THE MERINO. C3 



Merino sheep of Spain contributed largely to the support of the 

 Government. 



The Spanish Merino was of two divisions, transhumantes, 

 or migratory flocks, and Estantes, or stationary flocks. The 

 Transhumantes were divided into two classes, Leonese and 

 Sorian. Of all the sheep of Spain those of Leon were superior 

 in form, quantity and quality of fleece. 



At the beginning of this century Dr. E. R. Livingston, 

 many years a resident of Spain, says of this class of sheep there 

 were about four or five million distributed as follows: 



The Duke of Infantadoes' flock 40,000 



The Countes derCompo de Alonse Negretti 30,000 



The Paular Convent 30,000 



The Escurial Convent 30,000 



The Convent of Gaudaloup 30,000 



The Marques Perales 30,000 



The Duke of Bejar 30,000 



Ten flocks belonging to sundry persons 200,000 



All other flocks in the Kingdom 3,800,000 



As to the very first importation from Spain to the United 

 States there seems to be a difference of opinion. One says in 

 1793 Mr. William Foster, of Boston, Mass., imported two ewes 

 and a ram smuggled through the port of Cadiz. These Mr. 

 Foster gave to Mr. Andrew Craigue of Cambridge, who, not 

 knowing their value, killed and ate them. Another says the first 

 importations was by William Porter of Boston in 1Y98 of two 

 ewes and a ram. These he gave to Mr. Andrew Craigue of 

 Cambridge, who, not knowing their value, killed and ate them. 

 One thing seems pretty certain, the first importations of Spanish 

 Merino sheep into the United States disappeared as mutton, and 

 were of no account from a breeding standpoint, but beyond a 

 doubt the mutton was good. In 1801 Seth Adams imported a 



