Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-04-13

Is laid upon the Sheep-klllln8 uos.
Sheep-killing dogs, it is said, are
! the principal cause of the marked de-
crease in the numbers Of sheep on
American farms. In the 10 years be-
tween 1900 and 1910 the number Of
sheep in the country, exclusive OF the
states in the Western Division, de-
creased, 100000 head, in face Of the
fact that during these same years
the market value Of sheep rose so
rapidly that the total value Of sheep
in this area was $19,000,000 or ap-
proximately 25 per cent more in 1919
than in 1900. Favorable though the
market conditions were, they were not
sufficient incentive to induce farmers
to risk the heavy losses from stray
dogs.
The number of sheep killed annu-
ally by dogs cannot be stated exactly
since there are many cases which are
not reported at all. Judging from the
figures in those counties and states
in which reasonably complete reports
are obtainable, however, it may be
said that in the SO farm states more
than 100000 sheep are killed each
year by dogs. This, it Is true, Is less
Of sheep in this area, but a 1 per
cent loss on a business that Is being
conducted on a profit basis Of s or 6
per cent cannot be ignored. This es-
innate ii must be remembered Is also
probably much lower than the actual
figures. 1t Is certain too that many
men have been kept out Of the sheep
business through fear that in their
own particular cases the loss would
be much more than 1 per cent. Any
one who has actually seen sheep kill
ed, injured or frightened by dogs Is
likely 70 think twice before engaging
| in the business. In many cases while
only or sheep may be actually Bit
ten by the dogs, the whole flock Is
chased until it dies from exhaustion.
If the dog question could be satis-
factorily disposed Of, there seems to
be no reason why the number Of sheep
| in the country could not be increased
to the extent already indicated. In
Great Britain there Is sheep or lamb
for each 2.5 acres Of the total area.
In the SO farm states in this country
| there Is 1 sheep or lamb for each 31.8
| acres. The British farmer handles his
| land on an intensive basis and feeds
his sheep on forage-crop pastures.
Such pastures not only increase the
sheep from many internal parasites
contracted through grazing upon per-
manent pastures. In particular the use
of a succession Of forage-crop pas
lures will prevent stomach worms, one
of the most prevalent and disastrous
scourges Of young stock, and will
enable the farmer to market by the
end Of June or the first Of July, when
market prices are usually highest, the
lambs that were born in the late win
ter or early spring. Handled under
such conditions and on high-priced
farm land the importance Of small
flock Of sheep cannot be overlooked.
In addition to pointing out these
facts the bulletin already mentioned,
1.-The Sheep-Killing Dog, discusses
the possible means Of preventing in
the future the loss from dogs. At the
present time the various state laws on
this subject differ widely, some states
using the money obtained from dog
licenses to reimburse sheep owners,
while others permit the sheep men to
recover damages from the dog owners
and two offer them no recourse what
soever. Dogs, however, are very seldom
caught in the act Of killing sheep. It
Is always difficult to determine their
owners. and where the damages are
dog tax funds the money very fire.
quently Is far from. sufficient to meet
all the claims.
a remedy that Is suggested for this
situation Is a uniform state dog law
embodying the principle Of tax upon
dogs sufficiently heavy to discourage
those who are not willing to take care
Of their pets from keeping them. Un-
der this plan all dogs over six months
Of age must be licensed each year, the
tax paid at the time Of licensing and
metal tag bearing the license num-
Der attached to the dogs collar. Any
dog found without this tag, unat-
tended and off its owners premises,
may be killed. When found unattend-
ed on farm where sheep are kept
the dog may be killed whether it has
the tag or not, and under any circum-
stances dog caught chasing or killing
sheep may be killed. All dogs which
can be proved to be sheep killers
must be killed whether caught in the
act or not, and reward Of SIS should
be offered for any one Identifying
sheep killing dog. The money received
from dog taxes should be devoted to
reimbursing sheep owners for their
lost stock and the county should In
turn recover this money whenever
possible from the dogs owners. A
special license should be issued for
are maintained under such conditions
that they cannot possibly do any harm
to neighboring flocks.
While some such plan as this Is
probably indispensable to the full de-
velopment of the sheep industry in the
United States, there are cases where
the flock master will find in its absence
the use Of dog-proof fences very desir-
able The grazing Of sheep upon COM
paratively small areas Of land sown to
forage crops, instead Of upon perma-
nent pastures In larger fields, mate
rally reduces the area to be fenced
and makes this practicable precau-
tion. In the west fences have been
built which prove satisfactory defence
against coyotes, and the fence that
will turn aside a coyote will turn a
dog A fence Of this character can be
built as follows:
Posts "a feet in length, set "a feet in
the ground and 16 feet apart; barbed
wire stretched fiat to the surface Of
the ground; inches higher a 36-inch
woven-wire fence having 4-inch tri-
angular mesh; inches higher barb
ed wire; 6 inches higher a second
barbed wire: inches above this g.
third barbed wire. Total height 57
inches.
1t is important to remember. how
ever, that the bottom strand Of barbed
wire must be stretched fiat on the
surface Of the ground at all points. II
necessary the ground must be graded
before the fence Is built. Thereafter
such small holes as appear may be
filled in. 1t is not always necessary to
fence the entire pasture, for dogs usu-
ally attack sheep at night only. II a
sufficient area can be fenced to give
the flock protection through the night,
therefore, they may be safely left in
uninclosed pastures through the day.
This method involves a certain loss Of
time in driving the sheep to and from
the inclosure, but in many cases will
be preferred to the expense Of fencing
on a large scale.
Jack johnson Out.-Jack Johnson
lost the championship of the prize