A NEW PEST FOR THE SHEEPFARMERS.

Tuapeka Times, Issue 1491, 19 September 1888, Page 2

A NEW PEST FOR THE SHEEPFARMERS.

SERIOUS CHARGES AGAINST THE FERRETS. The advisableness of turning the natural enemies adrift among the rabbits has been a moot point for some time past; and while many have warmly advocated this means of exterminating the rabbits, others have vehemently protested, on the ground that the natural enemies would in the course of time become a more serious plague than that which it was intended to destroy. We have the recorded opinions of experts connected with the Rabbit Department that no danger was to be apprehended from the introduction of the ferret, the stoat, and the weasel ; while unofficial experts, on the other hand, have not been slow to predict all sorts of catastrophes from the promiscuous distribution of these vermin. Though we must confess that we have not as yet heard of the natural enemies having effected any great good— of their having made any appreciable headway against the rabbits, — it must be conceded that they have scarcely yet had time to demonstrate their usefulness or otherwise ; and it would not be iaht to condemn them on this count upon, I the scant evidence at our disposal. But, apart from this, a new feature has just introduced itself into the controversy, which oannot fail to have a most important bearing on the question whether the natural enemy remedy is to have unrestricted operation. On Monday morning Mr JohnPearso a ~ of. Mount Pleasant farm, reported to the police of Lawrence that eight of his lambs had been found dead in a paddock on the flat below Mr Bloy's farm, and that they had to all appearances been stabbed with a knife. The sheep were moved to » paddock near his house that day, and yesterday morning two more were found dead under similar circumstances, there being a small puncture, as if of a knife, in the side of the neck. Constable Daubney, who has been invastigating the affair, examj ined minutely the puncture in several carcasses, and has come to the conclusion that the mischief has been done by a ferret He cut out the damaged portion of one of the skins, which we have inspected, and the indications are undoubtedly of a character which strongly confirm his suspicions. The weund ia a small, clean cut, inflicted right over the jugular vein, and the wool around it is slightly clotted with saliva tainted with blood, as if the wound had been sucked. It appears that a rabbiter lost a ferret in this vicinity recently ; and ferrets are said to have been seen on Mr Cameron's property. We do not wish to create alarm among flock- owners, nor to prejudice the settlers against the use of the natural enemy in rabbit extermination ; but it must be admitted the circumstances in this case are of a rather suspicious nature. The case is one which calls for the most careful examination on the part of the officials of the Rabbit Department, and no doubt will receive prompt attention at the hands of Mr Miles, the local inspector. If the damage in this case is not attributable to the ferrets, it is well that the truth should be known at once, aa any erroneous impression getting abroad may cause Incalculable eviL

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