WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 907 



causing a shortage of water and grass; and constant sources of trouble 

 and loss are the depredations of wolves, panthers, coyotes, or thieves, 

 and prairie fires. 



From 1883 to 1887 the sheep industry was constantly declining, owing 

 to the low prices for wool and mutton, but since 1887 it has been im- 

 proving each year except when farming is general and cheap range 

 scarce. In other localities the industry is simply holding its own. 



The health of sheep in this district is uniformly good, the exceptions 

 being a few cases of scab or sometimes a case of grub in the head. It 

 is gratifying, however, to note a probability of complete eradication of 

 scab. By protecting the range from infected flocks and ceasing to bring 

 in Mexican sheep, scab will soon be a thing of the past. 



Experience has demonstrated that the best methods for conducting 

 the industry here is to run the sheep in flocks of 1,000 to 1,500 head, 

 in charge of a competent and faithful herder; change the sheep to 

 different parts of the range about every four weeks; have good sheep; 

 use first-class pure-bred Merino bucks of good size and with good con- 

 stitutions; give the sheep careful attention, provide convenient water 

 in abundance, and salt regularly. In cases of storm have suitable shelter. 



The following language from an experienced flockmaster of Shackle- 

 ford County faithfully represents the true condition of the district under 

 consideration : 



Some six or eight years ago the sheep business in our county was conducted on an 

 extensive scale, having about 100,000 sheep in the county. Low prices of wool and 

 mutton broke up about three-fourths of the parties in this industry, which iu the 

 main were made up of inexperienced men. We have now about 25,000 sheep in the 

 county. The industry is controlled by experienced men, who are making the busi- 

 ness a success. Our experience is that it costs 16 cents to raise a pound of wool here ; 

 all that we obtain over that sum we regard as profit. 



Since we fenced our range in recent years we have had little or no trouble with 

 scab. The only serious things we are compelled to contend with are wild animals. 

 Our State pays a bounty of 50 cents per head for wolves. This is exceedingly low. 

 If the bounty were increased to $2 per wolf they would be entirely eradicated in a 

 short time and the industry would be materially benefited. 



SOUTHWEST TEXAS. 



The district known as southwestern Texas is the great sheep region, 

 and contains most of the sheep of the State. There are more flocks of 

 immense size owned here than in any other part. Large holdings are 

 the rule; 3,000 sheep is about the minimum number, and from that up- 

 ward. Many flocks exceed 10,000 head, and some number from 20,000 to 

 50,000. The north boundary of this district is Tom Green County, and 

 all that scope of country between the Colorado and the Rio Grande 

 Kivers, extending south to the Gulf of Mexico, is to be considered in 

 this subdivision of the report. 



The class of sheep found in southwestern Texas is very similar to 

 those in other portions of the State, except that they have more of the 

 blood of the Mexican sheep, which is the foundation of most of the 



