THE RABBIT QUESTION IN THE SOUTH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2467, 26 June 1901, Page 6

THE RAB BIT QUESTION IN THE SOUTH.

The rabbit question luis occu} 'ed a good deal of space in our columns during the past Igav weeks ; but the position we have taken up in connection with tiiis matter was so ably championed by a correspondent signing himself '" South Islander " in our issue of the 25th ult. that we have really very little that is new to add to the discussion. The controversy between our correspondents " North Islander" and "South Islander" and a subsequent writer who signed himself "Middle Island," centres round the question whether poison alone is sufficient to successfully cope with the rabbit pest, or whether trapping for export in conjunction with poisoning is a better means of rabbit destruction. The latter we have supported, and we think we can give good reasons for doing so. The chief factor in deciding the matter is that poisoning has now had a sufficiently long trial to demonstrate that poison alone is inadequate to the task the department has set itself, as far, at any rate, as the southern districts of the colony are concerned. The natural enenry, too, has failed quite as signally in the south, and it is in our judgment a wrong attitude to assume that trapping is the reason. While the natural enemy thrives well in the North Island and in the northern districts of the South Island, the colder and inoister climate of southern districts does not suit these creatures at all. Then as regards the laying of poison, the same considerations apply. Throughout the North Island and in the northern districts of the South Island poison can be laid with some assurance that it will be eaten before the rains destroy it, but in southern districts we can reckon upon no such assurance. Large sums may be spent in distributing phosphorised pollard, only to have it destroyed, "by heavy rain before the rabbits have had time to eat it. That is a common experience, as many know to their cost, and while toxa can be freely used in northern districts, its use in the south is restricted, for the simple reason that in by far the greater number of cases the rains wash it away before it is eaten. It is quite evident from these considerations that_ the rabbit question must be viewed from a different standpoint in the North Island and in by far the largest portion of the South Island. We have good reasons for believing that at last the rabbit pest is receiving a salutary check in sotithern districts, largely as the result of the extensive operations carried on in connection with the export trade in frozen rabbits that has sprung up. The figures published by the Department of Agriculture in the last three annual reports give a very good idea of the volume of rabbit export. We find that during the year ended March 31, 1898, there were 2,230,392 rabbits exported. In 1899 the number was 4,214,962, and in 1900 there were 5,152,877 rabbits exported. The .figures for the past year are not yet available, but as far as we can ascertain the volume of export will be shown to have been quite as large as that of 1900, if it is not even in excess. We recognise that at first glance the figures might be used against us, but there are surrounding circumstances which must be taken into account. The rabbit export trade dates from 1897, when only a comparatively small number of rabbits were sent Home, and it was not until 1899 that the trade was in full operation. In the following year the competition was very keen, and eveiy source of supply south of the Waitaki was exploited in order to meet the demand. When the figures for the current year come to be compiled it will be found that there is a remarkable falling off in the number of rabbits trapped and frozen for export. From inquiries made among the principal exporters in Dunedin we learn that they find it impossible at the present time to keep the export up to its last 3>-ear's volume, on account of the marked scarcity of rabbits throughout the areas which have in the past provided the principal supply, and the consensus of opinion is that for that reason alone the volume of export must continue to decrease. Where last year 10 waggons were regularly employed by one exporter

conveying rabbits to Wedderburn, on the Otago Central line, it is found difficult to keep one going at the present time, while several agencies throughout Otago Central have been closed because the rabbits cannot be found to keep them employed. That view of the matter is borne oiit by the railwaj 1 " returns, for we find on making a comparison that the weight of rabbits carried on the railways from the Jst March up to May 27 last was 1966 tons, against 2599 tons for the corresponding period last year. Allowing 750 rabbits to tlic ton, which is a very fair estimate, the number carried this year up to the lime mentioned would be 1"474.500 rabbits, against 1,949.250 last year, or a falling off amounting to 474,750 rabbits.- It is evident that a corresponding falling off during the remainder of the season will show a very material decrease in the number of rabbits exported this 33 T ear. The export of skins is also instructive in its bearing upon the question. In 1896, the year before the export of frozen rabbits began, the number of skins exported was

13,889,763; next year the number fell to 10,293,064 ; but mark the further falling off in 1898, when trapping in the south was in full swing. That year the rabbitskins exported amounted to 7,834,375, and the following year there was a further falling off to 6,504.189, or something like half the number exported in 1896. In 1900 the number of skins exported showed an increase, the figures being 7,744,638; but of course the whole export of skins must not be credited to poisoned

rabbits. Rejects from the receiving stations account for a good many of tite skins, as we find one exporter alone had about 100,000 skins last season, and the trappers skin a good many small rabbits as well as those in poor condition. Taking the combined skins and frozen rabbits as representing the total destruction of rabbits during the year ended 31st March, 1900, it will be seen that no less than 12,897,515 rabbits were destroyed ; yet the combined figures show a marked falling off in comparison with the export of skins alone as given above prior to the inception of the rabbit export trade. In 1894 we find over 17£ million rabbitskins were exported. We might have made some reference to the results of poisoning by the department on the Earnscleugn run, to show how signally the experiment of attempting to clear that run of rabbits by poisoning alone has failed, but think we have made it tolerably clear that trapping for export is exercising a wholesome influence in the way of helping materially to lessen the terrors of the rabbit nuisance. Apart from the importance of the industry commev ually, on which we might say a good deal, we think no obstacles should be placed in the way of the export trade by the department during the proper season ; but in the off season every means ought to be employed to check the increase of the rabuit pest. We have good reason to Relieve that the turn of ihe tide has fairly set in, and that the "oinbiiisJ efforts of the department and oxporters will soon bring, t'je ptst within controllable limit-?, in the southern districts at any rate, which will be a blessing for every landholder in the country.