§ THE REPORT, &c. 



fome flieep from the fouthern parts of Scotland 

 were lately brought to thofe iflands. From 

 fuch an importation, the Society will eafily 

 perceive that no improvement in regard to the 

 finenefs of the wool could be expeded. Un- 

 fortunately, alfo, the fheep thus imported were 

 difeafed, and have introduced into the Shetland 

 iflands a diftemper among their flocks, by which 

 many have already periflied, and which may 

 prove defliruQive to many more : Nor is it 

 poflible to fay to what dreadful extent its rava- 

 ges may yet be carried, 



3. There is reafon to fuppofe that the mofl: 

 is not made of the fine wool now produced in 

 Shetland j for though fome high-priced fl:ock- 

 ings from that country are fold, yet the price of 

 the wool is in general very low (at an average 

 not exceeding fixpence per pound) ; and it is 

 believed, that from inattention, or from igno- 

 rance of the art of forting the fleece, much fine 

 wool is thrown away, and lofl: among the 

 coarfe wool, made into ftockings of from 3d. 

 to 38. per pair. 



As a proof how little the real value of the 

 Shetland wool is known in that country, your 

 Committee thought it advifable to have the fol- 

 lowing experiment tried. They diredled fome 

 of the coarfe Shetland ilcckings, fold at Edin- 

 burgh 



