66 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



bandrj. The natural advantages of the State — and none other is 

 better adapted to sheep husbandr}'- of a high character than Maine 

 — have been earnestly and faithfully portrayed and presented. 

 The causes which make sheep raising both unremunerative and 

 hazardous, have been as fully and as truthfully explained. Those 

 canine causes still continue like "war risks" to eat up the profits. 

 The essence of legislative interference has been too much like 

 British neutrality. 



Every man has the right k) claim from the government under 

 which he lives, protection in the enjoyment of his property. That 

 right has been exercised, and that protection has been claimed, at 

 the hands of those who have been called to preside over the politi- 

 cal and econsmical interests of the State. The assumption has 

 been unimpeachably established and shown beyond denial, by the 

 farmers of the State, that the losses from wild animals, disease 

 and accident, are not equivalent to the losses from the depreda- 

 tions of dogs. Facts and figures multiplied to an almost unlimited 

 extent testify to the truth of the assertion. Supplications, remon- 

 strances and petitions, have failed to induce the Legislature to 

 abate the grievance or remove the aggressors. 



Cotton, the great source of supply for the textile fabrics of the 

 world, being cut off by the rebellion, woolen fabrics for a long time 

 must take the place of many for which cotton has hitherto been 

 considered essential. We have never grown wool enough to meet 

 the home demand, even when cotton was accessible ; and the en- 

 tire policy of our State has been of a character to diminish rather 

 than increase the growth of this product. In proof of this, is. 

 cited the "act" of last winter, taxing dogs, provided the several 

 towns shall agree thereto, a proviso without precedent or parallel in 

 the whole history of taxation. 



No elaborate report is required to vindicate the importance of 

 our cause, or the justness of our claims. The extraordinary cir- 

 cumstances by which we are surrounded, afford no new argument 

 in favor of the protection of sheep husbandry. And again we ask 

 of the Legislature such protection for this important branch of our 

 industry as the case demands. We herewith submit the following 

 resolution : 



Resolced, That the interests of the State, demand at the hands of 

 the Legislature, protection to sheep husbandry. 



The Resolve was unanimously adopted. 



