St. Landry democrat., 1885-01-24
ANGoRA GOATS.

ANGORA GOATS.
The Prohibition Placed on Their Exporta-
ton by the Ottoman Government.
Our adyices from Texas represent
considerable difficulty on the part Of
those who wish to engage in Angora
goat husbandry, in securing pure stock
from Asia Minor, by reason of the pro-
hibition placed on the expectations
from Copstsntinople, by the Turkish
Government. of Angora goats. This
matter has a peculiar interest to the
growing mohair industry of this coun-
try, and knowing that if any one could
give light on this subject it was G. w.
jerks, we addressed that gentleman
an inquiry of the cause which prompts
Turkey to take such a course. 1t may
be needless to say, that Mr., jerks is
the most competent authority in this
country on this subject, and the fol
lowing communication will, no doubts
be read with interest:
ssThe absolute inefficiencY and in
competency of the Ottoman Govern
haps its utter treachery and faithless-
ness as well. These are shown in all
that pertains to the mohair industry, as
in other matters, They are aggravated
BY the industrial policy Of Great Britain
toward the industry, in Turkey, as III
like circumstances shown in Ireland,
India, etc.
.'When forty years ago the French
and English sought, by importations
of the Angora goat, to establish the
Angora husbandry on their own soil,
there were no obstacles put in their
way. Later, these ventures proving
unsuccessful the English arranged to
manufacture the mohair on their terri
tory, and monepolize the same. This
competition gradually silenced the
spinning wheels and looms of Angora,
Geredeh, Dromish and Trebizond, and
the Ottomans saw their markets leav-
inc them, and the goods they had
made, for the bazars of Bagdad, Con-
stantinople, etc, being supplanted by
the English artisans About this time
the expectation of the animals was
again sought by the nations of
the West. Turkey had lost the
monopoly of manufacture in the
industry. but blindly chung to
the idea she could retrieve her loss by
retaining the animals. / was obliged
to guard, with paid police, my animals
from the home flock to the vessel to
secure their safe delivery on ship
board. Finally the rapid growth Of
the industry in the Cape Colony from
six thousand pounds mohair in 1865
to two million in 1880, in
duced the Porte to enjoin the ex-
portation, and my last inquiry for
them in 1881 was met by refusal to sell
by the Angora shepherds, followed inn
mediately by Injunction by the authori-
ties against expectation to any quarter,
which enactment SO far as I know, is
now in force. The reasons given by
the Porte for the course are these:
THAT once extensive and profitable
industry in the manufacture of mohair,
in the Province of Asia Minor, has been
entirely destroyed by the artisans OF
Europe.
e'It is also now attempted by the
| transfer of the Angora focks to South
Africa. and elsewhere, to remove the
sources Of supply Of the raw material
and introduce competition that
would be ruinous Therefore exporta-
ton of the goats, in any number, fol-
any purpose, to any quarter is entirely
prohibited.
This is official to me from the best
posted man in Asia Minor on the sub
/ jiect, Hon. Gavin Gatherall, B. G., An.
cora, Asia lTinSss,now deceased.
Il will sap in c1Sing, this condition
ds things is not need sarily fatal to the
!. pfosReTity Of the iphstry in this coun.
'fSyE fhere are6hall flocks Of Angora:
IN the IAited States, thorough
bfssss, lat af in stock and product
fully Ne equal of any in Asia. These
can be = the nucleus of future fockf
here; in TACT are now SO, and are being
drawn 4 om by shepherds West ane
i South. The Angora district proper 0.
this couTsy is the entire Eastern slop'
of the Rocky Mountains, from New
Mexico to Manitoba. - oEasaaa's Ra1fo
! Rorld