TRANSPORTATION OF LOBSTERS TO CALIFORNIA. 2G5 



to thein carefully, thus bringing the desired result, but many must be 

 taken in order to insure the chances for the safety and success of the 

 ten. It is like throwing a die to bring a certain number : it is ineffect- 

 ual and useless to throw once and more carefully that time, but many 

 throws must be bargained for to insure success once. In the same way 

 this difference in the constitution, original healthiness, and chances of 

 life, affect the certainty of experimenting. 



In order to transport live lobsters, it is without question indispensa- 

 ble to have a special car for the purpose, or at least one which shall run 

 the whole journey. An excellent degree of coldness can more readily 

 be preserved in the undisturbed atmosphere of an aquarium-car than 

 in a constantly shifting express-car. The ice melts less, and the moist- 

 ure does not evaporate so fast. In an express-car there are no facili- 

 ties for soaking and drenching the lobsters and for changing the water 

 often upon them by pouring from pails or by means of many devices, 

 which can easily be arranged in a special car. In such a car the water 

 which flows off the lobsters can readily run out of the car or through 

 holes bored in the floor, and that which does not is in no danger of ruin- 

 ing any valuable express-matter. An excellent refrigerating arrange- 

 ment can be prepared, if to be stationary, and to go from beginning to 

 end with the lobsters. A great deal of room in which to work is very 

 necessary, and cannot be dependent upon the amount of express which 

 happens to be on board. Draughts of warm and dry air, which rush in 

 from the four doors of an express-car, when open to receive or deliver 

 goods at every station, and which, as we have seen, are extremely 

 injurious, are avoided by a special car. Lobsters cannot be packed so as 

 to be transferred at railroad junctions and changes of express compan- 

 ies. They cannot with success be portably arranged, but must be so 

 situated that they can easily be attended to. The impracticability of 

 interrupting the person in charge, when repacking the lot of lobsters 

 in order to prepare for a change of cars, determines at once as infeasi- 

 ble the plan of carrying live lobsters by express. The jarring and dis- 

 turbance which they would suffer in a few changes of cars would soon 

 end their existence. Furthermore, the transferring of the numerous 

 necessary tools, and especially the casks of salt water, would be a very 

 weighty item. 



Though successful in the life of the innumerable spawn which lived 

 and have hatched since deposited in the bay of San Francisco, the effort 

 of this year was accompanied with many results which need not be con- 

 sidered as necessarily attendant upon the transportation of live lobsters ; 

 but in order to get a knowledge of these needless evils, and those which 

 are to be avoided, as well as of the means for promoting success, it is 

 necessary once to make the attempt and search them out by experience. 



Eespectfully submitted. 



MAESHALL L. PEEEIN". 



