THE RABBIT PEST IN CALIFORNIA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2486, 16 June 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE RABBIT PEST IN CALIFORNIA.

Wholesale Slaughter,

The Altft California furnishes tho following report in illustration of a method of coping with the rabbit plague in California:-On Marcli 24th the Wild flower rabbit drive, looked forward to with so much interest sinco the last lucky drive in that vicinity, came off according to announcement. The net was spead noar Old Liberty, or about five miles south-west of Wildflower, and stretcher! its frtut wings up toward thfi little; burg. By i) o'clock every road pointing in tho direction of Wildflowor was lined with buggies, waggons, carts, and horsemen endeavouring to be in time for tho drive. The footmen started at Wildflower, the lino reaching some two miles or more to tho south, and embraced about seven hundred men and boys ; two lines of buggies, two to threo miles long, formed great protecting wings out in advance of the drivers, with a design of forcing the fleeing " Jack, ,, into the great wings, of the wire net. Fully 1200 vehicles •were in these two armies. By 11 o'clock the corral or snaro was fuU of " Jacks," piling up to the depth of 2 feet smothering, each other and boating their lives out against tho wire in vaiu attempts to get freo. Then began tho slaughter, and in 20 minutes there was not a "Jack " in the corral to kick. The marshal announced that the hour for lunch had arrived, and that as soon as a hasty meal could be partaken of another drivo would be m.'ide from tho opposite direction. Counters wero then put to work, and when the counting was fully over, it was found that 10,000 rabbits had perished in the slaughter. In tho afternoon a second drive was made, which resulted in the slaughter of a little more than 2300 rabbits, making 12,300 for the day. That 10,000 rabbits should be caught on JO square miles of territory is a thing almost incredible to those unfamiliar with their depredations. It is estimated that three of these rabbits will eat as much aiAi/fa as one sheep, and that their depredations on vineyards and orchards result in incalculable mischief to farmers. Fully 5000 people participated in the drive one way and another. This was the largest drive ever made in the State, and resulted in the greatest slaughter of rabbits ever made in one clay.