The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-01-23
AN EXTENSIVE SHEEP RANGE.
How Eighty Thousand sheep are Wnshesl-
Profits of the Ranch.

The little schooner Santa Rosa arrived in
port from Santa Barbara few DAYS ago
She comes up to this city twice year to Sc.
cure provisions, clothing, lumber, &C., for
use ON Santa Rosa Island, being owned by
the great sheep-raiser, A. P. Moore. who
owns the island and the 1000 sheep that
exist upon it. The island is about 80 miles
south of Santa Barbara, and is "a miles in
length and 16 in breadth, and contains
about "a, 900 acres of land, which are adj
mirably adapted to sheep-raising. Last
June Moore clipped LOLA sacks of wool
from these sheep, each sack containing an
average of 410 pounds of wool, making a
total of 415, TAO pounds, which he sold al
~ cents pound, bringing him in $ll2,-
1880, or clear profit of over $50 600
This is said to be a low yield. so 1t is evil
dent that sheep-raising there, when taken
into consideration that shearing takes place
twice year and that q profit is made OF
the sale Of mutton, &C., is very profitable.
The island is aivieefl into forr quarters by
fences running clear across at right angles,
and the sheep have not TO De herded like
those ranging about the foothills.
Four men are employed regularly the
year round to keep the ranch in order aud
to look after the sheep, and during shearng
time so or more sh arers nre employed
These men secure 40 or so days work, and
the average number of sheep sheared day
is about 80, for which cents a clip is paid
thus $3.50 n day being made by each man,
or something over 5000 for the season, OF
over 800 for 30 days out of the year. Al.
though the shearing of 80 sheep day is the
average, great many will go as high MS
Ito, and one man has been known to shear
/ l25. Of course every man tries to shear as
many MS he can, and owing TO haste fire.
quently the animals are severely cut..by the
sharp shears. IF the wound is serious. the
sheep Immediately has its throat cut, and is
turned into mutton and disposed of to the
butchers, and the shearer, if in the habit of
frequently inflicting such wounds, is dis
charged. In the shearing of these so, 900
sheep hundred or more are injured to such
nm extent as to neeessitate their being killed
but the wool and meat are of course turned
/ into profit
Although no herding is necessary, about
200 or more trained goats are kept on the
island continually, which to all intents and
purposes take the place of. the shepherd
dogs SO necessary in mountainous districts
! where sheep are raised. Whenever the ami.
mails are to be removed from one quarter of
the island to another, the man in charge
takes out with him several Of the goats. ex.
claims in Spanish T" CHeee," (lneaning
sheep) The goat through its training m.
derstands what is wanted. and immediately
runs 10 the band and the sheep accept it as
their leader, following wherever il goes.
The goat in turn follows the mnn TO what
ever point he wishes 10 take the band. 10
prevent the sheep from contracting disease
1t is necessary to give them washing twice
year. Moore having so many ON hand
found 1t necessary to invent some way TO
accomplish this whereby not irruen 6x-
pense would be incurred and time wasted.
After experimenting for some time he had a
ditch dug feet in depth, little over foot
in width, and 100 feet long In this he put
w" beiioho VI Matei, SVU POUNDS Oh sulphur,
100 pounds of lime and 6 pounds of soda,
all of which is heated to 1902 The goats
lead the sheep into a corral or trap at one
end, 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. p.
Moore, few years ago purchased the prop
erty from the widow of his deceased brother,
Henry, for 5000, 900 Owing to i'll health
he has rented it to his brother Lawrence..for
$140, 900 year, 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 25 miles
south east of Santa Barbara The island
contains about Ga 900 acres, and on it are
90, 900 sheep. On Catalina Island, 60 miles
cast of Santa Barbara, are Is, 900 sheep, and
ON Clementn Island, so miles east of that
city, are 10000 sheep. Forty miles west OF
the same city is San Miguel. on which are
1000 sheep. Each one of these ranches has
a sailing vessel to carry freight, &c. TO and
fro between the island aud the mainland,
and they are kept busy the greater part OF
the time.-jSan francisco CAL.