FIGHTING THE RABBITS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XVII, Issue 295, 18 December 1882, Page 2

FIGHTING THE RABBITS.

The' "Field" does not believe m ihe importation of stoats and such vermin into the Colonies. A correspondent, signing himself "Colonist" recently mote to the following effect :— " Will any of your readers oblige me with information as to the nieans of procuring stoats, polecats, or weasels, and with suggestions for their care m transport to New Zealand ? They are designd to combat a threatened plague of rabbits m a part of that Colony m m which I am interested. The astonishing increase of rabbits, and the ruin brought by them on sheep runs. in. some parts of the Middle Island of New Zealand, is pretty generally known, and an account would perhaps .be superfluous. When: once established there is no remedy but poisoning m a large ,wny — a method to which there are objections.. My object is now to meet them with, • their natural enemies, and thus prevent their attaining to unmanageable numbers I might mention that ferrets have been, used out there, but are found to be too delicate." To this the " Field" answers : — " If the plague of rabbits m New Zealand could bo overcome by some other mea^s than by the introduction of stoats and poleoats, it would be well ; for these, if introduced, will assuredly not confine their attention to rabbits, but will destroy many native species of birds, which, from terrestrial habits and inability to save to save themselves by flight, will sooner or later become extirpated. Under the plea of ' acctimatisatiphj'an immense amount of mischief lias already been done the results of introducing the sparrow m the United States and the rabbit m New Zealand) ; and more ivrttl follow m a different diiection if well-intentioned gentlemen do not consider more carefully what are likely, to be the real re« suit of .their ; proposed experiments." We should very muoh like to know how," Colonist" came by. hiaj information that ferrets are too delicate for bur climate: There are numbers of them m the Colony, and if.;the animals can exist m England surely they can manage to live m New Zealand.