458 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



condition in which they remained during their 30 hours in the closed 

 car is very noteworthy and suggestive. The ice melted but little ; the 

 moisture and water evaporated but slightly from the straw; there were 

 no currents of warm or of dry air to strike the boxes;, and the crates pre- 

 served a remarkably low degree of temperature, colder than I had known 

 them to be at any other time, being 37° when I noted it at Harrisburg. 

 I think they could have remained in such circumstances for a much 

 longer time than they did, without needing much care, and have con- 

 tinued in excellent order. The methods and irregular times and inter- 

 vals at which the salmon-eggs are taken from the parent-fish and ma- 

 tured, make the lots to be in different stages of advancement at a given 

 time. If, however, some way could be devised so that several lots or a 

 larger number of crates could make the trip at one time, it seems to me 

 that it would be very proper to provide a car to run across the United 

 States, containing only crates of salmon-eggs. It would not only make 

 it decidedly more convenient to take care of the crates, but it would im- 

 prove greatly the means for the preservation and safety of the eggs. 

 Beside the advantages mentioned above, of the ice not melting, the 

 moisture not evaporating, and the excellent degree of coldness pre- 

 served in an undisturbed atmosphere, others suggest themselves. 

 Judging from the fact that the eggs at all other times are placed in 

 running water, it seems probable that it would be well not only to keep 

 them wet and in wet moss, during transportation, but also allow them 

 more changes of water, by drenching and soaking, than can be done 

 easily in express-cars. Many modes of watering and soaking could 

 readily be devised ; there would be place and room to harbor a large 

 quantity of ice for use, to carry the requisite tools, and to have plenty of 

 room to work in ; the strong draughts of warm, dry air which rush in upon 

 the crates from all the four doors of au express-car when opened at every 

 station would be avoided ; some refrigerating-apparatus might be 

 prepared which would preserve a regularly low temperature; the eggs 

 might be carried in such a way so that they could be picked over on 

 the journey ; for if better otherwise, they need not be packed in a port- 

 able manner, since not to be transferred so often ; the eggs would be 

 entirely freed from the jarring and banging which is injurious to them, 

 and which they receive when changing cars ; and the express difficul- 

 ties and troubles arising from the billing, transferring, separating, and 

 losing the crates would be entirely done away with. This special car, 

 though not quite so necessary in this case, would be of the same nature, 

 and have similar advantages, as those which, in the transportation of 

 live fish and lobsters, the aquarium-car possesses over the inadequate 

 facilities of the express-car. 



" The sealed car, as I have said, reached New York Thursday morning, 

 October 22, and the crates were carried to the Adams Express office, 

 where more ice was immediately put upon them. I saw the Middletown 

 crate off by the forenoon train from New York, and the Providence one 



