456 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



It was through his intervention only that the agent at Chicago would be 

 or was willing to do what I desired ; and the eggs were not to be delayed 

 longer than necessary. We rode with all the crates to the Michigan 

 Central depot, where the two crates for Newcastle, Canada, and Ran- 

 dolph, N. Y., were left, and with plenty of ice. I saw the agent and left a 

 note for the superintendent, and instructions were also given to all the 

 messengers en route. The five remaining crates were carried to the 

 office of the Adams Express, into whose hands they were really deliv- 

 ered and rightly bound. It was dark and cool, so they did not suffer by 

 being on the sidewalk while waiting for the outward express. Leaving 

 them in charge of a policeman, I telegraphed to the following four con- 

 signees of the salmon-eggs : — H. H. Thomas, Eaudolph, Cattaraugus 

 County, N. Y.; Samuel Wilmot, Newcastle, Ontario, Canada; Alex. 

 Kent, Baltimore, Md. ; James Duffy, Marietta, Pa. ; — stating that their 

 crates of salmon-eggs were leaving Chicago that night by certain trains, 

 which I specified. 



" Soon the crates were loaded into the express-car at the depot of the 

 Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Eailroad ; 400 pounds of ice were 

 obtained, so that they kept finely through the night. The messenger 

 made a great ado, and, though the night was not cold, he thought it 

 dreadful to go without a fire. The eastern men on medium nights were 

 m iich more appalled at going without a fire than were those upon the 

 western roads, across the plains and mountains, during those intensely 

 cold nights. Nevertheless, all hands went without a fire for me, and 

 the crates were not in the presence of one during the journey across the 

 continent. The temperatures of the crates at time of starting from 

 Chicago were 46° to 50°. Being very tired I did not rise early the next 

 morning, and the messenger neglected to get any ice at Crestline, Ohio, 

 but it made not much difference; as there was enough to last to Alliance, 

 Ohio, where I procured 250 pounds. The temperatures of the crates 

 Tuesday morning, October 20, were 41° to 43°, and at noon were 42° to 47°. 

 When not packed with ice it is much harder to keep them down to such 

 an excellent degree of coldness, but I managed to attain this end by 

 means of often wetting them with ice-water. In the afternoon I looked 

 into the eggs again and they appeared very satisfactorily and well, 

 showing a much less mortality than I had feared would take place 

 through so many changes. Only a small per cent, appeared to have 

 perished or to be unhealthy. The temperatures at night were 49° to 50°. 



"Every change of cars had brought new troubles; and especially were 

 large cities to be dreaded, because there would be so much more hurry 

 and business going on. Therefore I was anxious riding into Pittsburgh. 

 The train which connected at Pittsburgh for New York with our train 

 never takes any express, and made very close connection, and it was im- 

 possible to arrange for the crates with that train. As it was, the ex- 

 press-men at Pittsburgh said they could not make special arrangements, 

 the rules and customs were inflexible, and that crates bound for New 



