21 



swell the total of the stock that feeds within the desert. Flocks of 

 sheep are brought in from all directions, and while of these there has 

 not up to the present been any official record, yet enough is known to 

 indicate that the estimates of the most conservative sheepmen are too 

 low rather than too high. These place the total number of sheep in 

 the desert, during some five months of the year, at 3()0,000 to 500,000. 

 Some estimates for the winter of 1890-97 were as high as 800,000. 



Of the surrounding counties, Carbon- County sustains the closest 

 relation to the Red Desert. A portion of the county is included in it, 

 and its large flocks of sheep either feed in the desert proper or on 

 vegetation similar to that of the desert during the winter season. The 

 following official returns show what this vegetation will support. 



*S7oc/i: supported in Carhon County. 



The figures from the two adjoining counties, Fremont and Uinta, 

 will give further evidence on the question, for flocks from these also 

 feed at times within the desert. To make clearer the relation of the 

 Red Desert to the stock interests the returns from these counties are 

 given. 



Stock supported in Fremont and Uinta counties. 

 FEEMONT COUNTY. 



It should be noted that the large loss in cattle and horses for Fre- 

 mont County in 1897 is due to the fact that the recent establishment 

 of Bighorn County has transft-rred to it much stock that prior to 1897 

 was assessed in Fremont. 



The figures given for Carbon, Fremont, and Uinta counties are the 

 actual assessments, and do not cover a considerable number that prob- 

 ably escape enumeration each year, nor those flocks temporarily in 

 these counties as " trail" sheep. 



