30 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



At the end of the century the Pennsylvania sheep were of a mixed 

 variety, descended from various English breeds; they were generally 

 smaller. The average weight of the sheep, when fat, did not exceed 

 48 pounds net. Some were known to run up to 112 pounds, and an 

 exceptional one was known to have reached 130 pounds. The weight 

 of the quarters may be judged from that of the whole. The common 

 run of good sheep in the Philadelphia market weighed 60 pounds, but 

 80 pounds the carcass was not uncommon. The price of mutton in that 

 market the year through was about 4J cents, and the price of sheep in 

 flocks, when poor, about $1. The mutton from the hilly lands was the 

 best. The smaller size, if well fatted, was the sweetest and best 

 flavored. It was considered better than the large English or German 

 mutton, and not inferior to the mutton of Wales. The best-flavored 

 mutton did not reach the Philadelphia market; the largest and fattest 

 was to be found there, but the choicest and finest meat was only to be 

 had at a distance, in the neighborhood of hilly or relatively barren 

 countries. The heaviest known fleece weighed 13 pounds net. The 

 price of wool upon an average was an English shilling per pound, and 

 3 pounds to a fleece was about the average. Homespun cloth was good; 

 some of it was equal to English superfine; but most of the wool was 

 only calculated for the coarser kinds of cloth. These were manufactured 

 to great perfection and would outlast any imported. Few of the slieep 

 kept their prime longer than seven years. The average weight of tal- 

 low was about one-eighth of the carcass, if the sheep was well fatted. 

 The time of yeaning was generally from the middle of February to the 

 end of May. It was rare for a ewe to lamb twice a year. The fleeces 

 were clipped once a year, in May or June, and sometimes the early 

 lambs were sheared in July or in the beginning of August, but. this was 

 not generally done. 



DELAWARE. 



Sheep were introduced into this province by the Swedes at their first 

 settlement, and wool was an important and indispensable article of 

 household economy. The sheep were of the same kind first introduced 

 into New Jersey, and, like them, gave way eventually to the English 

 sheep, although the Friesland sheep are believed to have maintained 

 their hold until quite a late day. Rochefoucauld says of them in 1797 : 



The slieep of this country produce good wool, fine and short, hut the fleece seldom 

 weighs more than 3 pounds; it is worth $1.50. The sheep have long legs and very 

 large bones. The breed might be much improved by a little attention, of which it is 

 well deserving. 



Here, as elsewhere in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, the 

 owner left at the end of the tail a bunch or tuft of wool, like the tail of 

 a lion. This was a matter of taste and to enable the sheep to keep 

 away the flies. 



