274 THE DOMESTIC SHEEP. 



?ilso drain into tank "D." Some sheep men let go the sheep 

 in the tank, when lie will quickly turn himself, ami if scabby 

 some "special" (i. e. stronger) dip be applied. 



I used these tanks for several years and was well 

 pleased with them, but for larger herds an entirely different 

 tank is required wherein sheep can be handled more expedi- 

 tion sly. 



The tank here described is now universally in use: 



"A" is the shoot for large corral; "B" is a sloping board 

 over which the sheep in attempting to pass to decoy pen '"C" 

 slide into tank "D" which is generally twenty feet long, four 

 feet six inches deep, and sixteen feet at the bottom, thus giv- 

 ing it a slope at the outlet of four feet, two feet wide at the 

 top, and eight inches at bottom, thus compelling the sheep 

 to swim in the middle of the tank. "E" is a board fastened in 

 the tank with cleats on it to enable the sheep to obtain 

 a foothold in walking out. "P F" are draining pens (water 

 tight) and sloping to sluice box in center which carries the 

 dip again into tank "D. " "C" is a decoy pen containing a 

 few sheep to entice the sheep into the shoot. "H" is a pen 

 to dodge into any sheep not required to be dipped. "L" 

 is the dodge gate. This tank can be made of one-inch pine 

 boards, and lined with galvanized iron (No. 20 will do), which 

 makes it water tight, and gives no footing to the sheep. 

 "K K" are pieces of 2x6, twelve feet long, bolted lengthwise 

 of the tank and four feet from each end, and six inches 

 from top of tank, leaving a twelve inch space through which 

 the sheep must put their heads, and preventing those in rear 

 from riding those in front and thereby drowning them, at the 

 same time keeping their backs under the dip. While in the 

 tank the scab can be broken up, teeth looked at, and as they 

 pass out, branded. The draining pens "F F" are regulated 

 by a gate whereby the sheep escape from the draining floors, 

 and can then be combed. 



Many dispense with the sloping board "B" and use pen 

 "H," particularly when the ewes are heavy with lamb the 

 sheep are dropped carefully into the tank rump first. A boy 

 is often placed behind sloping board "B" with a short stick 

 to push the sheep in as- they pass over it. One or two men 

 stand at the tank to regulate the passage of the sheep, ex- 

 amine teeth, break scab, brand, etc.; 2,000 is a usual day's 



