350 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



half to fifteen-sixteenths blood, and comparatively few full "bloods. 

 And it happened also that when manufacturers failed in 1815-'20 whole 

 flocks went by the board, and history has no note of them. The history 

 of some, however, has been partially preserved. 



Among the early arrivals at New York, in 1810, was the ship Traveller, 

 with 24 Escurial sheep, consigned to Eichard Crowningshield., These 

 sheep were sold at high prices to various parties, mostly on Long Island, 

 and were in part the foundation of many superior flocks. Among the 

 purchasers was Andrew Cock, of Flushing, and from two ewes, for 

 which he paid $1,100 each, and some superior Paulars, purchased sub- 

 sequently, came the celebrated flock and strain bearing his name, and 

 which has been noted when treating of the Vermont flocks. In 1844, 

 when the Merinos took a new lease on popularity and blood began to 

 be more regarded, Dr. Henry S. Eandall received from Effingham Law- 

 rence a letter detailing the origin of this flock, which was published in 

 the Cultivator of that year. 



Yours is duly received, in which you refer to a conversation we had on the subject 

 of Merino sheep, and particularly of the quality and purity of the flock of Andrew 

 Cock, who was my neighbor. We were intimate and commenced laying the founda- 

 tion of our Merino flocks about the same time. I was present when he purchased 

 most of his sheep, which was in 1811. He first purchased 2 ewes at $1,100 per head. 

 They were very fine, and of the Escurial flock imported by Richard Crowningshield. 

 His next purchase was 30 of thePaular breed, at from $50 to $100 per head. He con- 

 tinued to purchase of the different importations until he ran them up to about 80, 

 always selecting them with great care. This was the foundation of A. Cock's flock ; 

 nor did he ever purchase any but pure-blooded to my knowledge or belief. Andrew 

 Cock was an attentive breeder, saw well to his business, and was of unimpeachable 

 character. His certificate of the kind and purity of blood I should implicitly rely on. 

 I recollect of his selling sheep to Leonard Beedle, of Vermont. 



Long Island was early noted for its fine flocks of sheep, and Judge 

 Lawrence, Andrew Cock, Timothy Mallet, and Silas Titus had Merino 

 flocks of high repute, from which they furnished pure-blood rams and 

 ewes for many years to various parts of New England and the Middle 

 States, particularly to northern New York, many of the superior flocks 

 of Washington County tracing thence their origin. The Long Island 

 sheep were noted for fineness and quantity of wool, and in 1822 there 

 was sheared from one sheep 11 pounds of well-washed wool. In 1843 

 the Merino sheep had nearly disappeared from the island 5 it had given 

 way to crosses of the Leicester and Southdown as mutton became more 

 an object than wool. 



Washington County, K Y., was long famed for its sheep husbandry, 

 and early introduced the Merino. The first Merino blood coming into 

 the county appears to have been from the Stoddard flock, of Vermont, 

 a half-blood brought by Aaron Cleaveland, and in 1809 a full-blooded 

 buck of the same flock was hired from Mr. Stoddard for $50 by K Wil- 

 son, of Salem, for which he received the bounty of $50, offered by the 

 State to the person who should introduce the first Merino buck into 



