WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 



707 



in the way of shelter or winter feed having been made, the whole outfit perished before 

 the succeeding spring. This unfortunate beginning did not deter further experiment, 

 for in the Territorial auditor's report for the year 1868, we find the first authentic pub- 

 lic record of the existence of the industry in Montana. In that document 1,752 head of 

 sheep and goats are recorded as being returned for assessment, at a total valuation of 

 $9,685, or about $5.50 per head, and from that time on sheep husbandry may be con- 

 sidered one of the permanent industries of the State. The first few years were nat- 

 urally a period of cautious experiment, and the slow advance is evidenced by the fact 

 that the increase in holdings during the nine years succeeding was comparatively 

 small in proportion to the inducements and possibilities for expansion. There was 

 a big margin of profit in the business in those days, but with the natural adapta- 

 bility of the State to its successful prosecution still in doubt, the industry was slow 

 of growth. 



The following table, compiled from tlie Territorial and State audi- 

 tor's reports, show the number of sheep assessed in the State for the 

 years named, and indicates the steps by which the industry has 

 attained its present proportions : 



While these figures are probably in every instance much below the 

 actual number of sheep owned in the State, they approximately indi- 

 cate the process of development during the years mentioned. 



GENERAL FACTS REGARDING THE INDUSTRY. 



The class of sheep most numerous in Montana is quite similar to 

 that of other Western States and Territories where sheep are a promi- 

 nent branch of the animal industry. Montana sheep consists mainly 

 of Merinos, including both Spanish and French, with the former greatly 

 predominating. In the foundation flocks of Montana there is found 

 very little of the trace of Mexican sheep, which is so manifest in most 

 the early flocks southward to the Gulf of Mexico. This difference is a 

 decided advantage, because the sheep here of similar grades to those 

 farther South are larger in size, with better constitutions and heavier 

 fleeces. The foundation of the earliest flocks came mainly from Califor- 

 nia to which additions have been made of pure-bred and high-grade 

 sheep from Vermont, New Tork, Michigan, Wisconsin, and other East- 

 ern States. But the greater portion of the sheep came from the West, 

 and every year thousands more are brought in from Oregon and Cali- 

 fornia, as well as from Idaho and Utah. The sheep from the East now 

 brought in are principally breeding rams, including full-blood Merino, 

 many of the Delaine type, Shropshires, and some coarse wool. At pres- 

 ent a good many flockniasters are experimenting with the Down cross, 



