476 Production of Wool in Great Britain, [nov., 



Before proceeding to estimate the production from the figures 

 thus obtained, a summary of previous estimates is given in the 

 Report, and it is interesting to notice that the estimate made 

 by the Yorkshire Observer for the year 1905 was 130.529,0001b.,. 

 and for 1906, 130,176,000 lb. 



Estimate of Wool Production. — The basis of any estimate of 

 wool production is of course the number of sheep returned in 

 each year on 4th June. It is evident that all the sheep then 

 returned as one year and above may each be reckoned as con- 

 tributing what may be termed a normal fleece in that year. 

 Thus the average number of sheep of one year and above 

 returned in 1905 and 1906 in Great Britain being 9,998,400 

 breeding ewes and 5,123,200 other sheep, and the average 

 weight of fleece being estimated at 5f lb. and 6^ lb., respectively, 

 the total amount of wool furnished by them would be 

 87,838,000 lb. But there are two further sources of supply. 

 When sheep are slaughtered the wool then on their backs, 

 which is more or less according to the period which has elapsed 

 since they were shorn, is brought into contribution. The 

 number of sheep slaughtered between one enumeration and 

 another can be calculated from the returns with reasonable 

 accuracy, and during the two years from June, 1904, to June^ 

 1906, it is estimated as 11,000,000. If the average weight of 

 a " skin fleece " be estimated at 2|- lb. the quantity of wooL 

 thus available is 30,250,000 lb. The other source of supply is 

 lambs' wool, as to which the information available is somewhat 

 scanty. From the references made in the growers' returns 

 it appears that in the South-west of England many lambs are 

 shorn and in most of the counties south of the Trent the prac- 

 tice seems more or less adopted. There is, however, very little 

 information on which to found an estimate of its prevalence. 

 In Wales several correspondents mention the shearing of lambs 

 and one of the wool-buyers states that Welsh lambs are generally 

 shorn. The number of lambs' fleeces which passed through the 

 hands of buyers furnishing returns was rather more than 5 per- 

 cent, of the total number. On the whole it would appear that 

 an estimate of 2,000,000 lb. from living lambs and 1,000,000 lb. 

 from slaughtered lambs may be reasonably adopted. 



The specific enquiries of the Board extended only to Great 

 Britain, and application was made to the Department of 



