WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 713 



a growing disposition to breed for both wool and mutton. Formerly, 

 wool was the sole object, but many flockmasters feel that under exist- 

 ing- conditions both are necessary to make the business profitable. 



Shearing mostly takes place during the month of June. Some flock- 

 masters shear in the latter part of May and others the first of July, but 

 every fleece is clipped by July 10. A large number of the owners have 

 the shearing done at the home ranch by traveling crews of shearers, 

 who go from ranch to ranch, and who receive an average price of 8 

 cents per head, board included. The crew of shearers usually numbers 

 from 10 to 12 men. In some cases sheep are driven to the public corrals 

 and shearing stations of the railroad and sheared there. The wool is 

 sacked at once and then taken to the railroad storehouses for storage 

 and shipment. When it is possible, and prices satisfactory, the wool is 

 sold at home, otherwise it is consigned to Eastern commission houses, 

 mainly to Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. This season, however, 

 Chicago received a share of the consignments, but, owing to differential 

 rates made by the "Soo Line" and the Canadian Pacific Bailroad, the 

 bulk of the clip goes to Boston, as the rate is but a few cents more per 

 100 pounds than the rate to Chicago. The grades of wool represent 

 all known Western classes excepting the coarsest, but generally con- 

 sist of fine, fine medium, and medium; also some coarse. Sheep-owners 

 who express themselves say the best market for wool is Boston: for 

 mutton, Chicago. As a general rule, growers prefer to sell in local 

 markets for spot cash, as they secure the use of money at once, and 

 know what they are to get. If this is not done, through failure to 

 obtain a satisfactory offer, the wool is shipped to be sold on commission. 

 The various expenses incident to such shipment and sale average about 

 3 cents to 4 cents per pound. The weight of fleeces ranges from 5 to 

 10 pounds. While a few very competent men estimate the average 

 for the whole State at 8 pounds, yet the numerous reports from every 

 part of the State from actual experience warrant the writer in placing 

 the average clip for the entire State at 7 pounds per fleece. More sheep- 

 men report their actual average at 8 pounds than those reporting 6 

 pounds average; so, from a careful compiling of all the reports, 7 pounds 

 may be regarded as a fair average for Montana fleece. Mutton sheep 

 are generally sent to Chicago, but most growers sell to speculators who 

 visit the ranches and take chances on making a bargain. They occa- 

 sionally fail to make any profit unless they buy in small lots until they 

 secure enough to ship in train loads at reduced rates. 



The portion of the flocks disposed of annually is likely to vary in 

 numbers during different years, owing to the changing demand for 

 wethers and stockers. In the eastern counties the per cent is smaller 

 than in the western part of the State, where the business has been con- 

 ducted longer. The class of sheep disposed of consists mainly of 

 wethers 3 years old and upward, and such ewes and lambs as can 

 be spared. Of these the wethers form the larger part, although last 



