Volume 71: Macarthur family papers relating to wool and sheep, 1820-1936: No. 196
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[Page 196]
plunging, are landed by the landing place H, into No 2 pen, where they remain for the night. The men in their operation are directed to confine themselves to dipping the animals so as to wet the staple to the skin, and not on any account by rubbing to remove either dirt or yolk. The experience of many years has taught us that the washing is much facilitated by having the sheep well soaked several hours previous to the washing . That portion of the yolk which is soluble in cold water is thus enabled to combine with the water taken up into the fleece (which the warmth of the animals will assist in affecting) and to form a species of natural soap, which materially assists in the subsequent operations.
As early as convenient the following day the washing commences. The gang of sheep washers consists usually of 16 men, who are disposed of as follows, one man to attend the the boilers and fill the tubs. Two to catch the sheep and bring them to the tubs; Four men at the tubs (two to each) two men to take