724 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



cultural and pastoral wealth. Nor need we import any foreign or cul- 

 tivated grasses, for our own native grasses are the best adapted to this 

 land and are of superior inherent qualities. 



MONTANA SHEEP LAWS. 



The manifest importance of the sheep industry, its high rank in the 

 essential resources of the State, has made it possible for the sheep- 

 raisers, through concentrated action, to obtain Avhatever statutory pro- 

 visions are necessary for the comfort, encouragement or protection of 

 the industry. The favorable laws which Montana flockinasters enjoy 

 are unequaled by those of any other Western State, relieving them of 

 burdens which the sheepmen in other States have to bear unaided. 



From a recent pamphlet compiled by S. A. Balliet, of Helena, and 

 entitled " Statutory Laws of the State of Montana, pertaining to sheep 

 and infectious diseases thereof," sections of the compiled statutes of 

 the criminal and general laws of Montana comprise provisions indexed 

 as follows : 



Driving stock from range ; poisoning domestic animals ; cruelty to animals ; mark- 

 ing or branding property of another; cutting off ears of cow, etc.; skinning dead 

 animals without consent of owner; carrying disease among sheep; certain property 

 exempt from taxation; pedigree ; cattle or sheep driven must be branded or marked ; 

 duty of Territorial veterinary surgeon to inspect quarantined sheep; duty of owner 

 of such sheep; tax to be levied; importation from infected districts prohibited; 

 owners to report diseased sheep; report of surgeon; assistants; laws repealed; 

 takes effect June 1, 1887 ; rams and he-goats, when not to run at large ; penalty ; 

 damages may be recovered; diseased animals not to run at large; making false 

 pedigree punished; misrepresenting pedigree punished; recovery of damages done 

 by animals; tax for fund; information of disease to be furnished surgeon; veterin- 

 ary surgeon and deputies; appointment of deputy inspector; deputy must reside 

 where oath of; deputy, duties of; quarantine; sheep coming into Territory; gov- 

 ernor to schedule by proclamation other States where disease exists; penalty for 

 bringing sheep from prescribed districts ; shipper must notify inspector; sheep not 

 inspected not to pass over public highway or near range; scabby sheep not to be 

 removed from one county to another ; penalty for failure to report diseased sheep; 

 compensation of inspector; report of deputy inspector ; records of deputy inspector; 

 penalty for disregarding orders of inspector; penalty for bringing diseased sheep 

 into the Territory ; exemptions, none on execution, to enforce certain judgments; 

 additional inspectors; repealing laws; railroads' liability for damage to stock. 



For the conviction of any of the laws named, severe penalties, con- 

 sisting of heavy fines or imprisonment, or both, sufficient to cause a 

 rigid enforcement of the same. 



In addition to the foregoing, the State passed a bounty law for wild 

 animals killed: For mountain lions and bears, $5; wolves, coyotes, $2; 

 wildcat, bobcat, lynx, $1. 



PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, COMMENTS, AND OBSERVATIONS. 



The following paragraphs, constituting the closing pages of this re- 

 port, merit a careful perusal, as they cover a wide range of matters 

 pertaining to the sheep industry of Montana. They comprise important 

 facts relating to successful sheep husbandry, and are especially valua- 



