212 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



April 13, 1811, Bobert Ober, of Georgetown, advertised for sale at 

 auction, " at the sheep shearing in this town, 20 to 30 full-blooded 

 Merino rams arrived from Lisbon, exported by Torlades & Co., of the 

 Count de Morlaires' flock; among them are Eoyal Escurial and Paular.l 



It is impossible to give accurately the number of sheep arriving at 

 Norfolk, the customs records for the period having been destroyed 

 during the war of the rebellion. Ten vessels are reported as having 

 entered there, seven of which landed 734 sheep. Allowing the other 

 three to have carried on an average the same as the seven whose num- 

 bers are given (105), the total number would foot up about 1,050. For 

 the reason just given, it is impossible to give in all cases the parties 

 shipping the sheep or to whom consigned. 



Of the 94 arriving by the Woodrop Sims, September 4, 1810, 7019 

 rams and 51 ewes were advertised on the 5th, and quite freely after- 

 wards, but the sales Avere slow, and they were offered at auction on 

 October 2. The sale was unsuccessful, and again they were held at 

 private sale. One ram and 5 ewes were sold to a gentleman in South 

 Carolina for $750, and on October 10 $100 each was offered for 40. Many 

 died, and sales stopped. The shipment was made by Jarvis and con- 

 signed to Moses Myers & Son. All subsequent shipments to Norfolk 

 were equally unfortunate. The large number arriving, their poor con- 

 dition, falling prices, no sales, and the need of great care, with poor 

 results from their best efforts, were very depressing, and Myers & Son 

 wrote to Mr. Jarvis January 20, 1811, that they could " see no prospect 

 of success, more having arrived, and we look for a ship which has more 

 on board to our address. Heaven knows what will become of them." 

 Late in January 32 were sent to J. Roddey & Co., Charleston, S. C., 

 arriving February 1. In February the weather was such as had not 

 been experienced for years. Sixteen died, and the remainder were put 

 into a house where a fire protected them from the cold. In March there 

 were 78 survivors, but during that month the dogs destroyed 18 in one 

 night. On March 12 20 were shipped to Messrs. Smith & Buchanan 

 at Baltimore. April 19 only 35 sheep and 4 lambs survived. "Never," 

 said Myers & Son to Jarvis, "have we had a more unpleasant consign- 

 ment. We were never more anxious than for your order to ship the 

 residue ; they perplex us much." 



Of the sheep consigned to Myers & Son at Norfolk, some were sent 

 to M. & B. Myers, at Richmond. The first were those arriving by the 

 Greyhound, Capt. Baxter, September 11, 1810. These were advertised 

 by Samuel Myers on the 20th, as " 114 Merino sheep shipped by Jar- 

 vis," Negretti, Paulars, and Aguirres. They had no sale and were put- 

 up at auction October 3, and for want of bidders the sale was indefi- 

 nitely postponed. They were placed on the farm of Robert Temple, 

 near Richmond, and on January 17, 1811, were again put up at auction 

 "at Ampthill, seat of Robert Temple." There were 5 Paular, 3 

 Negretti, and 2 Aguirres rams, and 15 Paular and 58 Aguirres ewes, 



