The National tribune., 1894-08-02

through the existing brand as one would cross
| out a word in writing, put his own brand above
| or below it, and again on that part of the
animal where it properly belongs, if this super
seeded mark was differently situated.
But counter-brandng is now done by dupli-
eating the undesired brand and placing the new
| or rightful one upon the animal where it be-
longs. 1t is not now the custom to run bar
through the discarded brand
man with extensive cattle interests will
| usually have a number of brands. For in
stance after having established his own, he
| buys all or a portion of another. If he buys
| them all, or if the remainder are held and run
| entirely removed from his range, so that there
| is no danger of confusion, he may run this
purchased brand of cattle in addition TO his
own, and with no further mark upon them.
1t is also common for a man to hold partner
ship interests in several different brands prob
ably scattered over widely separated portions
of his State or even in different States. Such
arrangements make ample and glowing op-
pOrtunities for stealing. But then the entire
cattle business fairly bristes with such possbili-
ties, which is the reason that we hear so much
of maverick branders rustlers, cattle thieves;
and why the penalty of this crme-when once
fastened upon an individual-was in the early
days, capital and summary.
Besides his regular ranch brands, a cattleman
has also other little brands. used for special
temporary purposes. Such is the went" (vend p
brand. design regularly registered and pub
lished by him as placed below his own brand
upon all cattle which he sells to advertise the
fact that they have passed lawfully out of his
possession.
Also, when cattle are bought in one place to be
driven to another and sold. a small, inconspicu-
Gus brand is put upon them, to protect them
while on the trail. This is called road"
brand, and is device separate and distinct
from the owners regular permanent ranch
brands.
The drover mayEhave bought cattle of several
different brands. Without a road brand he is
liable, when passing herds similarly branded.
to lose cattle by their being innocently taken
up with these herds. Then, too, he can only
identify describe his strays by this road
brand, since they may be from any one of the
several brands in his drove.
All the cattle stealing is by no means the work
of such rustlers as steal the animals bodily and
drive them away. Theft is quite as extensively
and continually carried on by the tampering
with and manipulation of brands; and the
methods of these manipulators are many and
ingenious.
There is, first and simplest, the mere addition
oil letter or letters or numerals, TO a brand: or
of fourishes to plain letter to make flying
letter of it; or of new parts to any design. to
entirely alter its character, and, if possible,
leave no suggestion of the original brand in the
new device so formed
1t was IN this way that a certain foreman
went through his employers cattle, shortly
after the Spring round-ups when the brands
were still new upon the calves, and, with three
strokes of his iron, made OF the monogram
brand ii l., new monogram, which he had
set up as his own brand, consisting of the
letters T II E.
In addition to his brand or brands, man has
his own special ear-marks the two together
identifying an animal very conclusively. 1t
is these ear-marks. and the reliance placed
upon them, especially in noting the ownership
OF calf, which makes the practice of sleeper
branding" possible.
10 judge of a calf's ownership, a cattleman
will invariably glance first at its ears. If ho
at once recognizes the ear marks as his own
he is very likely to look no farther.
knowing this, the dishonest foreman or cow
puncher Of nonresident ranch owner ear
marks all the young calves at the regular
branding time, but Omts to brand number of
them. The correct ear-mark carries them
safely along, even if the owner himself comes
out and looks around at things.