974 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



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But although the American sheep-owner in this extensive district, 

 so largely overrun by these active, economical, and expert rivals for 

 public range, may almost be said to have abandoned the pursuit, there 

 are still a few who maintain themselves. Some of the Americans have 

 stocked with sheep five islands lying off the coast of Santa Barbara, 

 and are assessed in that county. The largest of these is owned by an 

 individual named Moore, of whom it may be said he is probably the 

 sheep king of California. Although receiving no information from him, 



1 have reason to believe he had 48,000 sheep shorn last spring, and as 

 30,000 lambs would be in ratio with the increase of flocks on the neigh- 

 boring island of Santa Cruz, this would bring the number of all ages 

 to 78,000 at last spring's shearing. The estimate given by old resident 

 flock-owners on the mainland is that Mr. Moore has about 75,000 on 

 the island of Santa Eosa. The Santa Cruz Company have 30,000, giv- 

 ing an increase of 20,000. The sheep are not herded, but allowed to 

 feed at will, seeking the natural shelter of the oak and pine trees. 

 The shearing takes place in April and October of each year. The 

 spring clip of 4 pounds average sells at 17 cents, and the fall clip of 4 

 pounds at 13 cents per pound. The sheep are Spanish Merino. Hay 

 and alfalfa are raised to feed in case of scanty pasturage. Few are 

 sold as lambs, but when so sold the price ranges from $1.40 to $1.GO 

 per head. The greater part of the sheep are sold at the age of three 

 years, the prices ranging from $2.50 to $2.75 per head, delivered at the 

 company's wharf on the island. 



The coast counties of southern California are where sheep husbandry 

 first began with such extraordinary success under American methods. 

 But it has now greatly declined under the influence of the popular 

 mania for fruit culture, though the great increase of population which 

 is induced by climatic conditions to seek residence here would naturally 

 make the breeding of lambs for market a profitable branch of sheep 

 husbandry. It may be expected that in such a county as Ventura 

 (Avhere, in 1891, but one American is found as a flock-owner, so com- 

 pletely has the business passed into the hands of Basques and Portu- 

 guese) the Americans will lead the Avay in improved methods to mee,t 

 the wants of the public for early lambs and well-fed mutton. This has 

 already begun in Los Angeles County by Jotham Bixby, one of its 

 oldest pioneer wool-growers, and others will surely follow. Such a 

 special line of breeding and feeding will here be founded on the alfalfa 

 crop. From four to six cuttings, or 6 to 10 tons of cured hay, can be 

 made annually from such land as now used under irrigation to grow 



2 to 4 tons of grapes per acre, which, delivered at railroad stations in 

 first-rate condition, sold to dealers at $6 to $8 per ton this season. 

 Already may be seen on California farms fig and orange trees, bearing 

 crops of unsalable, because superfluous, fruits, used as shade trees for 

 cattle and sheep. 



