FINE WOOL SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 45 



had previously supplied us with our woolen goods, 

 and was so interrupted and precarious with all others, 

 that the establishment of home manufactories and of 

 the means of supplying them with raw material, 

 became an object of prime necessity. Most fortu- 

 nately, the embargo was raised at just the right 

 moment to allow the sheep, which the situation of 

 Spanish affairs threw in the way of Mr. Jarvis and 

 others, to be purchased and sent home. 



At such a juncture, it would be expected that the 

 arrival of the Merino on our shores would be hailed 

 with enthusiasm particularly when it was learned 

 that we had obtained the very best sheep of Spain. 

 And, as a matter of course, the spirit of speculation 

 lent energy to the movement. From $1,000 to $1,500 

 a head were in many instances paid for the imported 

 rams, and $1,000 a head for the ewes. Flocks of full 

 blood or grade sheep were eagerly commenced in all 

 parts of the country. Fine wool commanded such an 

 exorbitant price that it required the utmost bad man- 

 agement, added to the most extravagant original dis- 

 bursement, to render the venture unprofitable. As 

 early as 1807 wool rose to a dollar a pound. In 1809, 

 Mr. Livingston sold his full-blood Merino wool, 

 unwashed, for two dollars a pound ! During the war 

 with England it rose to $2.50. 



State Encouragement. 



The Legislature of this state passed laws to encour- 

 age the manufacture of woolen cloth. By the act of 

 April 8, 1808, premiums of $150, $75 and $50 were 

 respectively offered for " the best specimens of woolen 



