906 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



sionally a plank shed is provided, and ia exceptional instances may be 

 seen a sheep barn witli all the modern conveniences. Most sheepmen, 

 however, regard such improvements as luxuries rather than necessities. 

 Every flock is in charge of a herder, whose constant duty is the care 

 of the flock day and night. His duty consists in watching the sheep 

 on the range, to see that they have water regularly, that none stray 

 away, and to round them up at night in a favorable place, if a regTilar 

 corral is not provided, so that he can protect them from wolves or other 

 wild animals. 



Most of the land utiUzed for grazing is State or railroad land, and is 

 leased by the flockmaster at from 2 J to 5 cents per acre per annum, and 

 some sections of land are leased for $50. The land is valued at fl.50 

 to $3 per acre. 



IsTot more than one-half of the number of sheep in this district are 

 shorn twice each year — in the spring, in the latter part of April or the 

 first of May, and in autumn again, during September and October. 

 The shearing is mostly done by a gang of from ten to forty Mexicans, 

 who receive 5 cents per head in addition to their board. On the arrival 

 of a band of shearers a few loose boards are placed on the ground, and 

 the sheep are caught and quickly divested of their fleeces, which are^ 

 tied up separately and placed in sacks of 200 pounds each. The wool 

 is immediately taken to the larger towns — railroad points — where it is 

 stored and sold to buyers who visit the principal wool centers in this 

 section at siich places as San Angelo, Ballinger, Albany, Lampasas, 

 and Burnet. Very little of the wool raised here is sold at the ranch or 

 consigned to commission houses, although some of it is, and that usu- 

 ally goes to St. Louis, Philadelphia, or Boston. The wool grades as a 

 light fine or a medium fine, and this year (1890) netted the grower from 

 14 to 22 cents per pound. The average fleece runs from 5 to 7 pounds; 

 that of the bucks much more. 



In the eastern part of this district most of the wethers and aged ewes 

 are sold in the local markets. The car-lot shipments are usually con- 

 tracted for months in advance for the Chicago, Kansas City, and St. 

 Louis markets, or by feeders who take them to tlie corn-growing States 

 to finish them for the same markets. Owing to the prevailing high 

 prices of mutton during 1889-'90 from 20 to 40 per cent of the flocks of 

 this district have been disposed of either for feeders or stockers. There 

 is nothing regular in this demand for sheep. It varies with circum- 

 stances and the law of supply and demand. The average gross weight 

 of the sheep at the market ranges from 75 to 85 pounds. 



The average annual cost of raising sheep per head varies considerably, 

 according to location and circumstances, but sheepmen generally place 

 it at 50 cents per head, all expenses considered. But few place the 

 cost at 75 cents. The herders receive $20 per month, board included, 

 and tend about 1,500 sheep each. Tlie chief difficulty which may beset 

 the flockmaster is the extended dry season which occasionally occurs, 



