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Show 32 COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. A plan has been outlined for improving the breed of sheep be-longing to thee Indians by the introduction from time to time of a limited number of high-grade Rambouillet and Cotswold rams into their flocks, with the hope that the improvement in the native sheep may be so apparent that the Indians of these reserv~tions will, of their own volition, adopt methods of improving their flocks. The aiq is not only to increase the sue of these animals so as to make them more desirable for mutton, but to improve the quality and amount of the wool so that the present clip of 3 or 4 pounds per animal may be increased to at least double that amount. The Indians of the Blackfeet Reservation sold, during the last six mouths of the fiscal year 1916 and the fist six months of the fiscal year 1912, 6,598 head of cattle, for which they received $292,160.96, and 1,044 head of horses, for which they received $49,949, making a total for all sales of $342,109.96. An association known as the Black-foot Stock Protective Association was organized on April 15 with a membership of 43, which was soon increased to 60 members. Any In-dian on the reservation may become a member by subscribirlg to the by-laws and paying the required membership fee of $5 per annum. The members are required to report to the superintendent the nnmes of any person or persons detected in killing or stealing of cattle of any kid. There is a similar association on the Flathead Reserva-tion, composed of white settlers and Indian stock owners. Three years ago about 80 head af 2-year-old heifers were issued to the Indians at the Kaibab Reservation. Since this issue was made the number has increased to more than 350 head. During the month of June 42 head were sold, for which $1,330 was received, and there nre now on the reservation about 335 head belonging to the Indians. At Siletz, Oreg., a cooperative creamery has been established in which membership is open to the Indians. One Indian already has stock in the creamery, and others are contemplating becoming mem-bers. At Mescalero the Indians sold 3,175 lambs during the year, at $2.75 per head, or a total of $8,731.25. This is the highest price obtained for lambs in the State of New Mexico. The wool clipped from the sheep by these Indians amounted to approximately 30,500 pounds, which was sold at 13 cents per pound, or a total of $4,041.25. AGRICULTUBBL FAIRS AWD ASSOCIATIONS. Fairs were held at Watonga, Okla, under the auspices of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians, at Gila River, Cheyenne River, Crow, Fort Belknap, Fort Totten, Fort Berthold, Keshena, Lower Brule, Nevada, Cattaraugus (N. Y.), Pine Ridge, Santee, Sisseton, Tongue River, Fort Peck, Rosebud, and Southern Ute Reservations. While no fair was held last year at the Blackfeet Reservation, a |