32 NOTES ON ANGOEA GOAT FARMING. 



This was in 1880, and in the following year I had an 

 opportunity of inspecting some of the rams — which had soldi 

 at from ,£100 to <£200 each— in the Graaf Eeinet and 

 Eastern districts. It was in 1862 that mohair first appeared 

 amongst Cape exports, the quantity being 1,036 lbs., in 1865 

 the export was 7,000 lbs., valued at ^368, but in the next 

 decade the increase was marked, the figures being 

 1,148,000 lbs., valued at nearly -£135,000 ; still another ten 

 years, and although the clip was more than quadrupled, being 

 5,250,000 lbs., the price obtained for it had suffered great 

 depreciation, the value being only ,£204,000. 



The last published returns for 1887 show weight of hair 

 exported 7,154,000 lbs., worth ^268,500, a fall in price of Id. 

 per lb. on the previous year's clip. In addition there must 

 be taken into account the value of exported skins during the 

 same year, viz., ^100,000, and even thesefigures fail to represent 

 the total value of the products of this useful animal, as a 

 large quantity of skins and leather are absorbed by home 

 consumption. It is further necessary, when estimating the 

 economic value of Angora goats, to remember that the meat 

 of the wether or " kapata," as it is called in the Cape Colony^ 

 is excellent. Sir Samuel Wilson, to whose monograph on 

 " The Angora Goat " I am much indebted for information, 

 states that : — " Its fl.esh when in good condition is not inferior 

 to mutton." He adds, "I have eaten the flesh of a half- 

 bred which could not be distinguished from mutton, even iu 

 the carcase, and which on the table was considered quite a 

 luxury." Further testimony is born by a Victorian sheep- 

 owner of repute, who in February, 1878, reported to the 

 President of the Acclimatisation Society in that colony 

 that : — " Last winter I killed two wethers, full mouthed, 

 which each weighed when dressed 80 lbs., the flesh of which 

 when put upon the table was pronounced most delicious, 

 being more rich and juicy than the best Merino mutton." I 

 can fully endorse, from a somewhat lengthy experience o£ 

 goat's flesh as an article of diet, all that these gentlemen say 

 in its favour. 



At the date of the compilation of the last returns 

 the number of Angora goats in the Cape Colony 

 was 2| millions, and the other countries of South Africa, 

 Natal, the Orange Free State, and the Transvaal also maintain 

 a considerable number, and mohair is an important item of 

 their exports. 



A Mr. Scott of South Carolina, minister to Turkey in 1848, 

 was the first to take Angoras to America, and there have 

 been many subsequent importations; but the industry has 

 never assumed the proportions attained in South Africa. L 

 have not been able to obtain any recent returns, but from. 



