SHEEP AND WOOL IN THE UNITED STATES. 2 
335 

rapid advance was made, to possibly 42,000,000; followed 
by a decline during the later years of the decade to 
31,000,000. The records of the Department of Agriculture 
after this period became more reliable. From 31,851,000 in 
1871 the number increased fairly steadily at first, and after- 
wards more rapidly, to a maximum of 50,627,000 in 1884. 
This was followed by a drop to 44,759,000 in 1887. For the 
next few years there was not much variation in the numbers, 
but a decline occurred from 47,274,000 in 1893 to 36,819,000 
in 1897, since when there has again been a rise, and the 
number in 1900 was 41,883,000. 
The records of the wool produced show a great im- 
provement in average. The total production was esti- 
mated at 153,000,000 lbs. in 1871, and 290,000,000 in Igo0o; 
having been 308,000,000 in 1885 and 309,748,000 (the 
maximum) in 1895. The census enumerations show an 
average per sheep of 3°5 lbs. in 1870, and 4°8 lbs. in 1890; 
and this would appear to be a truer indication of the weight 
of a fleece than is arrived at by dividing the annual produc- 
HOmwiveetie number of Sheep existing on the ‘1st! of 
January in each year; for the total annual production 
includes a considerable quantity of shorn or pulled 
wool from the millions of sheep and lambs slaughtered. 
The steady increase in the weignt of fleece is attributed 
to a stronger infusion of merino blood in clothing-wool 
flocks, and the improvement in Mexican and other low grade 
sheep by the use of sires of English mutton breeds. Better 
care and feed have also increased the weight of fleece. 
The great majority of the sheep in the United States are 
now in the West; the States with over a million (on rst 
January, 1900), being Texas, Ohio, Michigan, Montana, 
Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, 
Oregon, and California. The maximum number (3,973,000) is 
found in New Mexico, which is closely followed by Montana 
with 3,884,000; Wyoming and Ohio, with over a million less, 
coming next. 
A great change has occurred in the distribution ot 
sheep in thirty years. In 1870 the mountain range country 
was just emerging from the control of the Indians, and, with 
