342 



SHEEP INDUSTRY OP THE UNITED STATES 



a gain of 47^ pounds. The result of the experiment seemed to indicate 

 that fish pomace vfus of about the same value as corn, pound for pound. 

 The sheep came out in the spring looking well, but the increase was 

 very Hght. 



The change from wool-growing to mutton-raising in Maine was slow 

 and gradual, but by 1883 40 per cent of the sheep contained English 

 blood, the other 60 per cent being common sheep and the Merino and 

 its grades. At the Maine State Fair of 1888 several fine Merinos were 

 exhibited of all grades from fall-blood to the lowest grade. One four- 

 year-old ram was shown which weighed 170 pounds and gave a 264- 

 pound fleece. But the Merinos were almost eclipsed by the grand 

 show of improved English breeds that were rapidly supplanting them. 

 There were Oxford Downs and Hampshire Downs, Southdown s weigh- 

 ing 225 pounds, Shropshire Downs weighing 200 pounds, Ootswolds 

 running up to 244 pounds, Leicesters and Dorsets and fat sheep with- 

 out number. 



In 1890 50 per cent of the sheep of the State were of English blood, 

 25 per cent were Merinos and their grades, and 25 per cent unimproved 

 natives. Thirty per cent of the wool cKp was graded above medium, 

 35 per cent as medium, and 35 per cent below medium. The tendency 

 was stUl toward mutton-raising and the fine- wool industry was declin- 

 ing. 



The following table presents the number of sheep, pounds of wool 

 clipped, and average quantity of wool per head for each sheep for the 

 period from 1840 to 1890: 



The returns of the Department of Agriculture for January 1892, show 

 an increase of over 27,000 sheep since January, 1890, and while there 

 has been a decrease in the Merinos there has been a very decided in- 

 crease of the English mutton breeds. 



The steady decline of sheep husbandry in the New England States 

 for the last fifty years is told by the figures of the census. In 1840 the 

 six States had 3,820,307 sheep; in 1890 they had but 1,220,704, or less 

 than one-third the number of 1840. The decline by States is shown iu 

 the following table: 



