THE MOHAIR GOAT.

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 336, 9 July 1874, Page 2

THE MOHAIR GOAT.

The following is an extract from a letter from Mr Gavan Gntherall, Her Majesty's Consular agent at Angora, to Dr Swarbreck Hall, of Hobart Town. The letter beavs date 31sfc December lust. ' The Mohair Goat, from a very early date has been bred in this district, and has supplied an unrivalled staple, ranking next in value to silk itself. Several attempts have been made to introdnce it into Europe, always resulting 1 in failure, but of late years they have been successfully introduced into Cape Colony, California, and Melbourne. jln all these places they thrive, in the latter particularly they' promise ere long to increase more rapidly, and yield finer hair than they do in A.sia Minor. Here they are tended in flocks of from 100 to 1000 head mixed with the common goat and sheep. One shepherd has 80 to 100 head allotted him. During spring, they browse upon the leaves of a stunted' oak common in the district, and 'upon the cr>ai*sc tufted gras3 peculiar to most high hinds. When all herbage is burnt np by the hot sun in summer, or the ground covered with snow during the short -laifc severe .winter, they are then fed with chopped straw and hay, and thrive thereon. The clip begins here in March. Kids produce J^lb weight; ewes, 31b; males, from olb to Gib, the average per- goat being 2},lb weight. Seventy-fix c per cent, of this is available as what is called fair average, in Biadford, and is saleable in that maiket at from 3s to 3s Od per lb, according to quality and market rate-; twenty-five per cent, being seconds and inferior?, worth from Dd to 2s Gd per lb. At the beginning of winter the fleece- becomes so heavy that the animals have to bs partly clipped to enable them to walk. An average of 12oz per full grown goat is- obtained in this way, and because of its extra length is valued at fifteen per cent, more than fair average. The Turkish reutchpayer or grazier, is, perhaps, the most ignorant and impracticable producer in the world. He persists in drenching the fleeces with water thus destroying the true lustre in order to make an extra profit out of the Christian merchants who are his only customers; he is oppressed with heavy and constantly increasing taxation, and yet most of thorn not only make- a living- bnt accumulate wealth. The reason irf that the demand for the staple usually exceeds tlie supply, and were the trade once in the hands of British growers- and capitalists, there is no doubt it would receive an immense development. The goats hitherto shipped from Asia Minor to the .colonies already referred to, have all been of the Kastambol bieed, a showy but inferior species, the reason boing that that district is nearer the sea, and the original cost and outlay on the way are much lighter. The Angora species, which is undoubtedly the thorough-bred, has not yet been exported. Whore it is thought desirable, I consider I am in a position to execute orders for the choicest Angora goats. The post I have tile honour of holding as Her Majesty's representative here, and the fact of mv buying goats' hair lf%rgely> for some of the most enterprising of the Bradford spinners, gives mo every facility and advantage in dealing with the natives. At present prices the animals could be delivered at the ports of Enneboli, Ismatfc, or Constantinople for JBS (five pounds sterling) a head; delivered in London theaditional expense, insurance, freight, &c wouuld bring the price up to .£9 to £10 (nine to ten pounds sterling) according to cost of I freight at tho time. The inferior breeds referred to, could be obtained for much less money, but my calculation is for the best bred animals only. 'The usual mode in executing such orders is to open a credit for me with a London banker, with permission to draw, say a fourth, when tho goatsare bought, and tho balance with documents, bills of lading. &c> attached when they are shippsd.'