Essay on Sheep. 39 



shepherds killing all that are not necessary to 

 keep up their stock, which is, of course, li- 

 mitted by the right of pasturage. The num- 

 ber of travelling Merino sheep is about five 

 millions. The fleeces of the rams weigh eight 

 and a half pounds, of the ewes five, which 

 loses half in washing; but in this there is great 

 variety, according to the different species of 

 Merinoes. Tlie produce is about twenty-four 

 reals, or sixteen shillings per head. Of this 

 the owner receives but two, the King six, and 

 the remainder goes to the payment of expen- 

 ses, of pasture, tythes, shepherds, dogs, &c. 

 When the sheep return to their summer pasture 

 they have as much salt given theip as they will 

 eat. One thousand sheep are allowed one hun- 

 dred pounds of salt, which they eat in about 

 five months. They eat none when on their 

 journey, or in their winter quarters. They 

 suppose in Spain that salt contributes greatly 

 to the fineness of the wool. The shepherd 

 places fifty or sixty flat stones at about five 

 paces from each other; he strews salt upon, 

 and leads the sheep among them. In the 

 month of April it requires some vigilance to 

 prevent the sheep from marching oft' without 

 their shepherds, to the very place where they 

 fed the preceding year, which they sometimes 



