RABBITS AND HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 214, 3 April 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

RABBITS AND HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM.

Under this heading, Mr James 0. W. Crommelin, late Chief Uuperintendiii-. | Rabbit Inspector, has written 22 chapter*, tvhich fuim a pamphlet recently pttbli"hcxi >>V Messrs George KoburUon and Co. Tli.tL the author is well qualified to perform such j work is clearly explained in the preface. Four yean ago, *hen reports from th' South-west made it apparent to the Govirnmtdt that a large portion of the ; colonies was infested by rabbits, he wa* m«tructed to a«oertain the extent to which the unwtlcmne visitors tiadjspraad. In the year 1883 he was appointed chief superintendent of a large staff of rabbit inspector-, with instructions to have the work of destruction carried out as regularly and effectively as possible. He organised large ! groups of rabbit trappers, who were placed in charge of poveral overseer**, and, during a period which extended over three year* and a quarter, supervised the operations of pantoralistu and workmen employed by the State. Before the close of lsB3. acting m his official capacity, he represented thin colony at the conference of chief rabbit inspectors which was hold at Wentworth, where h» hod the opportunity of comparing hu experience with that of the officials of Victoria jind South Australia. The rxtflnnive experience gained during three years is succinctly detailed in the pamuhlet in n plain, practical- utyK Mr Croinmelin treats mi nothing but what he hat seen, and make* no- Mtatemanta for which be has not • facts as a basis. Speaking of " increase," be «Jays :— V In my calculations I have taken six as the average at a birth, and allowed rabbits to breed three months in the year ; some think they average seven at a time, and some nine. I myself have got 13 in ono nest, and I have often seen 10 and 11. I have alao found a nest with only two in it ; so that, taking the average at six for each litter, and allowing half of the six to be doe*, I am , well within the mark. Rabbets consort at three months, ' and at four' months the d«ea have their tint litter. I have caught does not more than three parts grown' which were suck- ' ling.yeung, and I have constantly caught does which 'were suckling young and yet *had, young ones inside of them. I also one 'day found a nest with six young ones just born about three feet from the entrance of the breeding burrow, aud about two feet further on there was another lot of nine •youngsters just ready to leave ; these must all have belonged to the same doe, as a due will never allow another to occupy the same breeding burrow. The progeny, then, of two rabbits left undisturbed, and allowing them to breed only nine times in the year, and their first litter at fonr months old, would amount at the end of the third year to thirteen million* seven hundred and eighteen thousand (13,718,000). 'This would give six million eight-hundred and tifty-nino thousand (0,859,000) does to commence breeding with the beginning of the fourth year, that is, allowing half the sum total to be does. If, as some say, the young ones do not breed until they are five months old, then the number would only be 3,272,0'J4 at the end of the three years. But lam positive they not only breed at four mouths, but they at times breed at three. How advisable it is. therefore, to catch the first rabbits of which a trace can be been." His chapters on traps aud trapping impart very valuable information. He is in favour of using dogs as well as traps, and affords many useful hints regarding the usefulness of bisulphide of carbon, which he considers by far the cheapest and most effective'agent for dealing with rabbit* in burrows or warrens. The advantages likely to be derived by a wages system properly carried out are well explained. Mr Crominelin is almost completely opposed to jtfc« boneis system, which according to bis experience ia never likely to clear this Colony of the rabbit pest, The work, «vs a whole," i* worthy of a wide circulation, it should prove useful to all parsons engagedin thew <rk of rabbit destruction, but especjally so to trappers who arenittfidrdughly expert ia their WinestV — MkUxmnw pap«r, '