366 ANNUAL REiPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



From the best statistical reports at our command we find in the 

 United States on January 1st, 1906, 50,631,019 sheep. Average price 

 per head, |3.54; total value, $179,056,144. 



Of this number Pennsylvania had on January 1, 1906, 1,102,982 

 head of sheep, value per head, |4.63; total value, $5,102,529. And on 

 January 1st, 1905, Pennsylvania had 895,982 head of sheep; value 

 per head, |3.81; total value, $3,415,394, being an increase of 206,076 

 sheep and of price, 82 cents per head, and of value, $1,687,135, 



The wool production of Pennsylvania on January 1, 1905, was re- 

 ported as from 850,000 sheep at an average of six pounds per sheep, 

 or 5,100,000 pounds, at 30 cents per pound, $1,530,000. 



Pennsylvania is reported ar? having on January 1st, 1906, 1,100,000 

 sheep at an average of six pounds of wool per sheep, or 6,600,000 

 pounds of wool; selling price advanced to 32 cents per pound, mak- 

 ing the income from the crop of wool for 1906 $2,112,000, being an 

 increase from 1905 of $582,000. 



The increase of wool production in my county (Washington) of 

 1906 over 1905 was about 10 per cent., and an advance of 2 cents per 

 pound. This information was obtained from wool merchants. The 

 increase of sheep would have been more were it not for the increase 

 of dogs in our county. Our county in 1906 paid for loss of stock by 

 dogs $6,505, and in 1905, $5,656, an increase of $849. 



We had exhibited at one of our Farmers' Institutes in our county 

 samples of fine wool grown in the locality where shown, which 

 showed the length to be from the brood ewes 3| inches; sample from 

 the stock ram, 3 inches, and from eight-months-old lambs, 3i inches. 

 The standard length of staple, I understand, for fine or delaine wool, 

 is 3 inches at one year's growth. 



Your Com,mittee would recommend to our Legislative Committee 

 to try and have better protection from damage done by dogs to the 

 human family and to our live stock. In our section of the State we 

 have suffered much from mad dogs the past season. Many persons 

 have been bitten and have been compelled to take treatment to pre- 

 vent serious results. Near my home a worthy farmer and stock 

 breeder was bitten by a stray dog; he thought it was not serious, but 

 in a few weeks he became affected and suffered unknown agonies 

 until death relieved him. His entire family and those who assisted 

 in caring for him have been taken to a city hospital for treatment 

 to prevent the spread of the dreadful disease. Much stock of all 

 kinds in this section where this occurred, has already died, and it is 

 expected that there are more cases developing. 



The CHAIEMAN: You have all heard this report; what shall be 

 done with it? 



MR, CLARK: I move that we receive this report and place it on 

 file. 

 The motion was duly seconded, and agreed to. 



The CHAIRMAN. Are there any remarks on these reports which 

 we have just heard? Probably by that time some of the Specialists 

 will come in. 



MR. WELD: I just want to endorse what Mr. Taylor said in re- 

 gard to dogs. I was unfortunate enough to be a township auditor. 



