34 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



What a great boon to the country, could such a law be enforced to- 

 day throughout every State of the Union ! 



An additional order was made in October, 1648, for pasturing the 

 sheep upon the commons, which reads : 



Whereas the teeping of sheep tends much to the benefit of the country, and may 

 iu short time mate good supply towards the clothing of the inhabitants, and foras- 

 much as all places are not fit for that end, it is ordered that it shall be lawful for 

 any man to keep sheep on any common, be it for cows, oxen or otherwise, and the 

 selectmen were to clear the commons for sheep pasture. 



Another order was made offering bounties for the killing of wolves, 

 which were very destructive of the sheep. For every wolf killed dur- 

 ing the ensuing four years an Englishman was entitled to at least 30 

 shillings, and an Indian 20 shillings. 



In 1652 the increase of sheep in the vicinity of Boston had been so 

 great that Oharlestowu numbered 400 alone, and Lynn had consider- 

 able flocks, which were kept at Nahant, under a common shepherd. In 

 1654 the general court, taking into consideration "the right ordering 

 or woole," ordered that all manner of persons who were owners of sheep 

 and who offered wool for sale should be enjoined yearly to wash their 

 sheep in clear water, not being either salt, brackish, or dirty, and also 

 that care be taken that they be not kept in dirty or sandy ground be- 

 tween the time of washing and shearing; and it was further ordered 

 that in making up the fleeces due care be taken that no short locks and 

 lumps of dirt be wound up therein, upon the penalty of 12 pence per 

 sheep. 



In August, 1654, sheep appeared to be unequal to the demand made 

 upon them for wool, as the country was in great strait for clothing ; 

 and as the most likely way tending to a svipply in that respect was in 

 increasing the number of sheep, it was ordered by the general court 

 that no ewes or ewe lambs should be transported out of the country to 

 any foreign port or place under j)enalty of 5 pounds for every one so 

 exported; but under certain restrictions they could be sold to other 

 colonies in confederation with Massacliusetts; and it was further or- 

 dered that no rams or wethers could be killed until they were 2 

 years old, and this order was to be " published by a drum in the market 

 place of Boston." 



Having thus provided for the increase of sheep the general coiu-t 

 turned its attention to the manufacture of the wool thereof, and in 1656, 

 "taking into serious consideration the present straits and necessities 

 of the country in respect of clothing, which is not like to be so plenti- 

 fully supplyed from foreign parts as in tune past, and not knowing any 

 better way or means condnoible to our subsistence than the improving 

 as many hands as may be in spinning wool, cotton, flax," etc., ordered 

 all hands — 



Not necessarily iraployed on other occasions, as women, girles, and boyes, shall and 

 hereby are enjoyned to spin according to their skill and ability, and tliat the select- 



