472 SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 



The route pursued by the Spanish flocks fi'om, say, the middle of Es- 

 tremadura to the Cantabrian mountains (the western portion of the Py- 

 renees), cannot fall short of 300 miles. It equals 270 miles in a direct 

 line. In addition to the length of the journey, they are compelled to cross 

 the Castilian mountains, and if they come from the south of Estremadura, 

 also the mountains of Toledo. Their route to the eastern Pyrenees would 

 be farther and still more difficult. Every circumstance, then, excepting 

 ■municipal regulations,* gives our Southern States, on both sides of the 

 Apalachians, a manifest advantage over Spain, for the purposes of migra- 

 tory sheep husbandry. 



Before closing the investigation of the question of the direct profits of 

 wool-growing in the Southern States, it is proper to inquire if there are 

 any special local militating causes or disadvantages not yet adverted to 

 which should be taken into the account. Diligent investigation has satis- 

 fied me that there are no such causes — on the other hand, that there is a 

 remarkable exemption from them — with one exception. That exception 

 is the destruction caused by wolves and dogs. 



Wolves are found in nearly all new, and particularly in mountainous 

 countries ; but they invariably rapidly give way before the extension of 

 population.t They have even now ceased to be very destructive in the 

 most sparsely settled regions of the South. Mr. Simpson, in the letter be- 

 fore quoted from, says : 



" There are but few wolves in South Carolina, excepting on the mountains. Otherwise, 

 our sheep which roam at large unteudetl by shepherd, and uncared-for by any one, would 

 soon be exterminated. The wolves are not numerous even on tlie mountains. They are 

 not so destructive as dogs, which every now and then attack and destroy the sheep. A 

 trusty shepherd, with a dog or two and a infle, would prevent this." 



These remarks would apply equally well to nearly all the Southern 

 States. Wolves do but little damage, and would soon cease to do any ; 

 btit the miserable, prowling curs are, in many places, a serious detriment. 

 There is something singular in the fact that while so much complaint is 

 made of them in the Southern and Western States, in New-York, where 

 there is certainly a great surplus of them, we hear little, comparatively 

 speaking, of their depredations. I am inclined to attribute it to the fact 

 that dogs are here constantly familiai'ized with the sight of sheep. The 

 first even playful movement of the adventurous puppy toward them is 

 severely chastised, and he is thus educated to recognize them as within 

 the category of " protected " animals. The dog which slays or even pur- 

 sues a sheep, finds a long -pedigree or a silver collar utterly unavailing to 

 save him from immediate death.J 



But even in the South or West, the loss occasioned by the depredations 



nockbxim was fought nnd Floddnn lost to dofond a Kingdom of lialf the dimensions of a pood-sizcd Ameri- 

 can Stale ! In comparing the agricultural capuhilities — and especially in estimating the ultimate result of 

 agricultural competition between our own country and the European ones, we rarely take sufficiently into 

 view the great disparity in territorial dimensions. 



* For the monopoly of privileges conferred on the flock-masters of S|iaiii to the oppression nnd prostra- 

 tion of every other branch of husbandry, see Lasterie. and also Livingston on Sheep. 



t A bounty of $10 ig paid for the destruction of every full-grown wolf, and $5 for a wolTs whelp in the 

 State of New-Yo k. 



J In New-York it is provided by law that every bitch over three months old shall be taxed S2 ; every ad- 

 ditional one owned by the same man $.5 ; tvo dogs over 6 months old $1 ; every additional one 13. The 

 avails of these taxes constitute a fund, out of wliich .'Supervisors of Counties are to pay for any sheep slain 

 by doas whose owner.'? are unknown. Thii is notofien enforced. 



Any person may kill any dog " which he shall see chasing, worrying, or wounding any sheep," unless by 

 direction of owner. 



The owner or possessor of any dog on being notified " of any injui-y done by his dog to any sheep, or 

 his dog having chased or worried any sheep," must within 48 hours kill his dog. or forfeit $0 .W, and the 

 farther a\im of $1 2.1 for every 48 hours thereafter, unless " it shall satisfactorily appear to the Court that it 

 was not in the power of such owner or possessor to kill such dog." Revised Statutes of New-Yorki vol. i 

 chap. XX., title xvii. 

 (952) 



