352 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



part of the contract lie had paid $1,800; but, to be secure against any 

 casualties, a pair of sheep, in addition to these, was furnished by him. 

 Two rams and 3 ewes, therefore, were turned over to Mr. McNish and 

 placed on his farm near Salem, October 11, 1810. 



The community here, like communities elsewhere, was at the time 

 much divided in opinion regarding Merino sheep, many believing them 

 entirely unsuitable to the climate and that they would prove a curse 

 to the country, and one of Mr. McMsh's neighbors, a hardheaded 

 Scotchman, when these sheep first arrived gave distinct notice that if 

 the rams broke in among his flock he should without ceremony shoot 

 them down, and hold him responsible, in addition, for whatever dam- 

 ages he sustained by their presence among his common sheep. Fortu- 

 nately, however, the Merinos had nothing of that roving disposition so 

 common to the native sheep of the country, and therefore never gave 

 the Scotch neighbor any molestation. And before long it was surmised 

 that the Scotchman's sentiments had undergone some change, for it 

 was noticed that on one or more occasion he was very particular to 

 pasture his own flock in the field adjoining that in which the Spanish 

 rams were pastured, and he was not at all particular, careless in fact, 

 in keeping up his part of the line fence. 



The experience of Mr. McMsh with these sheep represents the 

 experience of many who began at this time the foundation of Merino 

 flocks. His sole experience in this branch of husbandry was confined 

 to the hardy common sheep of the country, and he was consequently 

 'greatly disappointed with the luck that attended his operations with 

 the Merinos. The weather through the first spring was particularly 

 disastrous; the month of April being cold and stormy, and although the 

 flock was well provided with sheds and had every other practicable care 

 bestowed upon it, it availed but little, and nearly all the lambs perished. 

 They exhibited no vigor, the climate seemed too chilly, and life was a 

 burden to them. On coining to foot up accounts of the first year's 

 operations under his contract Mr. McKish found that instead of at least 

 100 common lambs that he might have reared from the same ewes with 

 far less care and expense, he could only claim ownership to about 16 

 half-bloods, to obtain which he was giving Mr. Prince 50 common ewes 

 and their crop of wool. In view of this result he was much dis- 

 couraged. . 



With extraordinary care each of the imported ewes succeeded in rais- 

 ing a lamb. The first of these was yeaned at a time the half-bloods in 

 the fold were perishing by scores, and as this was the first Merino lamb 

 produced in the country, its history, as far as known, possesses some 

 interest. It was a ram, and to shield it from the rigors of the climate 

 and to place it in an atmosphere to the full " as temperate and genial as 

 that of the vine-clad plains of Estremadura," Mr. McNish fitted up a 

 place in the corner of a cellar kitchen, the apartment which was the 

 main abode of the household, and here the lamb was kept so long a^ 



