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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 72

Sheep Stealing

page 6

Sheep Stealing.

A Letter addressed to the Chairman of the Agricultural Conference:—

Seeing that the question of earmarking sheep is one of your subjects for discussion, and as I do not intend to compete for the very inadequate reward offered by the Stock Department for the best system of earmarking, I beg to submit, for your consideration, my scheme, which, I am confident, will prove to be both workable and satisfactory.

It must be recognised that the present system has become abso-lutely valueless, owing to the number of times that earmarks are registered—in some instances from 60 to 80 times in Canterbury—and to the altering of earmarks, which the present law allows.

My proposals are as follows:—

The registered earmark of ownership to be put in one ear only—say the near ear for ewes, and the off ear for male sheep, such original earmarks never to be altered or added to under a heavy penalty—thus leaving the other ear free for bought, age, or stud marks.

The owner of a registered earmark to have the right to put his mark on the free ear of bought sheep.

Age marks should be fixed by law, and need not exceed three, which should be used by all who age mark their sheep. Thus:—

Diagram showing where to add age marks to sheeps ears

These would interfere but little with the bought earmarks, because very few mark for age.

Stud marks I would provide for by metal clips and tattoos. Fire-brands I consider cruel, disfiguring, and useless, because, unless carefully operated, they become indistinct, or, if the skin be broken, horn grows; beside which very few distinct firebrands can be devised.

In adapting my scheme to New Zealand I would divide each branding district into sections, containing not exceeding 300 owners; and in the case of sections, where the number of sheepowners is likely to increase, perhaps 100 or 200; but in any instance the page 7 section should he so defined that there would not be more than 400 owners for many years to come. In the majority of cases well-defined river boundaries could be fixed upon.

No earmark should be registered in any section more than once. By this system no earmark would be registered in any district, say Canterbury, more than eight or ten times. Therefore an owner, who is losing sheep, could easily ascertain whether these few owners of his earmark bred or had sold similar sheep to those he had lost; and the tracing of them and detection of the sheep-stealer would be much simplified.

In providing earmarks, I propose that of 400 earmarks a schedule be adopted, and form part of the Act.

My system of earmarking is illustrated by the accompanying chart, which, I admit, is capable of improvement, but for which I claim simplicity and uniformity.

It is true that some of these earmarks are somewhat complicated, but not more so than some at present in use. The complicated marks, too, would be the last to be registered.

It will be noticed that every earmark whose number ends with 1 has one front bit, and those numbers ending with 2 have two front bits, and so on.

I have carefully studied the question of earmarking for several years past, and I confidently recommend my proposals for your consideration. I would add, that charts of the earmarks scheduled should be printed and posted at every saleyard, and kept by all auctioneers and stock salesmen.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient servant,

Reginald Foster,

Late Chief Inspector of Stock, &c.