OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER

Otago Witness, Issue 2650, 28 December 1904, Page 8

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER

{By Otjb Special Cobkespondent.) BRADFORD, October 28. THE TRAVELLING FLOCKS OF SPAIN.

\ Every colonial reader knows that the Original home of the merino is Spain, and to-day I purpose going back a few hundred 1 Jrears and noticing how they handled sheep in those days. There were v two systems of handling jnerino sheep in Spain. So distinct were these that the flocks were called TranMiumantes, or travelling flocks, and Estantes, or stationary flocks. The travelling flooks belonged to the king and his courtiers and ,-*he clergy. Their owners were of the jroyal blood, and it was supposed their sheep bad some superiority of breeding that the Stationary flocks had not. As competent »n authority on the subject as Mr Livingfeton shows that the wool of the stationary flocks was not inferior to that of the migrating sheep. The two systems practised in pj^ain would somewhat correspond with the cast-oral and farm systems as are found in this country to-day. The migratory plan of v handling sheep juras used by the patriarchs and earlier sheep keepers. So tar as we (know, there may have been more system in the management of the Spanish migrating plan than ,tras known to the early shepherds. There can be no question as to the uniform practice of leading the Transhumantes from the •outh of Spain, their winter pastures, to Ithe mountains of the^north, some 400 or 500 miles, to their summer pastures. Let us examine this way of handling a flock, )»nd learn the details. We will follow the iheep, shepherd, dogs, and donkeys from the mountains to the plains of Estramendura, where the flock is to remain until 4pril or May, defending upon the season

and the pasturage that is to maintain the flock on the journey.' When the severe weather commences upon the mountains the shepherds prepare to depart, which is generally about the end. of September and throughout the month of October, to seek more temperate climates and fresher pastures. They generally travel about five to six leagues a day (15 to 18 miles), and stop occasionally in the pastures prepared for them. These pastures were provided by the Government, and without consent of the people; nor were- the people permitted to use them; on the contrary, they were compelled to protect them from the intrusions of stock. The head shepherd precedes, and the rest flank or follow the- flock to collect the stragglers. The shepherds carry everything with them that they are expected to need. s Here is a brief list of their outfit. The skins of sheep served for their beds; a kettle, a leather bottle, a knapsack, a spoon. a lancet to bleed' their sheep, a pair of scissors, a hatchet, a knife, and bread and oil or suet, on which they subsist, and a few- drugs for their sheep. These, with the skins of those sheep that die on the passage, are carried by a few beasts of burden which accompany the flock. To facilitate the march a number of wethers of the largest size, which they call mausos, are rendered very tame.

These wear bells, and are taught to obey the signals of the shepherds, and either march or stop as they direct. The rest of the flock follow their leaders. As soon as they arrive at their winter quarters, the shepherd's first care is to form the pens in which they are gathered at night to protect them from the wolves, who always migrate with the sheep, in order to pick up the sick, the weak, or the stragglers. These folds are made of a soft, rushy shrub. Mats, blankets, and rope are made of it also. -The meshes of these net enclosures are one foot wide.

The dogs, which are of a large breed, serve to gnaid this fold at night. The shepherds make their own tents with stakes, branches, and brambles, and have for this purpose a right to take one branch from every forest tree. Ten thousand sheep comprise a florik, under the direction of one chief, and this is divided into 10 tribes. The head shepherd has absolute dominion over 50 shepherds and as many dogs, five of each being annexed to a tribe. His salary is about £50 a year, while that of the> first shepherd of a tribe is only £5. the second £2, the third and fourth still less, and 1 a boy only £1. Their daily allowance of food is 21b of bread, and as much to each dog. They may keep a few goats or sheep, of which they have the meat, but not the wool. They receive as a gratuity about six shillings in April, and as much in October by way of regale. On the road they are every day, at all seasons, exposed to the air, and at night have no shelter but their miserable huts. In this way live to a considerable age the 25.000 men that compose the shepherds in Spain. The flocks consist of rams, ewes, wethers, and lambs in the following proportion: — Five rams. 100 ewes, 225 wethers, and 50 lambs. The email number of lambs is owing to the shepherds killing aH that are not necessary to keep up their- stook, which is, of course, limited 1 by the right of pasturage. The number of travelling merino sheep is about 5.000,000. The fleeces of the rams weigh 8£lb ; of the ewes 51b, which lose half in washing ; but in this there is a great varie»y, according to the different species of merinos. The produce is about 2+ reals," or 16?. Of this the owner receives but two, the king six, and the remainder goes to the payment of expenses of pasture, tithes, shepherds, dogs, etc. Those who are familiar with the handling of flocks on the Pacifio Coast of America will recognise the similarity of the present practices there to the Spanish way of handling sheep 200 years ago. THE INFLUENCE OF MELBOURNE. The Bradford market to-day has, without doubt, received a decided check in its merino department, and values of a week ago cannot be made to-day. All along topmakers haye been going on the assumption that prices could not be easier this side of the New Year ; but men's calculations have been entirely upset by tho cabled reports* of the opening of the season's sale in Melbourne last week. There is no two opinions that values for merinos are lower than London, and private cables to hand have prompted importers to sell forward super 60's tops at cne halfpenny lesß than had 1 been generally talked about. In fact, men could not sec how any lower prices oould obtain, in view of such_ light stocks, and- the knowledge that consumption was just_ about absorbing all wools that were cominy to hand. But Melbourne's weakness has given a lever to spinners and manufacturers to talk things down and get slight concessions even on to-day's purchases. Spinners were bidding for a super 60's iop 10 days ago. say, 24-Ad, but to-day wilt offer no more than 24d, but, needless to say, topmakers refuse to pcoedte toHSueh a reduction. Tho market at the moment is entirely "qftV there is a decidedly less confident feeling over the< future, and without the shadow of a doubt Bradford users of merino wools are going to buy as little as possible in view of fine wools coming down in price. The position of crossbreds is decidedly encouraging, and' they offer a sharp contrast to merinos. There is very little to complain of here, the difficulty being not so much sellintr material as getting material to sell. Values continue to be exceedingly sound, and merchants who make a specialty of selling the raw material report that they are practically cleared out. The price of 40's is still 14id for a good average top, but this figure is too low when compared to the cost of raw wool. Outside factors continue to dominate the situation, and there seems to be no cessation of employment in outside manufacturing districts. Large quantities of wools continue to be sent to America, and' this gives additional strength to the crossbred situation. So lonsr as consumption is maintained like it is little fear need! be felt over the future. Mohair has shown a httle more life, but values are unchanared, mohair being the cheapest article on the market to-day.