Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-02-07
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 q 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 40 pounds of
wool, making a total of 415, $40 pounds,
which he sold at q cents a pound,
bringing him in 1912, 349S so, or clear
profit Of over $780, This is said to
be low yield, SO it is evident that
sheep-raising there, when taken into
consideration that shearing takes place
twice 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 so 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 81 so
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, a great many will
90 as high as 10, and one man has
been known to shear 125. OF course
every man tries to shear rs many as he
can, and owing to haste frequently 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 inficting
such wounds, is discharged. In the
shearing of these 5000 sheep q hun
dred or more are injured to such an
extent as to necssitate their being kill
ed, 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 shepherd dogs SO necessary in
mountainous districts where sheep are
raised. Whenever the animals are to
be removed from one quarter of the is
land to another, the man in charge
takes out with him several of the goats,
eXclaims in Spanish, "Cheva," (mean-
ing Sheep. The goat through 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
follows the man to whatever point he
wishes to take the band. To prevent
the sheep from contracting disease it
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 dug eight
feet in depth. a 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 $50 degrees. The goats lead the
sheep into q corral or trap at one end,
and the animals are compelled to
swim through to the further end,
thus securing bath and taking
their medicine at one and the same
time.
The owner of the island and sheep.
A. Z. Moore, a few years ago purchas-
ed 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 a
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 Ga, 900 acres, and on it are %, 900
sheep. On Cantanna Island, sixty
miles east Of Santa Barbara, are $4,000
sheep; on Clemento Island, so miles
east of that city, are 10000 sheep. For
" 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.