Ferret Lays Power Lines

Northern Advocate, 23 August 1948, Page 4

Ferret Lays Power Lines

AUCKLAND, Mon. (Sp.).—Machines have been blamed for taking , away men’s jobs, but surely |he palm for this goes to a ferret owned by Mr R. Hill, of Otahuhu.

This animal laid electrical wiring in pipes under the floor of the Korma Mills factory, Auckland, completing in half a day work that would have taken linesmen a month.

The equipment needed was a dead rabbit (one member of the staff was instructed to rise early and shoot one), an air compressor and some fishing line.

The fishing line was tied to the ferret's collar and the wire was fastened to that. The ferret was then introduced to the end of a pipe from which came a stream of air carrying a delicious smell of rabbit blown through from the other end.

By the judicious manipulation of the rabbit the ferret was coaxed to run through a maze of pipes, round bends that only a ferret could negotiate, and carry the wire through 60 pipes, the longest of which was 130 ft. Mr M. Sanderson, a member of the electrical staff of the factory followed the ferret’s* movements on a plan and so laid the wiring. In Mr Sanderson’s opinion only a ferret could have done the job. and Mr Hill is justifiably proud of his well-trained pet.