THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1047

At all events, one of the systems described is a most being blacker and narrower. The burrow had three
effectual one, viz. Watt's, and its publication can do or four entries to it.
no harm.

The mode of proceeding was first to light the
sulphur papers, which were precisely such as are used
This district of Northumberland has been infested
with rabbits from time immemorial, so the methods
now in use are no doubt what long experience has
suggested. I myself remember fifty years ago that
the mode of catching was by ferrets. This is now
done away with.

Having had the opportunity of observation, I send
you my notes merely with the hope that my quota
may be added to the information already obtained.
I have, &c.,
J. T. THOMSON.
The Agent-General for New Zealand.

NOTES ON THE METHODS OF CATCHING AND DE-
STROYING RABBITS AND VERMIN.

Bamborough, Northumberland,
8th February, 1878.

Went to Budle Moor with gamekeeper Dixon, to
see how rabbits were trapped and snared.

1. Regarding Snares. These consist of brass wire
   twisted about one-twentieth of an inch in diameter
   made into a loop with an eye; loop about five inches
   in diameter, and set with its lower bend at three
   inches above the ground. Several snares are set in
   a line in all the rabbit tracks crossing that line, as
   per diagram A. The snare is fastened to the ground
   by a peg eight inches long, and is kept at its proper
   height by another peg with a slit at its top, as per
   diagram B; the wire is spliced to a cord near the
   peg.

2. Regarding Traps. Trapping is done by a com-
   mon steel spring rat-trap set near the mouths of the
   rabbit-holes, or, where they go through walls and
   hedges, the trap is secured to the ground by a peg
   chained thereto. The table of the trap is lightly
   covered with earth, as also the whole apparatus. The
   trap is set just where the rabbits are expected to put
   down their two fore-feet.

3. Regarding the System of Stifling or Smother-
   ing. Was shown a machine which was said to be
   very effectual for destroying rabbits or vermin of any
   kind which burrow. It is made by John Watt and
   Co., Bristol, and costs about £2 sterling. The
   machine consists of a small blast fan and tube, which
   latter is inserted into the hole; also, of a cylinder,
   which contains brimstone spread on thick brown
   paper. The paper is lighted and put into the
   cylinder, through which a current of air is drawn by
   the fanner, and so forced into the tube which leads
   into the burrow hole. By this means the burrow is
   filled with the vapour of brimstone, which shortly
   kills the rabbits taking refuge therein. The machine
   will be understood by diagram C.

14th February.-Proceeded to Shedda Crags with
Dixon, to see his manner of destroying vermin. He
informed me that precisely the same manner he was
about to show me was used by Mr. Collingwood, of
Lillburn Town estates, for extirpating the rabbits,
which had become very numerous, and were creating
a great loss to the tenants. His operations to-day
were to be against rats, and he also explained that
these burrow in the ground exactly in the same
manner as do rabbits; further, that they often take
possession of rabbit-holes, as I would have an oppor-
tunity of seeing to-day.

Dixon's object in killing rats was to prevent their
eating up the food of the pheasants, which he deposits
in certain places to keep the birds alive during winter.
Arriving at the plantation of Shedda, the machine, as
described above, was got ready for operations. A
rat burrow was soon found by their tracks; these are
not unlike those of the rabbit, but easily detected by
for killing bees, being sulphur spread over coarse
paper. For this burrow about two feet square of
paper was taken, and torn into shreds, which were put
lengthwise into the cylinder A, and lighted at the
top. All the entries to the burrow were then closed
excepting the one into which the tube C was intubed.
Tube C had a gutta-percha pipe fitted to it, which
was then pushed down the hole, after which this was
stopped with earth. The fanner was then set going,
which soon filled the burrow with brimstone smoke.
The noise of the animals was now heard, and several
came to the entries, where they attempted to burst
open the earth but to be beaten back. Two, how-
ever, made their escape into a neighbouring burrow,
which was fumigated afterwards; one large rat
forced itself out, but was too far gone to escape.
The whole nest or burrow was destroyed in ten
minutes, when we commenced on another. Six
burrows were thus fumigated in different parts of the
plantation in the course of two hours, in which all
the vermin were destroyed. Dixon informed me that
the only difference in taking rats and rabbits was
this: that the latter never attempted to escape, but
sulked, and lay till they died.

If the nests or burrows be tolerably near four at
least could be fumigated in an hour or thirty-two
in a day of eight hours by one man, or double by
two men, five minutes being quite sufficient to kill
the animals. This would give 6,400 burrows in a
year of 200 working days. In New Zealand, if the
work were thus systematically set about, I do not
see why the rabbits, as a nuisance, if not extirpated,
should at least be kept well under, so as no longer
to be a misfortune to the runholders and freeholders
troubled by them. Each burrow may be calculated
to hold ten rabbits each, thus one man with Watt's
machine might kill 64,000 head annually, which would
make a great inroad on the pest in any single district,
according to number of men employed and area.

Watt's machine, instead of being made of cast
iron, I would suggest should be made of sheet
wrought iron for the sake of lightness in carriage-
complete at present it is rather heavy for one man
to bear. The cylinder, I would also suggest, should
be flat and not upright, the lid being placed on the
upper part and not at the end. This arrangement
would prevent the clogging of the melted brimstone
and the consequent stopping of the connecting pipe,
which now takes place.

Of snaring or trapping in New Zealand I have a
very poor opinion; both systems are too slow, and
only serve when the rabbits, as in England, are taken
for sale, the value here being 2s. 6d. per pair.

February 20th.-Proceeded again to Budle estate
with Dixon this morning. In crossing Dukesfield,
examined several spring rat-traps set in a field of
turnips, and found two rabbits caught by the fore-
feet. We next went to Braida plantation and ex-
amined many snares, but found no rabbits in them.
Noticed how rabbits were destroying the young
trees by nipping off their tops. Went next to the
crags, examining both snares and traps. Asked the
man why the snares had not been successful, while
the traps had caught several. Was informed that
on certain nights only were the snares effective, such
as on dark nights, the stars being out and the wind
westerly. In cold damp nights snares seldom caught,
as the rabbits in such cases seldom left the vicinity
of their burrows. Again, on moonlight nights they
could see the wires, and so pass by them.

Crossed to Shedda plantation, and obtained several
rabbits in the traps set there. Dixon told me that