THE RABBIT TRADE.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7123, 20 July 1888, Page 6

THE RABBIT TRADE.

Mr A. Beck, M.E., Belgian Consul writes us as follows :—

The rabbits in several parts of the world have been a real peat. ISew Zealand, unJortnnately, knows for tbe present their destructive character. Until the poisoning experiments now on trial have given aatisfactory results, our Government is doing its 'best to prevent the rabbits ■pleading by means of wire-netting fences, Sec, to isolate the infested districts. It it is a pity to see that so little attention is paid to the rabbits afflicted with contagions diseases. Nothing is better to destroy a pest than to take aa vantage of-their own evil. Hungary, Holland, Sec, some time ago, have bad many —roubles with bunny, but care was taken mboat the above-mentioned diseases, and tbe rabbits have destroyed themselves so Car that their rearing became a necessity. Soft bats factories, so extensive in Belgium, were formerly at work only with genuine or Continental rabbit felt; 'actually it may be said that most of the New Zealand rabbit skins are going to the Continent through foreign firms established in England. The largest trade in «c*fs bats in the Australasian colonies is done by Belgium through London, Melbourne and Sydney. As food the rabbit is actually in large demand, the last Belgian quotations of May, 18S8, for rabbits skinned ready for tbe table, are from 2s to 3s each, ---cording to the size. Some of our infested provinces, as Southland and Otago, tor Inswicp, trading largely in rabbit skins, are provided with extensive refrigerating companies. They would be able to try the rabbit trade, especially now tbat the Tyser Steamship direct line is trading between New Zealand, London, ttnd Antwerp. Alexander Beck, MJS. a_natchur__, July Mh, 1888.