THE RABBIT NUISANCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2621, 11 June 1887, Page 3

THE RABBIT NUISANCE.

The following reports from the Inspectors in tliis districts, were uinbodieil in the Superintending Inspector's annual report -Mr B. P. Bay Icy—to tho Colonial Secietary : From Rabbit Inspector Oniißix, Mastei'ton. Means adopted for poisoning rabbits were; Phosplioriml grain, carrots arsenicized, bisulphide of carbon, working tame ferrets with nets, warrens and watercourses broken up, in BODio places trapping, shooting and hunting with dogs, ferrets and cats turned out, timl the cover of bush uml scrub hits been cleared. Would recommend natural enemies to be turned out iu as large numbers as possible in tho early spring. There are fhroo reserves, principally bush, and the approximate area for grazing purposes 8,000 acres, There wens thirteen convictions under tho Act in South Wairarapa. There, were five J ret breeders, and forty feirets bad m turned out by the Government, rro hundred ferrets have been tinned out by private owimw with very satisfactory results. (Joiieial remarks.— Nativo infested land to be individualised, rabbit proof fences in badly infested parts of the district to bo declared a legal fence. In South Wairarapa the rabbits are considerably reduced. Wild ferrets are fast increasing, aud their good work in perceptible. I have great faith in jthe grain and the natural enemies doing tho work of extermination upon tho pastoral country, Stoats and weasels are spreading over tho district; 300 bvo been turned out on the To lwiiiti Estate, by E, J. JiiiMilbrd, Est]., with excellent results, Ferrets require to be turned out in largo numbers, and the ground worked systematically beforo they become effective, and the supply kept up annually, and as many as poEsible turned out in the spring. The%ccßßive dry weather of the last has been very favourable increase of the rabbit pest, but B»jl)lt is with' much pleasure I am able to report that the rabbits in South Wairarapa are on the decrease. From Babbit Inspector Drummond, Mattel ton.

Mear.s adopted lor destroying rabbits were—poisoned grain and carrots, shooting, killing with dogs, hunting ■with taroe ferrets and nets, trapping, snaring, turning out fenets and cals, digging out burrows and watercourses, fumigating with bisulphide of carbon, rabbit-proof fencing, clearing bush and scrub land,- burning, ifec, Recommend the turning out of natural enemies in us large numbers as possible on Crown lands. There- had been thirteen convictions under the Act, Forty ferrets have boon turned out by the Government, but not in such numbe:s yet to do much good, and a good number had been turued out by private individuals, but could not tay delinitely how many, but with fair results. majority of the BtorjEßers iii the. district aru becoming ame to the necessity of adopting strong and continuous measures for the destruction of the pest, and I am in hopes that if those enumerated under tho first question tiro maintained that tho result will eventually bo eminently satisfactory.