The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-09-21
WHEx VIEW MEXICO SHEEP SWIM.
II IL Once . Yssr. st DiPpi.s Tims, snd
ThnIr Annatlcs Az Of an MernIe KInd.

staying IN Lns vegas Tor some days IN Au-
gust" said the returned overland tourist, gave
me an idea Of the immensely of the sheep in
dustry in New Mexico. Flocks If sheep were
forever In sight. sometimes passing through the
town In long, dust-raising armies, filling the
straight, wide avenues, along which they we're
driven by shouting, unkempt herders and
trained hybrid dogs; oftencr seen as brown,
moving squares against the green slopes that
rise to the table land east Of the town.
1t was not long before | discovered that the
sheep driven southwark down the Gallnas Val
ley wore their fecces. In which the natural white
tint was darkened to drab-brown by the oil OF
the wool and by dust. whereas those driven out Of
town to the northward eastward. and southeast
had been sheared.
SO Las Vegas must be the great sheep market
Of the world said to citizen as a flock num-
boring perhaps 5000 sheep was passing. You
cant look TO left or right at any time without
seeing big herds OF these animals.
"'lt's that, you bet he replied with that con-
ndent Western local pride with which he would
a. checrfully have acknowledged the tribute OF
u remark that his town WIS the worlds centre
Of art and literature, or its chief emporium for
elephant tusks and CiolConda diamonds, or the
birthplace Of Homer and Junus. But those
sheep amt a-drivin to he sold. They're goin' to
bc shcarcd and dipped
80 Haven't you seen the shearin' and dip
pin worksT he added. It's one o. the sights
of the town. It's nice walk down there Of
fresh mornln'. | don't mind goin' along with
you to see the sheep swim
1.-Two and half miles below the town Is the
great sheep dipping and shearing station built
last spring by the Atchlson road. II Is really
worth going far to see, being probably the largest
establishment OF the kind In the world. II occu-
pies ten acres Of bottom land on the east side
81 the tiallinas River where the railroad
lns IA switch. tta Dlaut pOmuraea
three great corrnls. each 100 feet square,
and some long sheds. Three hocks, OF ber,
sight of the station. held in hand by
ragged. picturesque Mexican shepherds and
nearest Aock was Just being driven into
the southernmost corral. When they were all
hundreds Of the sheep were e cut out !" from the
rest and driven into long sheds. in which were
oily from the contact OF inyriads OF !neeccs.
Here they we're taken in hand by nifty or
sixty, lightly dressed, barelarmed sh s
steel shears sheep after sheep was seized BY
toor ~ and its fleece stripped from il With the
sharp, swapping shears working at "a speed that hat
feet and darted among It's comrades &c shot the
ss Hn to cm OF
For the sheared sheep the worst Of their
E s ans FENCED
| passage, just wide enough for them TO travel in
single file. Along this they promsnaded. those
hind, until, reaching certain point sheep after
theep vanished from sight. as II the hoor had
Dropped beneath 1t, with the sound Of plunge
1t was into vat that the sheep disappeared
liquid, whose chief component was manifestly
| sdecoction of tobacco leaves, reinforced. rs
n na Win time af bu Tn in eWidenee
the unfortunate animal taken wholly BY sur:
In. rs, nose and ears first It came 70 the surface.
shook its head, snorted frantically. and swan
desperately ahead, sneezng and blinking Its
| smarting eyes, to the further end Of the vat.
" The channel was as long as a ropewalk. there
not aquatic In taste and habits. but the vile
| liquid was highly stimulating to exertion, and
the long procession padded onward wa f without 1d
where an incline led up to 2 tightly laid floor ,
h ,ha Se e wh has
looking animal at best, and The discolsred slop,
py animals that crowded ta the dripping floor were
,"As soon as the sheep were quite dried
they were marked with the owners mark, after
| which they were turned out to the shepherds,
ee mot
ish their appetite for grass.
ba s .he dssasa
the sheep. the scab, which causes the wool TO
fall out, often leaving the animal bare in the
dead OF winter. Unpleasant a. the mode OF its
eradication is It yearly is an essential proceed
ing for the common benefit Of sheep and owners
Mexico sheep men about this innovation In the
shearing and dipping process, found them en-.
have had 20 dip and shear their sheep on their
ranches, where IL has cost them much more
pns hs r ~
on their backs, 10 the shearing station and rail-
ro' maT t , and as they Srs ixs Sy the NAY