J IDC ING LIVE STOCK. 57 



These early importations were followed by a severe de- 

 pression from 1840 to 1850, due to the general panic in busi- 

 ness. No importing was done, and the best cattle could 

 scarcely be sold not because men did not appreciate good 

 blood, but because they had not the means with which to 

 purchase. From 1850 to 1857, however, values again became 

 normal, numerous companies were formed, and considerable 

 importing was done. The Civil War checked the good work. 

 After its close the trade increased rapidly, but a craze for 

 certain families set in. The Bates cattle were in most de- 

 mand, and the choicest of these were few in number. Through 

 the manipulation of men who were in large part speculators, 

 all the American cattle of these most desired families were 

 gathered into one herd at New York Mills. An unreasonable 

 craze for the choicest strain of Bates blood The Duchess 

 had set in in England at this time, and numerous animals had 

 been exported to England in the years from 1868 to 1872. 

 Clever manipulation on the part of speculators had led the 

 Shorthorn world to believe that the future of the breed rested 

 on the Duchess, buyers were present at the great dispersion 

 sale at New York Mills, 1873, from England, Canada, and all 

 parts of the United States. Prices soared beyond all reason; 

 men were swept away by the craze for fashionable blood, 

 and the two most desired cows Duchess 8th and Duchess 

 10th of Geneva were sold for $40,600.00 and $35,000.00 re- 

 spectively. Prices ranging from $10,000.00 to $25,000.00 at 

 this sale caused no comment, and the average on 109 animals 

 amounted to $3,504.00 each. 



Such inflation of values could have but one result. De- 

 pression of the most severe kind followed, until the much 

 lauded Bates blood fell to abnormally low prices less in 

 some cases than the animals were worth as beef. 



Notwithstanding the craze for Bates blood, many other 

 useful strains had been freely imported, and had been forg- 

 ing to the front. At the close of the Civil War, Canada 

 began to import extensively. A large proportion of the early 

 settlers of Canada were of Scotch origin. It was but natural 

 that they should take with them the stock which had proven 

 the best in their own country, and to this must be ascribed 

 the fact that most of the early importations of Scotch cattle 

 came through Canada. The great work of Amos Cruick- 

 shank had but begun to be recognized at the time the de- 

 pression of the Bates ranks had begun. Joseph S. Thompson 



