1052 



unnecessary. Cattle are bred mainly for the sake of the milk. 

 Meat production and fattening — as in the Shetlands — are not of 

 much importance. In a few piaces, however, e. g. at Myggenæs- 

 holm, where the pastures are particularly rich, a bullock may pro- 

 duce 500 pounds of meat and 70 pounds of tallow. 



The Færoese sheep is of peculiar appearance; it somewhat 

 resembles the Iceland sheep, and has like the latter a short lail. 

 In colder and more exposed districts the hairs are long and the 

 wool fine; the reverse is the case in milder districts. During sum- 

 mer the sheep graze in outside fieids (the scatholds); in the hot 

 season, after midsummer, far up on the hills; in the other seasons 

 of the year in the low-lying regions; from Oct. 25th to May 14th 

 they are allowed to seek their food in the enclosures belonging to 

 the scatholds in question; especially in early spring they resort to 

 the enclosures to strengthen themselves with the fresh, shooting 

 grass, which they may well need after their scanty winter fare! 

 But as may easily be understood the hay-crop of the enclosed fieids 

 does not increase in quantity by the first shoots of the grass being 

 thus bitten off! 



The total number of live stock as regards the Færoes and the 

 Shetlands was in 1898 as follows: — 



The Shetlands' The Færoes 



Sheep 98,150 106,465 



Horned Cattle . . . 19,219 4,516 



Horses 5,712 706 



Pigs 2,895 



Thus the number of sheep in the Færoes as in the Shetlands 

 consists usually of about 100,000. But fattening is not carried on 

 systematically in the former as is the case in the latter istands, 

 though it would doubtless be of importance in some piaces. 



It is usual for the flocks to be out all the year round, and during 

 winter considerable losses are often sustained during continuous rain 

 and gales, as the sheep are generally left to find food for them- 

 selves as best they can; in only a few districts do they get a 

 supply of hay, a provision which ought to be more widely made 

 as it would heighten the security of the flocks and increase the 

 profits of sheepfarming; at present it is chiefly the wool and the 



1 Agricultural Returns, 1898. 



