D3 
realize for them the highest prices paid in the United States. But, owing 
to worthless dogs which roam through the fields and woods, killing the 
sheep and running them out of the pastures, we cannot make sheep- 
raising profitable. Out of the dog-tax, $901.40 have been paid for de- 
struction by dogs, the owners of which were not able to pay damages ; 
but for chasing and worrying the sheep, and driving them from field to 
field, which is the worst part, there is no pay. Besides, our orchards are 
becoming worse and worse for the want of sheep to destroy the insects 
by devouring the wind-fall apples, and rabbing and stamping around 
the trees. Sheep are much better for orchards than hogs. Jontour: | 
For some twelve years I have had no sheep killed by dogs, although 
exposed day and night in the fields. I think it is owing to my putting 
eight or ten bells on a flock of forty or fifty sheep. Neighbors who do 
not adopt this plan have sheep killed by dogs, but I have not had one 
attacked since I adopted it. 
Maryland.— Baltimore : Sheep-husbandry could be made profitable, but 
the business will be prostrate as long as we have more worthless dogs 
than sheep. 
Virginia.—Page : Considering the capital invested, sheep would be our 
most profitable stock were it not for the dogs; but unless some law is 
passed to protect sheep, we fear they will become extinct. The persons 
who are the least able-to feed dogs always have the most of them. Pow- 
hatan: We have in the county a dog-law, now in force, which has re- 
duced the number of dogs some 20 per cent. Sheep-husbandry has taken 
anew impetus. Within the last two months one farmer has introduced 
into the county 700 sheep from West Virginia. Highland: Sheep would 
be on the increase but for the dogs. The number annually killed would 
rather exceed than fall short of 1,200. Sussex: The number of sheep 
will continue to grow less until there are none left, unless. some means 
ean be devised to rid the community of dogs. It. is thought that there 
are now in Sussex ten dogs for every sheep. Our State Legislature 
seems to be afraid of the dogs. Cannot Congress do something to help 
us? With the abatement of this nuisance sheep-husbandry would soon 
become a leading and one of the most profitable branches of industry 
- in the county. Wool could be more cheaply raised here than cotton. 
Prince William: The dog-tax will not pay more than 10 per cent. on the 
loss of sheep by dogs. In Manassas Township seven farmers, on four 
square miles, lost, by dogs, during the fall and this winter, 165, or 60 
per cent. of their whole number. Augusta: Since the adoption of the 
dog-law dogs are becoming scarce, and sheep increasing; think we will 
have plenty in a few years. Rockbridge: There has been such a falling 
off in sheep that they are scarcely worth reporting. Still, a great many 
have been killed by dogs, even among the small flocks. If a law for tax- 
ing dogs could be passed.and carried out, ours would soon be a wool- 
growing county. 
North Carolina.—Hertford: Sheep would do well, but for the mul- 
titude of dogs. As a general rule, the poorer the man, the more dogs 
around him; consequently, where the sheep once abounded they are 
rapidly disappearing. Gaston: Dogs have done very little damage the 
past four years, and sheep are fairly on the increase. Haywood: If the 
sheep destroyed by the two-legged dogs be counted, the number will go 
far above the estimate in the report.. 
Georgia.— Walker : Our farmers are turning attention to sheep-rais- 
ing, which would be profitable if we had a good dog-law. Macon: Sheep 
are decidedly on the increase, and we are making strenuous efforts to 
effect i enactment of a dog-law for their greater protection. Gwinnett: 
A 
