MEXICO. 585 



OTHER REPORTS. 



I beg to call particular attention to the reports transmitted from Con- 

 sul Campbell, of Monterey, and Vice-Consul Pridgen, of Piedras Negras, 

 and Consul Smith, of Nuevo Laredo. 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



I give herewith four views of cattle. The first is the average typical 

 cow. She was about seven years old, of dark brown and black colors. 

 She had been milked about three months. Although comparatively 

 tame it was with difficulty that she stood lassoed long enough to get 

 the view. The second view is the yoke of oxen ; both dark red in color. 

 The "off ox" was castrated at two years, and was about eight years 

 old. The " near ox "was castrated at about four years, and was decidedly 

 staggy. The horns of the latter htid been sawed off. The yoke and 

 goad are shown in the illustration. The third view is of a " paint" bull, 

 red with large white spots. He was about six years old, and though 

 wild stood fairly still when driven into a corner of the "corral" and 

 guarded by four or fl.ve men. 



These views were taken at the " Matanza" (slaughtering place) of Mr. 

 Enrique La Pierre, a resident of this city, who owns a " ranche" some 

 14 leagues from the border. They were all carefully selected by him 

 so as to be fair average animals of their respective classes. 



ACKNOWLEDaMENTS. 



As Mr. La Pierre refused to accept any payment for his trouble, I, 

 desire to express here my obligations to him, not only as to the views 

 given but as to much valuable information concerning cattle. 



I also beg to express my indebtedness to Don Feliciano San Eoman, 

 of Brownsville, Tex., for information. Mr. San Eoman has a large cat- 

 tle "ranche" near Soto de la Marina in this State. 



WAENBE P. SUTTON, 



Consul- Oeneral. 



United States Consulate-General, 



Matamoros, December 31, 1883^ 



CATTLE-RAISING IN CHIHUAHUA. 



EEPOBT BY CONSUL SOOIT. 



With two or three exceptions the herds of cattle in this State are na- 

 tive Mexican, which are in most respects closely allied to the ordinary 

 Texas cattle of a few years ago. They have been raised in much the 

 same manner, running wild upon the plains, frequently wandering off 

 from 50 to 75 miles from the hacienda whose brand they bear ; which 

 brand is supposed to be respected by neighboring haciendados, and I 

 must say that property is generally secure from theft. 



The laws regulating cattle-rearing are as good as can be found in any 

 country, and any cattle stealing is punished with hard sentences. 



There are no cattle in this State that would be worthy of importation 

 to the United States for male-breeding. As a general rule the herds 

 have been seriously injured by long inbreeding and a surplus of poor 



