WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 985 



lands that many desire to use and which nobody owns, it is now often 

 necessary to have additional help to move a flock from their winter to 

 a summer range. The owner of the flock, in most cases, makes one of 

 the party. The packer takes the lead and keeps a sharp lookout 

 against colliding with some other flock. In a case of large numbers by 

 one owner, there is still another man who is specially employed to ex- 

 amine the country for range; to find, if he can, a district in which he 

 can place all the sheep in flocks of convenient size, joining each other 

 on the range. He may be regarded as the guide to the packer, who is 

 supposed to locate and purvey for two camps or flocks. In case the 

 flock is limited to two bands, the packer (who in that case is frequently 

 the owner) takes special care to see in what direction and at what dis- 

 tance sheep of other owners are located, so as to avoid mixing. He 

 will see that the herder's camp is supplied with everything that is 

 necessary. The herder meantime is with his sheep all day and every 

 day. His best skill is brought into play to let his flock feed over fresh 

 ground every day in the most leisurely manner consistent with prevent- 

 ing any from getting permanently separated from the main flock and 

 so lost. This is called " loose herding," and more often consists of re- 

 straining the active and strong than in driving the weak. Where feed 

 is plenty a flock will soon settle down to regular feeding habits. Up 

 in the morning with the sun, they feed till 9 or 10 o'clock a.m., then 

 rest and shade until 3 or 4 o'clock p.m. They then feed toward camp, 

 arriving there just after the sun is down. The herder then commences 

 preparations for his supper, doing all he can toward his breakfast and 

 lunch next day, not forgetting his friend and helper, the dog. In the 

 morning he is up with the dawn. He makes his coffee and fries his 

 meat, and generally has finished his breakfast, fed his dog, and put 

 up his lunch when the sun strikes his sheep, and they begin to repeat 

 the process of the day before. The routine of his daily life is varied a 

 .little when he has to move to a new camp, which it is the packer's duty 

 to locate and guide him to. Should the flock be a division of a larger 

 flock, an occasional visit from the range hunter is expected, and ar- 

 rangements for future movements are made with the packer. This 

 range hunter may be regarded as the American substitute for the 

 < mayoral " under the old Spanish method. He is invariably an Ameri- 

 can, a good mountaineer, and a dead shot. The best herders are also 

 Americans, and generally have aspirations to become flock-owners or 

 something else they prefer. The wealthiest men now in the business 

 are Americans, many of whom started as herders for themselves or 

 others. A large proportion of the herders are of foreign birth. They 

 are mostly satisfied with the life, and spend their wages, after a long 

 time out with the sheep, much like " Jack ashore " after a long voyage. 

 Some, however, are thrifty and saving and make good citizens. 



The flock-owner of moderate means, who runs 1,500 to 3,000, if he live 

 within 50 or 60 miles of his summer range, is generally his own packer, 



