550 Agricultural Journal of Victoria. 



two years, during wliicli period 13,550,614 rabbits have passed 

 through the Department's graders' hands, worth nearly half a 

 million pounds sterling. 



Since the Government adopted this means of enabling the whole- 

 some flesh of the rabbit to be utilised, whilst assisting in exterminating 

 the pest, 34,163,410 rabbits have been frozen and exported. This 

 one section of the rabbit trade alone is accountable for bringing into 

 the country upwards of one million pounds. 



Last year the rabbits submitted to graders gave the following 

 average proportion : — "Large," 42-9 per cent.; ''Young," 13'2 per 

 cent.; "Small," 2*3 per cent.; "Size 1," 9-3 per cent.; " Size 2," 

 4-1 per cent. ; " Size 3," 2-6 per cent. ; " Skinners," 0-42 per cent. ; 

 and " Rejects," including " Condemns," 25-1 per cent. These results 

 differ from day to day according to weather conditions and care 

 received during transit. 



Prior to the commencement of last season the Department did not 

 put up the second grade of rabbits in the fur, as all such were 

 skinned and packed in crates as " Skinners." 



Certain shippers prefer at times to skin the second grade rabbits 

 and ship them as formerly. 



Exporters of course employ their own trade marks and brands, 

 but the general terms before mentioned are used in all Freezing 

 Works, and it does not matter whether the rabbits have been packed 

 by Jones, Brown, or Green, business is done on the two grades and 

 sizes of each. The London or Liverpool rabbit importer cables for 

 quotations for "Large" or "Young," or "Size 1," etc., as the case 

 may be, with the absolute certainty of obtaining the article he 

 requires. 



