54 JACK RABBITS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



Bakersfleld, and was followed by others at intervals of a week or ten 

 days with such success tliat the method attracted widespread atten- 

 tion throughout the valley. Great interest was aroused in Tulare 

 County, and on February 25 the 'Pioneer Rabbit Drivers' Club' was 

 formed and driving was nndertaken by various towns in quick succes- 

 sion. The first drive near Tii)ton took place January 28, at Tulare on 

 February 1, at Waukena February 11, at Yisalia March 10, and at 

 Traver April 7. Not to be outdone by Kern and Tulare counties, the 

 citizens of Fresno met on February 8, and decided to arrange for a rabbit 

 drive and barbecue, which was held on March IG, An association for 

 rabbit driving was also organized in Merced County, and the first drive 

 took place at Merced on March 24. During this time the matter seems 

 to have been dropped at Pixley and the credit of originating the novel 

 method of rabbit destruction was claimed by several other towns. 



In February and March, 1888, rabbit driving seems to have reached 

 its height in the San Joaquin Valley. It was estimated by the news- 

 papers that nearly 20,000 rabbits were killed in Tulare County during 

 March alone; while about 40,000 were destroyed in Fresno, and 70,000 

 each in Kern and Tulare counties during the spring of 1888. With 

 the close of this season there was a noticeable falling off in the num- 

 ber of drives, either through lack of interest or because the rabbits 

 had decreased in numbers to some extent. Comparatively few took 

 place in 1890 and 1891, but in the spring of 1892 several large ones 

 were made in Fresno County, The largest on record occurred between 

 Easton and Oleander, 10 or 15 miles southwest of Fresno, and formed 

 the closing event of an encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic 

 at Fresno, March 12, 1 892. It is said that 8,000 people were present, and 

 the estimates of the number of rabbits killed vary from 20,000 to 30,000 

 (see PI. IV). The central location of Fresno makes it an easy matter 

 to bring together large numbers of people at short notice. Since 1892 

 there has been a still further decrease both in the number and size of 

 the drives, and except at Traver, hardly any large ones have taken place 

 in the State. The custom has been somewhat revived during 189."> and 

 1894 in Modoc County, where it is said a few drives were held in 1889. 



It is impracticable to give a complete list of all the drives or an 

 accurate st.atement of the number of rabbits killed. The figures pub- 

 lished in newspapers are ])robab]y often exaggerated, l)ut in most 

 cases afford the only data available. With the assistance of many 

 correspondents statistics for about a hundred and fifty of the more 

 important drives have been collected.' As shown by the following 

 table, more than 370,000 rabbits have been destroyed, but these ])rob- 

 ably represent only a small i)roportion of the total number actually 

 killed in California. 



'Tlie writer is indebted to many persons for aid iu the ])reparation of the follow- 

 ing list. Besides those named below should be mentioned Messrs. Charles H. Shinn, 

 of Berkeley, Walter 1'.. Bryant, of Oakland, and F. H. Holmes, of Berryessa, who 

 have assisted in various ways. 



