Norwich bulletin., 1917-10-10
Siberian Hares.


 Mir Editor: I note in the Bulletin this morning a short paragraph tell ing Of the development of the Sfber ian ~l1are in Hamilton, Canada, on a large scale. and if The Bulletin will (which is not intended to hurt the fancy) perhaps a few readers who are pet stock fancierS may be saved a few dollars.
 In It's statement The Bulletin is cor bit and not a hare. There are only two species of hare in Siberia, and both of these are snan grey animals which turn white in winter. There are no rabbits in Siberia, and where the siberian hare got it's name is a mystery.
 A short while ago articles began to appear in different magazines and periodicals boosting the Siberian hare, rabbit imported from Siberia with enormous fur value, which was soon to rival the fur trade enjoyed by the black fox. These articles were written by, one pr. T. s. McGillivary of Hamilton, Canada. Shortly after ward the Black Siberian Hare Co. of the same place began advertising their Siberian hares, and 1t appeared as if Dr. Mccillivary and the Black Si- berian Hare Co., were one and the same.
 The Black Siberian Hare. Co. next opened up a branch in the United States at the Renwick Game and Fur Farm at Huntington, Mass. of which the doctors. son. Jaw is the mana ger. I have some of the literature sent out by the promoters of this new breed describing the habits of this animal when in the wild state. etc, and the prices which ere exhorbitant.
 The next revelation which was as important in pet stock circles as the Von Bernstorff letters in diplomatic circles was that Gerald O. Newton of New Castle, Ind, had been selling berian Hare Co, of Canada MT. Newton is a true blue fancier and when several of his brother breeders appealed to him to help unravel the mystery, he willingly submitted all him and pr. McGillivary and the doc tors son-in-law, c. A. Handcock. The department of biological sur vey of the department of agriculture ed as though the hare company were buying these black Flemish giants for departmental purposes" only, and the last order they never paid for. An examination of the black Siberian hare showed 1t to be nothing other than the common black Flemish giant
 The Black Siberian Hare Go. have been buying these Flemish giants for low prices in this ccun- try ands shipping them back as black Siberian hares from Canada. Then, not satisfied with the immense profit they were making they opened up a branch in the United States so as to escape paying duty on these rabbits.
 I have one of the government re- ports on.s the situation.- and I can see that the whole thing is a gigantic fraud, as I happened to be one who took the matter up with Washington before the thing came out. The gov- ernment advised me at that time that tLey were hard at work on the case and would soon publish a report, and they kept their word.
 Tn the meantime, despite the fact that the news has been published in every pet stock paper in this country, Siberian hares are still being offered to the public who still unsuspectingly bite. The fur of the so-called Siberian rabbit will produce no better garment than "coney" which is black Flemish giant or other rab- bit Fl
 Rabbit. fur is being offered to the public today under the names of cony, Baltic brown fox. inland seal. eIec- tric seal, coast seal and near seal, while much of it is made up in inli- tatfon Of Arctic fox and ernine. The hare is a grand fake, pure and simple, and all local fanciers who are thinking of building up a strain had better cut it out. The govern rnent is not to be fooled and anyone advertising black Siberian hares and ble to fine and imprisonment
 EARLE M. WOOD.
 Taftvil1e, Conn.,, Oct. g, 1917.