WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 715 



After deducting expenses there is a net income of $1,760, or over 27 

 per cent, on the investment. To keep a less number of sheep would not 

 reduce the expense much, while a few hundred more would not increase 

 the expense. The extra men are necessary during the lambing and 

 haying seasons. The foregoing estimate is of a representative flock 

 well managed, having all the necessary conveniences. Of course there 

 are hundreds of owners who manage their flocks at much less expense 

 than the total amount given by Col. Sellers, which averaged $1.10 per 

 head. The average for the whole State would be from 80 cents to 

 $1 per head for a series of years. 



A brief summary of the local advantages for the industry enumerated 

 by sheepmen representing every portion of the State is as follows: 

 Natural sheep country 5 pure and invigorating atmosphere; free range; 

 abundance of nutritious grasses of different kinds and excellent quality, 

 affording pasturage the year around, excepting a few stormy days of 

 winter; climate dry and healthful; plenty of good water available from 

 natural supply; no disease among sheep, and country almost abso- 

 lutely free from it; greater portion of State only suitable for grazing, 

 too dry for general farming sheep and other stock easily fatten with- 

 out grain, on the native grasses, until they are fit for market; freedom 

 from dust, burrs, and ticks; unlimited open range which can not be 

 profitably utilized for any purpose except grazing. 



The chief disadvantages and obstacles encountered by those engaged 

 in the sheep industry of Montana, compiled from their own statements, 

 are as follows : High priced and often incompetent herders and helpers ; 

 occasional severe winters, with deep snows, cold storms, and low tem- 

 perature; localities with scarcity of forage in winter and water in sum- 

 mer; timber scarce except along the principal rivers, making lumber 

 very expensive for those who have to make long hauls for their neces- 

 sary supply; trouble with poisonous weeds and plants in some places, 

 such as the wild parsnips and loco plants ; isolation from social privi- 

 leges incident to the business. These item's comprise all the chief dis- 

 advantages mentioned by correspondents in the State, and all of them 

 do not apply to every county. Some minor difficulties are mentioned 

 by some of the flockmasters, but none that can not be overcome by en- 

 ergy, industry, and economy. 



Sheep raised in Montana are peculiarly free from disease. There have 

 been some cases of scab in different portions of the State, usually caused 

 by carelessness in bringing the sheep from other localities ; but at pres- 

 ent it is of very rare occurrence, as the sheepmen are very prompt in 

 stamping out any known case, and the restrictive and effective scab- 

 law enables sheep-owners to promptly eradicate any outbreaks. A sort 

 of catarrh sometimes affects the sheep, and occasionally ticks are com- 

 plained of, but so infrequent are these cases that they are scarcely ever 

 mentioned. 



