(d.) that, owing to the apathy of the responsible authorities in the past, and their utter want of appreciation of the danger this state was incurring through the ascertained progress of the rabbit invasion, your Commissioners are unfortunately compelled to advocate a fence over 500 miles West of the boundary of the state, so that millions of acres of pastoral country will be left open to the ravages of the rabbits, and consequently lost to useful occupation. this national loss would, in all probability, have been obviated had steps been taken in reasonable time to check this incursion in its early stages.