914 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



Joseph P. Devine, of San Antonio, writes concerning the Angoras as 

 follows : 



Good grade Angoras, shearing 3 pounds of hair, pay a much better per cent than 

 sheep. They can be herded in flocks of 2,000 to 2,500 with more facility than a sheep 

 flock of 1,000, as they depend practically and exclusively on undergrowth and weeds. 

 The Angora goat is an advantage to a sheep range, for, when lost or strayed from the 

 flock, they will trail the herd and coine to camp, while the sheep do the reverse. 

 These goats are subject to no known disease, and are less liable to be killed by dogs 

 or wolves, while at the same time utilizing large sections of land absolutely worth- 

 less for any other domestic animal. The Angora provides the only flesh man uses 

 that is not subject to some diser.se. 



It is very much to be hoped that goat husbandry will be studied by 

 the stockmen of Texas and of other parts of the country, so that within 

 a reasonable time our own markets may be supplied with mohair from 

 our own flocks. There are now but 275,000 Angora and common goats 

 in Texas, and that number could be multiplied many times with great 



advantage. 



NEW MEXICO. 



The Territory of New Mexico is the oldest sheep region of the United 

 States, and sheep husbandry has been the leading branch of the animal 

 industry ever since it was organized as a Territory, and for many pre- 

 ceding decades while it was a part of the possessions of Old Mexico. 

 Since it became a portion of the territory of the United States the 

 American flockrnasters have engaged in the industry, but previous to 

 that time sheep husbandry was carried on exclusively by the Mexican 

 race, and to-day most of the flocks of the Territory are owned by Mex- 

 icans. The industry has suffered several periods of depression in the 

 past, yet to-day it is the most flourishing pastoral occupation of the 

 Territory, and has as bright prospects for the future as in any other 

 portion of the country west of the Mississippi River. 



New Mexico has been the chief source of supply for a very large por- 

 tion of the flocks of Western States and Territories, notably Texas, 

 Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, and Nebraska. Thousands of flocks 

 throughout the entire West have their origin in New Mexico sheep. 

 Those flocks have been greatly improved, so that but little trace of the 

 original Mexican blood is now apparent. The drain of sheep from New 

 Mexico has been constant for many years, and was especially heavy from 

 1870 to 1880, causing a marked decrease in the number there. Since 

 that time the flocks have gradually increased as the outside demand 

 ceased; however, since 1887, owing to good prices for mutton, there 

 has been a renewed demand for sheep, but unlike the former it has been 

 mainly for wethers i: stead of ewes, and has not at any time equaled 

 the increase of the flocks. Eecent demands, therefore, have not reduced 

 the number of the sheep in the Territory, although they have curtailed 

 tne annual increase. In view of the facts mentioned, New Mexico bears 

 an important and significant relation to Western sheep husbandry un- 



