The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-08-12
Dogs VS.. Sheep.

In most of the States of New England
the great increase in the damage and
loss occasioned by dogs and the ex-
treme difficulty of securing just and
proper legislation for the protection
and encouragement of this great agri-
cultural industry, are fast killing out a
branch of husbandry for which New
England possesses greater advantages
than any other section of our country.
In many parts of Maine, as we know
from personal knowledge, not half the
sheep are now kept that were kept ten
years agO-in many towns and on farms
near large villages, no sheep at all be-
ing kept, where formerly were good
sized ilocks. Here is also Il significant
fact from single town, Lebanon, in
New Hampshire, as stated in the last
volume of Mr.. Adams report. In 1868
the town returned 49, 63 sheep on its
valuation books and in 1873 it returned
but 5,761. In another part of the re-
port Mr.. Francis Eastman of Weare, in
speaking of his having discarded sheep
husbandry for another line of farming,
said he was driven out of it mainly by
the raUages Of dogSr'
Some most startling facts concerning
the ravages of dogs among sheep are
given in the report on the agriculture of
Connecticut for 1877. 1t is there stated.
from answers made to special letters of
inquiry sent to every town, that more
than three thousand sheep are killed
annually by dogs in that State, and
more than $4,000 paid out each year
Orloss occasioned by such depredatiOns.
And to this loss is to be added the con-
sideration that the damage to the flock
from worrying by dogs is never COM
pensated in simply paying for the killed
and wounded sheep, while a still great
er drawback is the Encouragement of
sheep husbandry throughout the State
for farmers will not engage in an indus
try which is subject to such large losses,
the compensatiOns for which are always
uncertain and never adequate.
Mr.. James S. Grinnell, in the agri-
culture of Massachusetts for 1883.
gives some facts which relates so closely
10 this subject, that we make use of
them again, for they will bear stating
over and over. The returns upon which
Mr.. Grinnells statements have been
based are so accurate that they are en-
titled TO the greater consideration. In
1860 this State had 114,00 sheep and
$4,000 dogs. In 1873 the number of
sheep had been reduced to $1,000, with
no evidence whatever to show that the
number of dogs had decreased. In
deed. Mr.. Grinnell states that without
doubt Massachusetts has two, perhaps
three dogs to every sheep, and this in
State where agriculture and manufacture
ing interests are supposed to be cared
for and protected. During the year end
ing with May 1875, returns show that
1873 sheep had been killed by 1I,4S9
dogs; while in 1873 ten thousand dogs
were taxed in the State, and sheep
killed to the value of $40, 5S453. We'll
does Mr.. Grinneu say in speaking of
this subject: &" Ii is not only he who
has his flock raided upon by dogs who
is affected. One such sight as a couple
of savage dogs tearing the throats and
managing the bodies of flock of sheep.
settles the question of raising that
profitable animal in the minds of a
whole neighborhood; and hundreds of
farmers who have never ventured on
this branch of industry would do so if
they could with any safety.-N. T.
Farmer.