WEST OP THE MISSISSIPPI EIVEE. 943 



June, when only one clip is made. But quite a number continue the 

 practice of shearing sheep twice a year, the first clip during April or 

 May, and frequently as early as March. The fall clip is usually shorn 

 during September or October. The practice of shearing twice a year 

 is falling into disfavor, and is not nearly so common as formerly. The 

 early spring and the fall clips shrink in scouring about 63 per cent, 

 while the single annual clip has an average shrinkage of from 67 to 70 

 per cent. No wool produced west of the Mississippi Eiver has a greater 

 average shrinkage than Arizona wool, yet it is very desirable wool not- 

 withstanding this fact, because of the length of staple and fine quality 

 of the fiber. 



When a flockmaster is ready to shear his sheep he usually constructs 

 a temporary yard and shearing shed for the purpose at some of the 

 regular summer camps, and engages a band of shearers who generally 

 receive 6 cents per head. Each fleece is tied up separately and sacked 

 ready for shipment. Each fleece usually weighs from 6 to 11 pounds, 

 or an average of about 8 pounds for the Territory, of fine and fine- 

 medium grades, which constitutes the greater part of the wool. There 

 is very little coarse wool produced. 



During the shearing season buyers and representatives of commis- 

 sion houses are generally on hand ready to secure the wool, which is 

 disposed of at once. It is a rare thing for a grower to hold or store 

 his wool. It is either sold f. o. b. or consigned. The bulk of the wool 

 is shipped East, although formerly a great deal of the wool was sold to 

 California buyers. The growers prefer to sell at home, as it costs about 

 3 cents per pound to ship to Eastern markets, and usually considerable 

 time elapses before returns are received. The favorite Eastern markets 

 are Philadelphia and Boston, although the wool merchants of Albu- 

 querque handle a great amount, their traveling men buying it direct , 

 from the growers. 



The greater portion of the. wool shipments are received at points 

 along the Atlantic and Pacific Eailroad, the principal stations being in 

 the order named, commencing with the station farther west: Peach 

 Springs, Prescott Junction, Ghallender, Bellemont, Flagstaff', Canyon 

 Diablo, Wiuslow, Holbrook, and Navajo Springs. The bulk of the Ari- 

 zona clip is shipped from the stations named. During 1891 there was 

 shipped East over this line of road 4,438,988 pounds, and from Holbrook 

 alone there was shipped 605,804 pounds. 



There is no great amount of wool shipped from points on the 

 Southern Pacific Eailroad, which is located too far south, yet during 

 the year there was shipped West 128,000 pounds and East 256,000 

 pounds, or 384,000 pounds in all. These figures are for known quan- 

 tities shipped, but do not include all the wool produced. From esti- 

 mates there was produced last year over 500,000 pounds, not including 

 the Navajo Indian clip, which exceeded 1,000,000 pounds. 



Sheep-owners estimate that from 15 to 25 per cent of the flock is dis- 



