690 



Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 



[Oct. 2, 1920. 



When the trapper sets his traps, it is a matter of indifference to him what 

 class of rabbits he catches, and there is no way to set a trap so that it will 

 catch a buck and not a female. With regard to the trapping, fifteen land- 

 holders who replied to the circular individually supplied the following figures 

 of the different sexes caught : — 



No. 



7,284 



8,386 



These figures were supplied during a time when skins were abnormally 

 high in price, and when rabbits were sought everywhere. The figures show 

 that 15 per cent, more does than bucks were killed. But before skins 

 became so valuable, when rabbits were trapped for the freezing works, 

 I visited various works, and, through the courtesy of the managers, was able 

 to examine rabbits as to sex. The rabbits were taken at random, as the 

 trappers brought them to the works. At the time the records were taken 

 this district was in the throes of a drought, and no doubt the rabbits had to 

 travel long distances for food. Stock were very poor, and large numbers 

 were dying, but the rabbits brought to the works were very fat. 



The figures show nearly 15 percent, more does than bucks, and, although 

 a person could not dogmatise on the count, it supports the statements made 

 many times to me by people engaged in the industry that at certain times, 

 for no apparent reason, you will catch more does than bucks, and, at other 

 times, vice versa. 



Some landholders would not object to trappers, so they say, if the trapper 

 would set at the burrows, because then the does would be caught. Six 

 reporters mentioned that they trapped at burrows, and from their results it 

 cannot be stated definitely, as is often done, that a great preponderance in 

 the number of females is then found. 



1,026 



1,267 



