446 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
this be so or not, we have no country like Starborough in the 
Wairarapa; none that I have seen that will not hold Ferrets as 
well as, or even better than, the Kaikoura country. 
When nearing Blenheim I was surprised to find on one run 
a considerable number of Rabbits. I was informed that they 
were not poisoning there because the Rabbits were sent into 
Rabbit preserving works. We are fortunate, I think, in not 
having any Rabbit preserving works in the Wairarapa. 
I think it needless to express any opinion on the above state- 
ment of what I have heard and seen. I would only say that 
common action is necessary. It is no use one man turning out 
Ferrets if they are to be systematically killed on the adjoining 
run or farms. 
No doubt if the Ferret is, with one consent, adopted by all 
the pastoral settlers in the Wairarapa, a substantial number of 
persons will be at once thrown out of the employment they are 
now engaged in. I cannot but feel that these men have greatly 
helped the community to the best of their ability when no better 
means of keeping Rabbits under was at our disposal, and I hope 
that the greater part will soon enter on some other employment. 
But at the same time I must point out how vast the gain will be 
to the whole population in setting free the very large sums of 
money which have been yearly paid away in entirely unprofitable 
labour, and in turning very large quantities of wheat and oats to 
utterly unproductive purposes. The same money employed in 
felling bush and scrub, in ploughing and fencing, would have 
given a large return, adding to the aggregate wealth of the 
Wairarapa, increasing the demand for productive labour, and 
benefitting the whole community. Nor is it merely the money 
wasted in its application to unproductive purposes ; the damage 
done to flocks and the depreciation of property has told and is 
telling heavily against the general prosperity of the district. 
It is the common interest of all that this solution of the 
Rabbit difficulty should be brought about. 
One word to the settler on small plots. If a Ferret visits 
your poultry-yard do not kill it. Geta mate and make it pay 
for the damage. A pair of full-grown Ferrets, if well cared for 
—and one of the boys could easily do it—will bring you in from 
£5 to £8 a year, not a bad beginning for a savings’ bank account 
for a boy at school; and he may easily make it £15 or £20. 
