RABBITS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 October 1927, Page 4

RABBITS.

ARE THEY INCREASING? In 1925-20, the latest date for which tho Government year book provides details, 15,371,000 rabbit skins were exported from this Dominion. The previous year the number was 20,103.000. This twenty million, taken as tut annual output, compares with under fourteen million in 1921. But even in a district where the rabbit trapper works there tire a percentage which escape, whilst it is well-known that countless hordes infest some of the hack country entirely free from the attention of trappers or Government officials. Obviously, even approximate figures are hard to arrive at in this connection, but if 19 to 20 million skins are exported annually, it can reasonably he assumed that a census ol rabbits in the Dominion would show a total of considerably over 50,000,000. TOLL ON PASTURES.

A well-known pastoral authority in Australia once issued a pronouncement that live rabbits eat as much pasture as one sheep, hut the Hon. J. A. Young. Minister of Health, has placed it on record, as a result of special investigations when a private member, that ten not five, rabbits will equal the sheep’s consumption. A casual observer watching the little pests will he inclined to favour the Australain estimate. However, even on Mr Young’s basis, it is evident that the pasture consumed annually by the übiquitous bunny would suffice to maintain and fatten several million sheep—probably as many as five millions. ‘ RABBIT REVENUE.

For rabbit skins exported New Zealand received in 1925-20 £992,512. How prices have advanced in such a manner as to encourage rabbit breeding in certain districts will he understood, when it is mentioned that the 1913-11 value of this output would have been £212.280. Putting it another way, rabbit skins have increased in value at a much higher proportion than any other of our primary products. There was a time when the carcases of rabbits were exported at profitable rates, and in war time they were in keen demand, hut the general use of poisoning, coupled with lower meat values, has made il unprofitable to seem,- large quantities for export, and lhe revenue from this source is now negligible. There is a good volume ol business done for domestic consumption throughout the Dominion, and this can probably he counted as an oilsol tn the- annual expenditure necessary for the upkeep of rabbit hoards ami inspectors, who endeavour to kec'|i tin? jk’sl I’m in ovor-ru lining llio <.<mnt IV.

KEEPING THEM DOWN. The success of (heir ellorts is only comparative. The returns obtainable Lo trappers from some districts arc so satisfactory that they arc able to pay the landowner a Icc for trapping rights, which he could scarcely secure ITnin any oilier source. Both trapper and farmer in such a case arc interested in preserving the bunny from extinction in that locality. On this aspect Dalgety’s " Review.” just published, slates: "As far as Otago is concerned there is no doubt rabbits are decreasing in number. Parts of Central Otago, which a few years ago were infested with rabbits, are now practically free, and the effect of this can he plainly seen in the iihiin dance of Iced in these parts and the increased Hocks carried. ‘I he quantities of skins being offered at the fortnightly sales are rather less to date Ilian for the same period last year, but large quantities are still coming to hand from parts of Southland. North ( antcrhiiry, .Marlborough and various districts in the North Island where, j apparently, the rabbit has now secured a good hold.” | So far as the Auckland province is concerned the “ Review” states: "The rabbit pest is not very serious, except in certain localities that are. favourable to the post, and even in these places the numbers are kept fairly well in hand.” THE NATIONAL ASPECT. There is no question that from a national point of view the rabbit should he suppressed. If he could lie- confined to the districts where his propagation is inVst profitable his presence might la- tolerated, hut unfortunately the playful little beasts laugh at all natural j and artificial harriers. Secure in inac-j possible country they raid and render partially unprofitable hundreds of thousands of acres of good sheep ootin-j try. It is difficult to estimate the loss accruing to the Dominion as the result f of the rabbit pest, hilt it is prol-ah y ■ not less than £2.9';(),(Ki(! per annum. j

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