GRAY WOLVES AND COYOTES = 239 
land, with an area of only 50,867 square miles, has 
about five times as many as Montana. In Montana 
sheep are herded in immense flocks; in England every 
landowner and farmer keeps a small flock. 
‘‘The advantage of sheep upon the farm as weed- 
destroyers is not usually appreciated in America. 
The Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station reports 
that out of 600 species of grasses and weeds, cattle 
are known to eat only 50, horses 82, while sheep eat 
550. With abundance of pasturage, favorable cli- 
mate, good prices for wool and mutton, and increased 
fertility and productiveness of the soil upon which 
sheep are grazed, there should be a decided advance 
in the sheep industry. 
“‘The chief discouragement seems to lie in the dep- 
redations of worthless dogs and coyotes. The evil of 
worthless dogs can be best remedied by a resort to 
taxation. Dogs should be regarded as property and 
taxed sufficiently to put all of the dangerous and 
worthless curs out of existence.”’ 
The methods which have and may be used to 
lessen this pest by traps and poison are dis- 
cussed in the final chapter. Here it may be said 
that none of them are as satisfactory as fenc- 
ing, in spite of the stimulation of bounties by 
States and counties, and of the encourage- 
ment of hunting coyotes as a sport—and good 
sport it is when one rides to Russian wolf- 
hounds or greyhounds. 
