2 THE SHEfiP, AND" WOOL INDUSTRY 



to the Cape to obtain sheep. Captain Waterhouse considered this 

 a disgraceful task for an officer to have to execute. He arrived at 

 the Cape and purchased 32 Spanish Merino sheep from a widow 

 named Gordon, whose late husband had established a small flock, 

 which had been sent to him by the Dutch East India Company. 

 Captain Waterhouse reached Australia with 29 of them, and was 

 offered 15 guineas a head for the lot by Captain McArthur. This 



[Photo by Author. 



THE CAPE FAT-TAIL. 

 Australia's first Sheep. 



was declined, as Captain Waterhouse had orders to distribute his 

 small flock amongst several people, Captain McArthur getting three 

 rams and five ewes. Captain McArthur soon noticed that these 

 Spanish sheep of his improved in every way in their new home, the 

 fleeces getting heavier, softer, and finer. In 1803 a sample of his 

 Merino wool was valued at 6s. per Ib. in London. Captain 

 McArthur saw great possibilities for Merino sheep in Australia, and 

 he went to London to try and float a company. He wanted 20,000 



