The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1903-12-01
COMMON GOATS.

partment of Agriculture, washington
last month issued circular on the
subject, prepared by George Fayette
Thompson, the bureau editor. ID. r.
Salmon, chief of bureau In PREDATORY
note approved by Secretary James
Wilson, says.
THE 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-
tons on the common goat OF the United
States"
As Hawaii appears in the statistics
given in the circular, 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 a total of 653 goats, while the
trade returns show 7S41 pounds or
goatskins received on the mainland
market the same year. AS the circular
says It Is very heavy goatskin that
will weigh four pounds when dry, IL
ought 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 SEND
abroad s25,0O0000 annually for goat
skins, adding as a reason for Its own
| issuance: 1.-THE press has encouraged
the development of a domestic indus
try in the production of goatskins,
oftentimes in ignorance of the condi-
| tions that obtain here and of those
conditions requisite for success
! Referring to the matter of breeds, II
Is stated that the term common
goats" Is not intended to convey the
impression of a distinctive breed. on
the contrary, it is generally accepted
as including all sorts of mongrel goats,
whatever 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
Common goats can be purchased in
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 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
portion 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 ana
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-
mand 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 sorts 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
leading industry. Softness, delicacy OF
texture, and freedom from blemish 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 its chief merit dis
appears. The kid is therefore carefully !
penned, not only to prevent 1t from
eating grass, but also to secure the
skin from accidental injury from
scratches and bruises, which necessari- !
ly impair its value. When the kids
have reached a certain age, at which
the skins are in the best condition for
the use of the glover, they gre killed
and the hides are sold to travelling
hawkers, through whom they reach the
great centers OF the tanning industry. |
The conditions in the United States,
especially as regards the item of labor, |
are so unlike those of mountainous
France that it is not at all probable
that similar industry could be main |.
tanned here.
While 1t Is generally agreed among
those who speak from experience that
the kids of all breeds OF goats are
delicacy. II Is true that among the
great mass of the people of this coun-
try there is a prejudice against any
thing bearing the name of goat
Within the environments of all of the
larger cities are found many kids, and
1t is evident that only few of them
grow to maturity. What becomes OF
them? Butchers and meat dealers an
swer the question by saying that they
pass over their blocks as Lamb No
meat dealer has heard of complaint
of the quality OF such lamb"
A considerable number of mature
common goats are purchased by the
packing houses of the larger cities.
They are purchased as goats and sold,
either in the carcass or canned, as
mutton; and many who decry goat
hnN ta,n