334 SHEEP AND WOOL IN THE UNITED STATES. 

slaughtered in these four cities. Other towns in the West 
slaughter considerable numbers ; the great seaboard cities 
also kill large quantities, besides consuming refrigerated 

carcases from the West. 
There has also been during the period a change in the 
distribution of the merinos. The mutton breeds have 
invaded the States which used to be the strongholds of the 
fine wool breeds—Vermont, New York, Ohio, Michigan—and 
Lave nearly driven them out of Indiana and Illinois. The 
merinos have been driven westwards, and the development 
of the mutton industry has hastened their migration to the 
ranges of the Rocky Mountains, as well as led to cross breed- 
ing with English sheep. 
A noticeable feature of the mutton trade has been the 
demand for Colorado lambs, chiefly Mexicans improved by 
cross breeding, the lambs being fed for a few months in 
winter with corn and lucerne. These fetch high prices at 
Chicago and yield remunerative profits. The annual output 
of these lambs from Colorado has been estimated at 350,000, 
while other districts turn out as many more. , 
As regards the domestic wool supply of the United States, 
about two-thirds of the present mill consumption is supplied 
from sheep within the country. If imported manufactures 
are taken into account, the domestic supply is now fully half 
the entire consumption of wool products. Between 1880 and 
1890 the proportion of domestic wool was larger, being 
nearly six-tenths of all needed. 
Prior to the establishment of factories the consumption is 
stated to have averaged not more than 3 lbs. per head of 
the population. Fifty years ago the requirement had risen 
to 4 lbs.; and, as wealth increased and the uses of wool 
became extended, it rose until it is now about 8 lbs. per 
head. 
The enumeration of sheep was not made by census until 
1840, when the number reported was 19,311,000. Prior to 
this date no accurate estimates are available, though it is 
supposed that in 1610 there were some ten million sheep in 
the country. In 1850 the number given was 21,773,000, and 
22,471,000 in 1860. Between 1860 and 1870, however, a very 
