The Butte inter mountain., 1901-12-27
SHEEP ANO Wool
INTERESTING FACTS
FLEECE WAS LIGHT THIS YEAR
Range Flocks Are Decreasing and Pas
ture Flocks Are Increasing - The
Recorded Conditions Are, How
ever, Favorable.
FLEECE WAS LIGHT THIS YEAR
(Special to Inter Mountaln.)


Helena, Dec. 27.-secretary Hedges of
the state board of sheep commissioners
Is receiving reports from many of the
sheep raising counties in the state upon
the progress made by the industry dur
ing the last fiscal year.
New commissioners have been appoint
ed in several counties, and they have not
been as prompt in getting in their re-
ports as their predecessors. but from in
formation CLEANED from the reroiss on
file, there is evident satisfaction ald. 'nE
those interested in the industry over ~
conditions prevailing al this tine.
While last seasons clip was less n
pounds than usual, it was of higher
variety, and in some cases better prices
than usual We're paid for it. There are
more sheep in Montana at present than
before. The mild winters have given
confidence to those who have restricted
their fiocks owing to the fear of loss dur
ing the winter.
The lamb crop last spring amounted
to more than 1000, 900 lambs. The loss
in nearly every section of the state was
less this year than ever before. Every
year thousands of sheep are carried Off
by the wolves and coyotes. The cease
less warfare waged by the state against
those animals has resulted in the de-
struction Of thousands of the pests of the
range.
Wool Clip Getting Less.
Another reason that may be assigned
to the decrease in loss from this source
is the fact that the last two winters have
been mild and the spring has not found
the wolves or coyotes so ravenous nor
SO bold. They have been able to get
food during the winter, and the loss has
been small in carefully guarded fiocks.
While the number of sheep in Mon
tana this year is larger than year ago.
or any previous season, for that matter,
the clip was much smaller. There was
smaller percentage of grease in the fleece
this year. and it was in every way
lighter than usual. Its quality was of
a high grade and brought a good price.
The securing mills and manufacturers
probably made a larger percentage Of
profit on Montana fleece this year than
usual as the shriHkage after cleaning
was smaller than heretofore.
Sheep Commissioner Hilger of Fergus
county has filed his annual report with
Secretary Hedges Of the board of sheep
commissioners. One Of the most inter-
esting facts and one that portends we'll
for the future of the industry is the
statement that in 1900 nearly one-half
the wool product in Fergus county was.
consigned to Eastern commission houses.
This year the condition Is just re-
versed. Comparatively little wool was
shipped on consignment, but was pur-
chased at Great Falls and other points
by agents Of Eastern firms. The con-
signment system is not regarded with
favor in Montana, as sheepmen believe
they get much better returns where they
are able to see their wool weighed and
sell it themselves. They get better re-
turns, and there are many arguments
against. the consignment system. The
condition regarding the consignment of
wool in Fergus county applies very
largely to the entire state.
In Fergus county there 900 pounds
less wool sheared this year than last,
and the price was below that received
last year.
The statistical portion of Mr.. Hilger' S
report is as follows:
March NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 66o,63o
Number of lambs docked since
MarcA 2ooOooo
Number of lambs slaughtered
and shipped ................. 22O,4 4oO
Wool sheared, pounds. ............ 4,945, 1852
In the neighborhood of 5000 sheep were
killed by wolves and coyotes in Fergus
county during the year, which is 1000
less than the loss from this source one
year ago
Many Hay Fed Sheep.
More alfalfa was fed during the year
than ever before. The decreasing range
areas makes this necessary, and each
succeeding year sees a larger number
q hay-fed sheep. There are still large
sheep range areas in Montana, but it is
necessary that a small owner own all
his range.
Indeed. the big outfits are either
obliged to move or to purchase the land
used by them, as the railroad lands are
being rapidly picked, up in many cases