CHAPTER XVIII. 



PUNTA ARENAS, STRAITS OF MAGELLAN. 



AT mid-day we anchored off Punta Arenas, or 

 Sandy Point, a town which is rapidly becoming 

 of importance, not only because it is the only town 

 in the Magellan Straits, but also because of the 

 very large number of sheep raised in the im- 

 mediate neighbourhood, from which a quantity of 

 wool is shipped to England. I am indebted to 

 Messrs. Jacomb, Son & Co., wool brokers, of 

 London, for the following facts regarding the Punta 

 Arenas wool clip. 



" The wool is practically all from cross-bred 

 sheep, varying in quality from fine half-bred to 

 coarse Lincoln, the bulk being coarse. The 

 quantity of wool exported to the United Kingdom 

 is, roughly, from 30,000 to 40,000 bales yearly, 

 and nearly all goes to London for sale. This 

 wool shows yearly marked improvement, and is 

 nearly equal to the best New Zealand clips. It 

 is in good demand from buyers of all nation- 

 alities. After being sold by public auction, part 

 of it is shipped to the United States of America, 



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