272 • BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



case, when I went home a month or so ago after some of mine 

 had been killed, I found the selectman had been there. There 

 was one sheep missing. I spent a half a day looking for it, 

 and I did not find it. The selectmen say, " We will pay 

 for that when you show us that it is dead." There is where 

 the trouble comes in. The dogs are allowed to roam right 

 through the fields, and they drive the sheep into the moun- 

 tainous places, and you never can find their carcasses. 



We should have a law that would restrain the dogs just 

 as much as it restrains other animals. They should not be 

 allowed to roam at large over every field. I agree with Mr. 

 Stadtmueller, that if they are allowed to do it then the State, 

 or the towns, should take a part of this money and help us 

 put up fences that will keep the dogs out. If the State gives 

 these men the right to keep sheep-killing dogs on the payment 

 of a small license, why should they not help build the fences? 

 I say if the State is going to let these animals run riot, it should 

 build a few fences to hold them so that the farmer can have a 

 few sheep and perhaps develop this industry in Connecticut. 

 Is not that right? 



Another little thing I look at is this: If this money paid 

 for dog licenses and dog taxes went into the State treasury in- 

 stead of the town treasury, and then these payments for dam- 

 ages to sheep came from the treasury of the State instead of 

 the treasury of the towns I believe that the State would be 

 more liberal in its dealings with the farmer, and there would 

 not be the trouble that we now have in getting money from the 

 towns. Now they feel that the money being in the town 

 treasury, we will pay just as little as we possibly can and avoid 

 a lawsuit. The selectmen do not like to be criticised for pay- 

 ing out large amounts on account of town expenses. I sup- 

 pose they think it makes a difference with their political 

 strength, and anyway they do not do it. 



A Member. If the State and the town would work to- 

 gether to restrain every dog so that it cannot be off of its 



