4 THE REPORT, he. 



ing, that they have reafon to believe that fome 

 remains of the fame breed of fheep may ftill be 

 found in the Weftern Iflands, and perhaps in 

 fome of the remoteft parts of the Highlands, 

 where the native race of the mountains have 

 not been contaminated by a connedlion and in- 

 tercourfe with animals of an inferior fpecies 

 in regard to the quality of their wool, and va- 

 luable principally for their carcafe. 



Your Committee will now proceed to ftate 

 fome circumftances, which feem to render an 

 immediate attention to this fubjed: abfolutely 

 neceflary. 



I. The proprietors of the Shetland Iflands 

 have fo much bent their attention to fifhing, as 

 in a great meafure to negledt other occupations. 

 No pains therefore has been taken to keep up 

 this valuable breed, or to preferve it from de- 

 generating. At prefent the different kinds of 

 ilieep are fo mingled together in almoil every 

 part of the Shetland Iflands, that in a very 

 jhort fpace of time the fineft race might be- 

 come totally extind, unlefs the opportunity 

 which now fortunately prefents itfelf is feized. 



Indeed, both in Shetland, and in every part 

 of the country, it ought to be inculcated as 

 much as poiTible, that, by proper attention, 

 the bcft fort of every fpecies of animal may be 



obtained.- 



