YORKSHIRE LETTER.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1880, 14 October 1913, Page 10

YORKSHIRE LETTER.

ABOUT AMERICAN WOOLS. PROSPECTS FOR CURRENT CLIP. (From Our Spccial Correspondents.) rl Bradford, September 5. There seems to bo a general opinion that the current American clip is going to show a further material delicicncy, due, so it is said, to the fact that United States sheepmen cannot compote against the wools of the world on a free wool basis. No doubt tho placing of wool upon t-ho free list, and tho sensible reduction proposed in tho new duties, will put tho strength and solidity of the whole American sheep and wool tiade to "a thorough test. Numbsr of American Sheep. Let us briefly go back to tho period 1893 to 1897, when wool was' admitted free under tho Wilson Bill of that date. Wo well remember Judge Lawrence, who championed the causo of American sheep bleeders, and who was an out and out Protectionist, stating time alter time before tho Committee of tho House of Representatives that given an adequate duty on imported wool, United States sheep-breeders could grow enough wool to satisfy the whole of tho manufacturers of America. No doubt during the previous period of freo wool United States sheep-breeders foolishly abandoned immense flocks, , many farmers ccasing to breed sheep. With a return to high duties, thero was soon a difference seen in tho number of sheep stocks, but during recent years there has been a sharp reduction, and this is to bo regretted. Tho world to-day is in need of larger flocks in every country, and we beliovo that good paying prices aro going to obtain for all descriptions of raw material for many years to come. Still tho experience of tho past fifteen years lias proved conclusively that not even s}d. per lb. duty in imported wool can guarantee to American manufacturers an adequato and acceptable supply of domestic raw material. American mills can no more do without Australian merinos, Now Zealand crossbreds, and English wool, than crops can grow without sunshine, and not oven a shilling per lb. "duty would stop all importations. Wo (jivo below tho number of sheep in tho United States during recent vears: —1896, 38,299,000; 1897, 30,819,000; 1898, 37,057,000; 1899, 39,114,000; 1900, 41,883,000; 1901, 59,757,000; 1902, 62,039,000; 1903, 63,905,000; 1904, 51,630,000; 1905, 45,170,000;. 190G, 50,632,000; 1007, 53,240,000; 1908, 54,631,000; 1909, 56,084,000; 1910, 57,216,000; 1911, 53,633,000; 1912, 52,362,000; 1913, 51,482,000. Merinos Largely Predominate. Wo find a good deal of ignorance manifest even in wool circles relating to the character of tho sheep which aro being depastured across the Atlantic. Merino blood very largely predominates, duo to the early importations of this breed from Europe. Wo need not go back into ancicnt- history to find out how many hundred years the merino has been bred in some of tho Far Western States, and what an important part it has played in building up tlio flocks of America. During recent years thero lias naturally been a tendency to 1 favour more the production of mutton breeds, and with the lapso of timo.it is bound to expand. At tho same time, it is noteworthy that tho American public have never boon big mutton caters, and this is to be regretted, though it can bo explained. America being a big country, and cattlo doing well, farmers havo naturally bred that which paid them best. In tlio report of tho Tariff Boardj which sat two years ago, and which was appointed- specially to go into all tho bearings of Schedule _K, a very useful table is given showing tho; importance of tho merino blood in the- sliecp of tho AVcstcrn States, and below aro statistics of tho breeds in •use in tho flocks covered by the schedule sent out, and returned to tho Tariff Board: — Rams. Ewes. Mer- Mut. Mer-Mnt-ino ton ino ton type. type. type. type. States. p.c. p.c. p.c. p.c. Arizona 87 13 100 — California 50 ' CO 100 — Colorado 67 33 89 11 Idaho 16 84 04 36 Montana 42 53 55 45 Nevada 16 84 75. 25 New Mexico ... 94 6 52 48 Oregon 61 39 94 6 Utah 44 56 56 44 Washington ... 18 82 100 — Wyoming 63 37 90 10 Characteristics of American Wools. Some very good merino wool is grown across the Atlantic, and also a lot of what may bo termed second and thirdrate quality material. It was tlio writer's privilego some time ago to inspect representative fleeces from several of the States named above, but wo must admit being disappointed, particularly, in regard to their clean yield. Many of them would not give moro than 30 per cent., and others even less. At the last series of London sales three or four lots jf specially graded American merinos were catalogued, which wero very nicely grown, and showed a splendid quality. Tliev wero fatty, and very simi'ar to Vermont wools, although they camo from Michegan, Arizona, and Utah. Apart from the best which aro being grown, tho bulk of American wools resemblo very much tlioso of South Africa. Tho quality is right enough, but they lack condition and character, whilo growers niako no attempt at preparation for market, simply leaving insido all the britcli and belly, just as tlio fleeces como oil tlio sheep. Theso 'will no doubt seem strange methods to Australian pastoralists, but all tho samo they aro followed to-day, and to tnoso with a knowledgo of tho colonial trade, there is need for a groat change in their methods. Wo certainly think American wools, both merino and crossbred, will never supplant tlioso of Australian and New Zealand, becauso the two latter aro moro attractive in every sense of tho word, and they aro required to "lift" tho inferior wools grown in the United States. It seems to us tnat American sheep breeders, in ordc* to compcto with tho wools of tlio world, will havo to broaden their views of breeding, and bring their mothods moro into lino with tlioso followed in Great Britain. Merino mutton is not tho best, as everyono knows, unless ' tho sheep aro largo framed after tlio order of the South Australian, but when mated with English sires, a very acceotabio mutton carcass is produced. Wo believe a new era is opening with tho placing of foreign wools upon the. free list, and in timo we shall see somo big shipments made of both merinos and crossbreds across tho Atlantic. Bradford Market Disappointing. The market presents no new feature, but everything is distinctly oil tlio quiet side. The tone is perhaps no worse, but thero is less actual business doing than a week ago, and expectations of an expanding demand aro by no means being realised. Whatever the cause, users aro contenting themselves either with taking up old contracts, or simply buying to cover existing needs, there being no disposition to anticipate, tlie future whatever unless a spinner or manufacturer can get in at distinctly less prices than aro being quoted, to-day. Thero aro soveral offers about for next January delivery of tops, but makers aro in no sense disposed to entertain them, although thero is only about Id. difference between spot and iuturo prices. Most fine topmakers aro quotuig to-dw. 2s. od. fon Ci's. toas. but.

very few indeed are selling at thcßQ figures, and sonio good tops are obtainable at Jd. to Jd. under such a price. It is a fact that tops aro relatively cheaper tlmn wool, notwithstanding that advices from Sydney >j>eak of wool this week being par to o per cent down. Stocks arc in_ no sonso heavy, and many aro looking forward to fino wool being no cheaper at the next London sales, but all tlio samo there is little disposition to play a forcing game; in fact, tho limited business doing at the yarn and piece end of tho trade is accountablo for the s'aclc slate of the top market. Crossbrcds do not indicato much change, but there, is no relief in the export yarn trade in single 30's or twofold 40's, and until moro actual business is placed, it is hardly likely that 40's to 46's tops will move at an accelerated pace. Mo3t toimiakers are demanding 15Jd. for 40's prepared, but spinners say that they can easily buy at id. less, while 44's to 48's aro also somewhat "slack set up." A little more is reported doing in 50's to 06's, but it is impossible to mako higher values; in fact, tho bulk of the sales arc still being put through at tho lowest price yet taken for both merinos and crossbred tops.