RABBIT DESTRUCTION BY ELECTRICITY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1373, 8 May 1883, Page 2

RABBIT DESTRUCTION BY ELECTRICITY.

. The "Argus" says that a novel method of destroying rabbits has been suggested to the Minister of Lands by a correspondent in .Canada, who writes through the Mayor of Melbourne as follows: '

My attention was. directed to an article in 1 the "Scientific American" (a paper published in' New York) on the subject of rabbits; in your seotion of Australia, which states that the rabbits have become a very serious pest, havo been the. cause of : heayy loss, to sheep farmers, and are likely, unless some effective means ore discovered to destroy them, to overrun the whole country and destroy sheep farmiug in toto. 1 have given this subject serious consideration, and have come to the conclusion that a most effective means of destroying these vermin would be by.the agency of electricity.' plan is to divide the infected portion of country into districts, each district to be in charge of a capable electrican and sufficient staff of assistants, Who would be provided with a powerful battery and sufficiency of wire to form an enclosure,fence •for a circuit of from six to nine mileß. The fence to consist of three' wires; the •first sufficiently near' the'ground to prevent the vermin from going tinder without touching, the second and third to be equi-distant, one above the other, the upper one being high enough to force the rabbit to touch it if jumping. It would then be a comparatively easy matter to drive what vermin were enclosed to the electric fence, contact with which would instantly kill them;' when the circuit would be 'removed to another section of the district and the operation repeated, and so on until the whole of the district had been carefully goiie over. The,, sheep and other animals could be removed from the section to be enclosed and kept clear of danger.,' : ':.-. No.dbubt this would be a very expensive operation, : but 1 if the danger from vermin exists to the extent stated in the f Scientific American," no expense should be spared/to -accomplish the totalinnihilatibn'of the vermin, \

; . • I respectfully offer these', suggestions to you, and will be happy to know that they can.be aoted onin your'section of Australia, or that the suggestions merit consideration.: • '■[■• '"■%': vjVHriifi.G/Scpw. \ ' Ohihcontimij'Saquenay,, , ' Province of Quebec. ,