4 



4 THE DEVELOPMENT OF SHEEP RAISING 



limited privileges. Carefully tended by shepherds of long exper- 

 ience, these flocks were travelled from the southern to the north- 

 ern part of the kingdom and back again each year in order to 

 secure the best grazing and the most favorable climatic conditions 

 for the sheep (Fig. 2). Certain laws of the kingdom stipulated 

 that the owners of large flocks should be allowed a path 90 paces in 

 width for their sheep through enclosed lands. The use of this 

 privilege often brought hardships upon the peasants, who often com- 

 plained of having their crops and vineyards devastated. 



FIG. 1. Old type of Spanish Merino. These old sheep had long necks, high shoulders and 

 were comparatively free from wrinkles. 



The production of sheep and of wool of a type unlike that of any 

 other country became so important in Spain that the owners of 

 flocks, being very few in number, easily established a monopoly which 

 they maintained for many years. To allow a sheep to leave Spain 

 alive was a crime punishable by death. The king was the only one 

 exempted under this law. Sheep owners reinforced statute with 

 argument, contending that in any other country their sheep would 

 deteriorate in quality of fleece because of different soil, climate, and 

 vegetation, and also because of inefficient shepherding. But later 

 events proved them wrong in their contention. 



