WKST SHORE.
Ordinarily one man will shear from fifty to ISO sheep
i day, there being a great difference in the growth of
wool, which makes it very easy to shear some Bheep
while others require more time. Under proper encour
agement some shearers will admit having shorn any
where from 200 to 300 animals between suns. There
are, however, well authenticated instances where one
man has shorn 200 in one day, catching his own sheep
and tying his fleeces. Several shearers work at one
station, and the season lasts two or threo weeks, begin
ning about the first of May.
When the fleeces have been stripped off the journey
to the summer range in the mountains begins. If the
feed is good along me way progress may bo slow; the
Ml
dure in tho mountains. In OctoWr the higher elova
tions aro forsaken, and tho bands begin their return
to their winter quarters. Their sjeod in returning is
governed by tho same conditions that govern tho
'pnng migration the abundaneo, or dearth, of food.
Winter quarters aro selected with reference to tho
shelter afforded from xmlo heavy storms and tho
proximity of food, both hay and pasture.
Tho sheep herder has a lonely time of it. Ho has
his tent and a few cooking utensils. Tho earth is his
couch, and, when migrating between winter and sum
mor range, ho wraps himself in his blanket and lies
with his flock and his don in tho onen air. A enmn
tender accompanied two or more bands, whoso duty it
A HIIKKI' SIIIAHIMO CAMP SKA M'SAtlll, WAII.
sheep man does not voluntarily forsake good pastur
age. Hut if the country is occupied by settlers and
the pasturage destroyed the sheep have to travel rap
idly in order to reach good food before starving. Four
r five miles a day are usually traveled by a flock in
good feed, and three times that distance if going
through a section that is under cultivation. On reach
lng the mountains the custom is to remain in the foot
hills for some time and to ascend to the higher parts
" midsummer. Tho tops of the mountains are cov
ered with snow till late in the season, so that when
lhe plain below is baked in the sun and vegetation
withered there is plenty of moisture and spring vcr-
is to furnish the herders supplies and convey tho camp
equipage from place to place as tho flock may shift
their feeding grounds. In tho mountains tho camp
tender resorts to pack animal to movo supplies and
ramps. Tin) herders have only to look out fur their
bands of sheep; tho camp tender must supply provi
sions and sw to moving tho herders' quarter. A
herder get about I'C a month beside hi SUpplie.
As might ho expected, om of themt Mlows are not
H'Hthctic. They share tln ir meal and their bed with
their dgs "share and sharo alike." Other will m
found intelligent and well informal men. Their tent
arc kept mat, their fowl i skillfully prepared and they