256 



SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



Massachusetts grows less than 2.1 ounces of wool to each of her inhab- 

 itants not enough to supply them with ear-tabs. In 1890 she had 

 but 56,530 sheep, not enough to give her adult inhabitants meat for 

 two days. Of 538,490 sheep consumed in Boston in 1888, but 9,051 

 were raised in the State. The source of her supply for that year, and 

 running back to 1882, is given in the following table: 



In 1890 the number of live sheep discharged at Brighton and Water- 

 town was 583,545, of which the West furnished 370,067, Canada 88,313, 

 Massachusetts 0,181, Ehode Island and Connecticut 48 head. The re- 

 ceipts in March show about 5,000 head, and in September and October 

 about 17,500 head, indicating a growing demand for mutton. 



From 1890 to 1892 there has been a slight increase in the number of 

 sheep in the State, and there are indications that farmers are beginning 

 to pay more attention to them. Those in the vicinity of large cities find 

 increasing demand at fair prices for early spring lambs, and no stock 

 makes better returns. 



CONNECTICUT. 



The first flock of Merino sheep kept in Connecticut was imported by 

 Col. David Humphreys, of Derby, in 1802, and has been fully noticed 

 in preceding pages. From this flock are descended some of the best 

 flocks of the present day, and nearly all claim descent from it. Hum- 

 phreys sold and let his rams in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Ver- 

 mont, and as early as 1807 sent many full and half blood sheep into 

 Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. His flock was broken 

 up soon after his death in 1818, not, however, before it had furnished 

 pure superior sheep to nearly every part of the Union, and in particular 

 to lay the foundation of the best flocks of Connecticut as well as those 

 of the whole country ; but it is doubtful whether there is in existence a 

 sheep that can establish its claim as being line-bred to any importation 

 made prior to 1812, at least such is the opinion of undoubted authority. 

 There is around the history of the early flocks, not only in Connecticut 

 but elsewhere, some doubt thrown, not by wanton misrepresentation of 

 facts, but through the loose statement of them and in many cases the 

 want of precise information. It was not until many years after the 

 flocks were founded that much, if any, attention was paid to pedigrees, 

 consequently entire accuracy was not always attainable. We are led 



