The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-11-30
COMMON GOATS.

information concerning goats, the Bu-
reau of Animal Industry of the De-
partment of Agriculture, Washington,
last month issued circular on the
subject, prepared by George Fayette
Thompson, the bureau editor. d. T.
Salmon, chief of bureau, in PREDATORY
note approved by Secretary James
Wilson, says:
.sThe information published by the
Bureau on the Angora goat answers
quite fully all inquiries about that
breed, but heretofore We have been un-
able TO supply the demand for publica-
lions ON the common goat of the United
States
AS Hawaii appears in the statistics
given in the circular, a summary of the
chief points of information in the
treatise may be helpful to the local
goat industry. 1t is mentioned that
there are some who doubt the accuracy
of the census count, giving an enumer-
alton of about 100000 goats in the
United States in 1900, but the editor
knows of no other way to form an esti-
mate. So far as Hawaii is concerned,
the statistics of the circular show an
underestimate of the goat tribe.
Thus. nineteen farms in Hawaii re-
ported total of 653 goats, while the
trade returns show 7S41 pounds OF
eoatskins received on the mainland
market the same year. AS the circular
SAYS it is very heavy goatskln that
will weigh four pounds when dry, 1t
ousht to have taken 1904 goats, or
three times the number given in the
census for Hawaii, to produce the
quantity of goatskins hence marketed.
The circular explains the growing IN
terest in the goat industry on the part
of capitalists by the fact that we seno
abroad s25,0O0,Oe0 annually for goat
skins, adding as a reason for its own
issuance 'sThe press has encouraged
the development of a domestic indus
try in the production of goatsklns'
oftentimes in ignorance of the condl-
lions that obtain here and of those
conditions requisite for success"
Referring TO the matter of breeds II
is stated that the term common
roatsn is not intended to convey the
Impression of distinctive breed. On |
the contrary. it is generally accepted
as including all sorts of mongrel goats
xvbateyer their size, conformation, col
or. or character of hair. They are
usually referred to as common IN or
der to distinguish them from the An
yora coats. which are a specific breed.
Common goats can be purchased Ia
Texas. New Mexico and Arizona, but
these being the long-haired variety are
NOT suitable for skins, and there are
several good reasons why they are not
suitable as foundation stock for a flock
of Angoras.
Beyond showing the certain market
for goat products at home, which is
plain enough from the value of imports
of skins already given, the statistical
nortion of the circular is of but small
local interest. What may be valuable
to people in this Territory is informa-
ton regarding the raising of goats for
profit. The circular discusses the
values of goat and kid skins. of the
food products in flesh and milk and
the usefulness of the animal in clear
ing land Of scrub and weeds. On these
points the following extracts are culled
from the paper:
Not all kinds of goatskins are in de-
mapd for leather. The skin of the An
CORA, for instance, is not at all suitable
for shoe leather or for kid gloves. al.
though tanners make of it morocco
leather, and it is used to considerable
extent in the manufacture of working
mems gloves.
Not all of the imported skins are
suitable for shoe leather, but the tan
ner carefully sorls each bale and
throws out all that have long hair, as
that is conclusive evidence of inferior
ity.
Among the French mountaineers the
raising of kids for their skins is a
leading industry. Softness, delicacy of
texture, and freedom from blesnish are
principal factors in the value of kid
skins, and to secure these essentials
great pains are taken. So soon as the
kids are old enough to eat grass or
other vegetation the skin declines in
quality, as with such diet the skin be-
gins to grow coarser and harder in
texture, and thus it's chief merit dis
appears. The kid is therefore carefully
penned, not only to prevent it from
eating grass, but also to secure the
skin from accidental injury from
scratches and bruises, which necessari-
ly impair it's value. When the kids