The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, JUNE 24, I884. FERRETS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1718, 24 June 1884, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 1884. FERRETS.

All interested in the promotion of the Pastoral interests in this district—and who is not either directly or indirectly affected by them I—must feel that a debt of gratitndo is due to Mr ft, S, Hawkins for the information contained in his letter on ferrets published in our issue yesterday, No one who knows tlio painstaking manner iu which Mr Hawkins investigates any question in which 1 ho feels a special interest will doubt* tl.o accuracy of the evidence which he lias laid before the public, and it is somewhat difficult to avoid coming to the conclusions , which lie has reached. He may be said to have proved a case in favor of that most objectionable little nuisance, the ferret, and the onus rests upon th'e-op-ponents of this natural enemy to upset it. The ferret is already doing mischief in fowl houses, and will probably, yet do more,' It may also, uniier some circumstances, destroy lambs, but for a pound of dauiage doiie by ferrets a hundred, or perhaps even a thousand, pounds worth of destruction is caused by rabbits. If.itpo.uld be; managed, it might, be well.not to - turn, out too many ferrets in the immediate neighborhood of small farm settlements, and of townships. In such localities it "is easy to keep down; rabbits without the aid of natural 'enemies, and : their presence naturally will excite a good deal of hostility,' On up country runs the case is different. Thers ferrets can be legitimately and profitably used for the extermination of'rabbits. ' We are glad to learn from tho Inspector of this district that ferrets arc already doing good work in the Wairarapa. We shall be glad under these circumstances to hear of them increasing and multiplying, but venture to hope (hat they will not be turned out in any considerable numbers in tho immediate vicinity of townships.