SALMON-HATCHING ESTABLISHMENT, m'cLOUD RIVER,, CAL. 455 



ice on the top ; whereas, if no hay was around the boxes they would be 

 directly exposed to the warm, dry air, unless the crates were kept con- 

 stantly full of ice. Therefore, I procured 75 pounds of hay at Grand 

 Island, Neb., together with 400 pounds of ice, and during the day 

 packed up the crates with hay, which, of course, was dry, and watered 

 them with ice-water at every station until they were very wet and cold. 

 The temperatures Sunday noon were between 48° and 57°. An accident 

 delayed us until we were almost seven hours late. 



" Eeaching Omaha the circumstances were anything but propitious for 

 arranging matters. It was quite dark ; it was Sunday night, conse- 

 quently not many authorities could be found ; the only agent who was 

 at the station, having any power at all, was intoxicated. There is always 

 hurry and confusion about the transfer across the Missouri, and espe- 

 cially as the train was so many hours late. It would be better to have 

 the crates go to Chicago by the United States Express Company, as they 

 were then more likely to go on well from Chicago. It being Sunday 

 night, however, only the working employes were around, and their 

 orders were such that I could get only the locally-billed to go by the 

 United States Express, the others going by the American Express over 

 another route. Therefore, at Chicago I must persuade the authorities 

 of both express companies to give up their crates to the Adams Express, 

 which runs over the southern routes from Chicago, by which the crates 

 must be carried. While making the transfer across the Missouri Eiver 

 I found it could be possible to have all go to Chicago by the American 

 Express. Hence, in Chicago I would have only one party to deal with ; 

 so all the crates unitedly, and myself, went to Chicago by that route. 

 This outline of express troubles, filled in with a numerous amount of 

 stubborn details and minutiae, which were hard to overcome, caused me 

 incessant anxiety concerning the preservation and final safety of the 

 eggs; and, indeed, the express difficulties with this lot only began at 

 Omaha, to continue onward to the end of the trip : but in this report it 

 will be needless to particularize them. 



; 'xVt Dunlap, Iowa, though very late, I procured 400 pounds of ice 

 which I fixed over the crates ; before which, however, I removed the 

 slats from several crates and opened the boxes containing the eggs to 

 examine them. They seemed to be in excellent order, at which I was 

 very much encouraged. The temperature of the crates was warmer 

 than usual, being 53° to 56° ; but I was not afraid that it would rise, for 

 the night was to be quite cool. The next morning, Monday, October 19, 

 the temperatures were 50° to 50£. I obtained some ice at Clinton, Iowa, 

 in the forenoon. The day was warm, and a good deal was used. At 

 noon the temperatures were from 51° to 52°. Very fortunately, indeed, 

 just before entering the city of Chicago, the superintendent of the Amer- 

 ican Express Company, (the company w r ith which the crates then were,) 

 came into the express-car. He was the person whom I could influence 

 to the best advantage, and his was just the authority I was in need of. 



