WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 797 



mate, to be at least $10,000,000. Further comparing the sheep industry, 

 properly managed, with any other industry of the State, it is by far the 

 best paying agricultural pursuit in Colorado. At the present rate of 

 improvement, unless some unusually adverse condition or unforeseen 

 calamity besets the industry, it will, before another decade passes, rep- 

 resent at least a valuation of $25,000,000. 



SHEEP LAWS. 



The laws relating to the inspection of flocks have been very beneficial 

 to the industry affording necessary protection from "floaters "or roving 

 flocks of sheep that have no regular range or habitation. The sheep 

 laws of Colorado are very similar to those of Wyoming, so that only 

 such portions of the law are given here as may be of special interest to 

 flock masters generally. The laws relating to live stock in general in 

 Colorado are specially favorable and helpful to those engaged in the 

 animal industry. 



The sheep inspection law in section 1 provides that the county com- 

 missioners in every county having 2,000 sheep shall appoint a sheep 

 inspector for that county. 



Section 2 provides that the inspector shall inspect every flock of 

 sheep which he knows or is informed has the scab or any other conta- 

 gious disease, and report in writing the result of said inspection to the 

 county clerk. If found diseased, he shall reinspectthe flock every two 

 weeks and report as before, until the same is cured. If the flock is 

 removed 6 miles from the range of other sheep, he shall make an inspec- 

 tion every three months. 



Section 3 provides that upon the arrival of any flock of sheep 

 into the State the owner or agent shall immediately report them to the 

 inspector of the county for inspection, etc. 



Section 4 provides that diseased sheep shall not be herded within 1 

 mile of any ground accustomed to be ranged upon by any other sheep, 

 and that they shall be restrained from passing over or traveling upon 

 or within 1 mile of any public highway or road. In case this can not 

 be done the sheep shall immediately be removed to a locality where 

 they shall not be permitted to range within less than 6 miles of any 

 other sheep, until they are reported free from disease. 



Sections 5 to 13 relate to fines, duties, etc., of owners, inspectors, 

 and others. 



Section 14 provides that every owner having contagiously diseased 

 sheep shall dip or otherwise treat the same on his own premises, 

 and that when he has more than one ranch or set of ranches he may 

 drive the sheep over intermediate ranges to where his dipping works 

 or other facilities for treating the disease are situated, but in so doing 

 he shall consult the owners or occupants of said ranges as to where he 

 shall cross the same, and in no case shall he enter another's corral, or 

 water at his troughs or watering places, unless he has the written or 

 otherwise expressed consent of the o\viier. 



