eason that II was not until che
past few years that ferrets have
been used 10 any great extent IN
| his state
The gray rabbit, lupus sylNni-
us. IL found only IN the southern
portion az the state. Bennington.
Windham and a portion OF Rut-
and counties, although II Is com
mon In Massachusetts, and other
southern New England states, whei e
( ia locally known as the "enney
rabbit. Being true rabbit aud
not a hare, II lives in burrows and
thus becomes an easy prey OF the
erret hunters. Because OF its help
essness In this respect and the
destruction annually wrought by
poachers and their animal assis-
ants. the ferrets. this method Of
hunting has fallen under the ban
md has been the subject Of re-
strictiye legislation generally
During the past three years rab-
tits have largely increased In mum
g.. nt "a "a
he use of ferrets has become a
common practice. Two classes OF
lunters have been developed, those
who hunt for sport and shoot the
abbits on the run after they have
leen driven from the hole by the
erret, and those who hunt for meat
lud the market and capture OF the
frightened bunnies in a bag as they
ush from their burrows after the
entrance OF the ferret. 1t was
hat the amendment TO the game law
Sas directed
With a bag and a bug" as the
erret il generally known. II was
possible to traverse section IRE
luented by rabbits on morning
ollowing a light fall of snow and
Kill a score In q few hours. The
racks on the snow lead the hunt
RS to the burrow, the ferret is
lropped into the hole and the bag
placed over the opening. In It's
Wild desire to escape from the fer
..et the rabbit dashes into the trap
ind IL easily caught.
Late in November a resident OF
bennington. who has taken Keen
interest In game protection, was out
Walking one Sunday when he note
ID a msn with heavily loaded bag
jlung over his shoulder, The man
With the bag stopped at hole oA
he side of low hill. took Il ferret
rom his coat pocket and dropped
he little animal into the opening,
Almost instantly there was Il series
If sharp squeaks and rabbit
dashed out OF the hole, to be caught
by the ferret hunter, who banged
its head against the frozen ground
ind dropped the bruised and bleed
.ng animal into the bag.
The process disguised the game
protectlonist, who learned that the
Jag already contained l6 rabbits.
IN the morning he went to the state
,apital TO interview the fish and
game committee of the Legislature.
.heresult of that conference was
he anti-ferret amendment, and as
was introduced as an amendment
md not bill ii passed both houses
before the ferret men learned that
such a measure was in existence.
The law not only prohibits the
use of ferret or bag in taking
'abbits, but the possession of a fer
'et for the purpose of hunting any
protected game is punishable by a
fine of $40, and SO additional for
each rabbit caught in violation OF
.he law.