REFRIGERATORS 143 



travesia, calls " crossings." x When the ranch is estab- 

 lished, the breeding does not necessitate any further 

 movements of the flocks to a great distance, apart 

 from certain special migrations, or " transhumations," 

 which I will consider later. It is on each ranch, some- 

 times on each group of ranches combined in a single 

 estate, that they pass alternately from winter to summer 

 pasture. The only transport necessary is that of wool. 

 The fleeces, which the west wind has heavily laden 

 with dust, are collected in the sheds belonging to the 

 ranch, or, in the case of the intrusos, on the premises 

 of certain small traders (bolicheros) who are scattered 

 over the tableland even at its extreme limits. Convoys 

 of wagons then take them to the ports on the coast. 



For some years now, however, wool has ceased to 

 be the sole product of the ranches. A little before 

 1895 the first slaughter-houses, for killing the older 

 sheep that were no longer fertile, were erected on the 

 Straits of Magellan. Refrigerators have succeeded 

 these, and were opened at Puerto Callegos and San 

 Julian. A third refrigerator is being constructed 

 (1915) at Puerto Deseado. In southern Patagonia, 

 also, part of the flock is sent to the refrigerators or 

 to the slaughter houses of the Pampean region. The 

 creation of the refrigerator has compelled breeders to 

 adapt their work to the new economic conditions. The 

 merino breed is being eliminated by the Lincoln in 

 all districts which feel the influence of the refrigerator ; 

 the Lincoln is of greater weight and quicker growth, 

 but the merino survives in arid northern Patagonia. 



Besides this, the establishment of the refrigerators 

 has caused important movements of transport. The 

 flocks which are to go to the refrigerators or the northern 

 railways are moved in the good season, after the shearing, 



1 The search for possible routes for cattle in the districts that were 

 not yet colonized helped in the study of Patagonia. Moyano was 

 doing this when he explored the route from Santa Cruz to Lake Nahuel 

 Huapi. 



