WOOL growers' association. 395 



ifr. Merritt. I have come to learn something. In the early part of the intro- 

 "duction of this sheep, there was a great demand for army blankets, and the sheep 

 that produced the most pounds of wool, without regard to quality, was the most 

 profitable. The Leicester wool was used in the finest dress goods, and always will 

 be wanted for that. It is raised in England, Ireland and Scotland. The current 

 has been against them; people have been running after mutton sheep, such as 

 Southdown, Shropshire and Cotswold. So far, wool runs with the fashion ; when 

 fashions change it modifies and changes the quality of wool in demand, to some 

 extent. The Shropshiredowns are producing a rush that is unwarranted, so far as 

 wool is concerned. The wool is not a desirable wool, not equal to Cotswold and 

 Leicester for combing purposes. If you are looking for a breed of sheep to raise, 

 look for some other kind than Shropshiredown ; it lacks softness and fineness. 



Mr. Dungan. I am glad Mr. Merritt has corroborated my statement yesterday. 

 I feel encouraged since Mr. Merritt told us two years ago this coming spring, when 

 we examined those long fleeces; said he, "Gentlemen, don't discontinue the breed 

 of this kind of wool; there will be a demand for it after awhile." We were then 

 "over supplied with this wool, but I predict that this lustre wool will be higher than 

 any class of wool we have in five years. I am a strong friend of the Shropshire 

 sheep, yet I notice this same quality that Mr. Merritt spoke of — it is dry and lacks 

 softness. The Cotswold wool, under similar circumstances, would have a different 

 feeling and lustre. We would all do well to continue breeding the long-wool sheep 

 to some extent. At one time we had to import millions of pounds of this long 

 wool, and then at another time we produced more than we could manufacture. 



Mr. Merritt. In the first place 1 do not use Cotswold wool, but it has a market 

 value. We can use full blood Southdown in the goods we manufacture for our 

 market. We must have some Merino blood in our wools to make the goods soft — 

 that is the class we use, and to put myself right regarding some statements made 

 two years ago. At that time there had been no change in the tariff', and I based 

 my conclusions on the tariff as it was. Had it remained, the market for this 

 Avorsted wool would not have fallen so low as it has done now. The change in the 

 tariff has hurt all wools, and that, perhaps, more than any other grades. 



Mr. Mitchell. W^hat was the tariff per pound? 



Mr. Merritt. It was thirteen cents, but now it is ten cents. The difference is 

 three cents on all wools made in 1883. But there was a greater reduction made in 

 woolen and worsted yarn, and most of the importations have come in the shape of 

 yarns and unfinished goods. The tariff on wools and woolen goods should be 

 equally divicled; it should be modified in both directions. Our manufacturers of 

 worsted goods are paying now for the wool all they can afford to 2:)ay and compete 

 with yarn sent in its raw state, run through the combers and not finished, coming 

 into this country in large quantities. We should take this into consideration. 

 The tariff, which was modified in 1883, was the result of a careful investigation 

 and study of representatives of the wool and manufacturing interests. In 1883, 

 when that tariff' was modified, the wool interest was as well represented as it should 

 be. If this body should make petitions to Congress to include both wool growers 



