898 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



by actual count for the close of the year 1890. The number of sheep, all 

 ages, is 5,135,585, with an average value per head of $2.50. The pro- 

 duction of wool for 1800, in round numbers, amounts to 30,000,000 

 pounds, or 5.85 pounds average per animal. 



The wool clip of Texas met with ready sale and brought the highest 

 current prices realized in the West during 1890. The spring clip is 

 the first wool on the market and is always in good demand, while the 

 fall clip comes in for a late market, after the bulk of northern wools 

 has been sold. Most of the Texas wool is carried by the following 

 railroad lines: San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad, from June 1 

 to November 30, 1890, received for shipment 5,778,328 pounds; the 

 Southern Pacific lines for the same period received 5,428,297 pounds ; 

 and the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Ee Railroad received for shipment 

 9,010,677 pounds during the first nine months of 1890. The number 

 of sheep on hand in Texas at the close of 1890 represents only a slight 

 increase over last year; the unusually large sale of mutton sheep and 

 stockers was about equal to the increase of the lamb crop. Over 

 100,000 Texas sheep were received at the Kansas City stockyards dur- 

 ing the year. Every sheepman took advantage of the demand and 

 disposed of most of the undesirable animals. 



The following pages give a detailed description of the industry by 

 districts; also a chapter on Angora goats and one on the depredations 

 of wild animals. 



NORTHEASTERN TEXAS. 



Northeast Texas is not generally known as a sheep country, be- 

 cause it has not now the large flocks which are characteristic of the 

 State. It is, however, somewhat conspicuous, because of the high 

 prices realized for wool produced there. The flocks are small, ranging 

 from 100 to 500 sheep. The flockinasters as a rule are not engaged ex- 

 clusively in the business of sheep-raising, but are usually what may 

 be termed general farmers. The flocks in this section are the descend- 

 ants of sheep originally brought from Missouri and Arkansas, consist- 

 ing of natives or grade Merinos of fair size. As a rule they are 

 inferior, and sheepmen who continue in the business in this part of the 

 State must raise better stock and improve their flocks more rapidly 

 than they have in the past. There is a tendency now to handle the 

 mutton breeds more and to direct the breeding to both mutton and 

 wool, not limiting attention to wool as much as has been done in the 

 past. As the country is not adapted to large holdings, the disposition 

 to handle more profitable sheep is certainly an encouraging step in the 

 right direction. 



This part of Texas, lying adjacent to the timber belt, has been set- 

 tled a long time, yet comparatively a small area is under cultivation, 

 although a large portion is under fence. Timber is abundant, afford- 

 ing grateful shade at certain seasons of the year, with here and there 



