FOXES AT A DISCOUNT.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1120, 23 August 1882, Page 2

FOXES AT A DISCOUNT.

; * The l -apid increase of foxes on the Avalon estate, leased by Mr. W. H. Bullivant, has, remarks the Geelong _m * . irr* _L_*- * . ° Advert-S-r, necessitated the adoption of various modes of destroying the pest, although a few animals are poisoned, the only effectual method of ridding the mangrove scrub, near the beach, at the North Shore, where the foxes locate themsel ves, appears to be powder and shot. The estate comprises about 24,000 acres of grass lands, carrying 13,000 sheep. At the lambing season the foxes became a great nuisance, and it is estimated that fiey kill about 400 sheep a year. The lambs, weak sheep, and weaners fall an easy prey to the foxes, but the cunning animals fear the strong sheep. The estimated value of the sheep killed by the pests at "Avalon is £200 per annum so that the loss to sheep-breeders is severe. A fox-drive the fourth since Mr Bullivant leased the estate, took place on Saturday, and and although the wintry weather was not encouraging fully 100 persons availed themselves of Mr Bullivant-- .invitation to engage in a day's sport There were 50 guns in use, but only five foxes, two of them being vixens, were killed during the day, by Messrs. Jacob ' Gillard, John Ford, Joseph Hopgood, Ed. O'Donnell, and Geo. Graves. The paddocks about Port Wilson were thoroughly beaten, but the fox proved too cunning for the sportsmen, and from time to time the foxes could- be seen stealthily sneaking away behind the gunners after the. swamps had been beaten. Since January last 26 foxes ha v^|^_r l2tiffe& on the estate, and the total number since last winter if 70. so from this it will be seen that the nuisance is alarmingly on the increase,, and a determined effort to subdue it will have to be made.