The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-01-31
EXTENSIVE SHEEP RANGE.
How 10000 Sheep are Washed
Profits of the Ranch.

The little schooner Santa Rosa ar
rived in port from Santa Barbara few
days ago. She comes up to this city
twice a year to secure provisions, cloth
ing, lumber, ETC., for use on Santa
Rosa Island, being owned by the great
sheep-raiser, A. p Moore, who owns
the island and the $4,000 sheep that
exist upon it The island IS about
thirty miles south of Santa Barbara,
and is twenty-four miles in length and
sixteen in breadth, and contains about
"a, 900 acres of land, which are admira-
bly, adapted to sheep-raising. Last
June Moore clipped LOLA sacks of
wool from these sheep, each sack con-
tanning an average of 410 pounds of
wool, making total of 415, 740 pounds,
which he sold at 27 cents pound.
bringing him in $212, ,349.S0, or a clear
profit of over $4,000. This is said to
be low yield, so it is evident that
sheep-ralsing there, when taken into
Consideration that shearing takes place
twice a year, and that profit is made
off the sale of mutton, etc., is very
profitable. The island is divided into
four quarters by fences running clear
across at right angles, and the sheep
have not to be herded like those rang
Ing about the foothills.
Four men are employed regularly the
year round to keep the ranch in order
and to look after the sheep, and during
shearing time 80 or more shearers are
employed. These men secure 40 or so
days work, and the average number
OF sheep sheared day is about 80, for
which cents clip is paid, thus $3.50
a day being made by each man. or
something over 5000 for the season. or
over $500 for 80 days out of the year.
Although the shearing of 80 sheep a
day Is the average, great MANY will
go as high as 110, and one men hos
been known to shear 125. OF course
every man tries to shear as many as be
can, and owing to haste frequently the
animals are severely cut by the sharn
shears. If the wound is serious. the
sheep Immediately has its thrcq 1T cut.
and Is turned into mutton and disposed
OF 10 the butchers, and the shearer, il
IN the habit of frequently infiictinp
such wounds, is discharged. In the
shearing of these 80, 900 sheep a HIN.
dred or more are injured to suc'o on
extent as to necssitate their be- no tin-
ed, but the wool and meat ar a of conrso
turned into profit.
Although no herdir,o is naoessor,,
about 200 or more trained roats
Kept Cd the island continually, which
70 all lntents and purposes take the
place OF shepherd dogs so necessary in
mountainous districts where sheep are
ralseo. Whenever the animals are to
DC removed from one quarter of the is
Iand to another, the man in charge
takes out with him several of the goats.
excla:.ns in Spanish, "Cheva," (mean,
ing Sheep. The goat throuob it's
training understands what is wanted
immediately runs to the band and the
sheep accept it as their leader, follow
ing wherever it goes. The goat in turn
1oilows the man to whatever point he
wlshes to take the band To prevent
tha sheep from contracting disease ii
Is necessary to give them washing
twice year. Moore having so many
on hand found it necessary to invent
some way to accomplish this whereby
not SO much expense would be incurred
and time wasted. After experimenting
for some time he had ditch duo eioht
feet in depth, little over one foot in
width, and 100 feet long. In this he
put 600 gallons of water, 200 pounds of
sulphur, 100 pounds of lime and six
pounds of soda, all of which, is heated
to 130 degrees. The goats lead the
sheep into corral or trar at one egd
and the animals are compelled to
swim through to the further end
thus securing a bath and taking
their medicine at one and the same
time.
The owner of the island and sheep.
A; I. Moore, few years ago purchas-
cyl the property from the widow of his
deceased brother, Henry, for 5000, 900.
Owing to ill-health he has rented it to
his brother Lawrence for $4,000 q
wear, and soon starts for Boston, where
he will settle down for the rest of his
life. He still retains an interest in the
Santa Cruz Island ranch, which is
about twenty-five miles southeast of
Santa Barbara. This island contains
about "a, 900 acres, and on it are 25, 900
sheep. On Cantanna Island, sixty
miles east of Santa Barbara, are IL, 900
sheep; on Clemento Island, so miles
east of that city, are 10000 sheep For
ty miles west of the same city is San
Miguel, on which are 1000 sheep.
Each one of these ranches has sailing
vessel to carry freight, etc.. to and fro
between the island and the mainland,
and they are kept busy the greater part
of the time.
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