REPORT ON THE TRANSIT OF STOCK. 473 



of to oue in the bulwarks. For the cattle in the hold a similar 

 erection might be used — such, indeed, as is at present used — to 

 accommodate more animals than can be tied to the sides of the 

 vessel. This arrangement would bring every animal's head 

 within the most convenient reach of the cattleman that is pos- 

 sible, so that both food and water could be supplied with ease. 



As to the kind of food to be supplied, there may be differences 

 of opinion, but for general stock nothing appears to be better than 

 hay, the natural food (dried) of horses, cattle, and sheep, and 

 which, to the recommendations of being cheap and easily ob- 

 tained in most places, adds this property, that its nature fits it 

 for being supplied to the animals by an extremely simple means, 

 viz., a net made of tarred cord, and for cattle and horses in the 

 form of a bag capable of containing 5 or 6 lbs. of hay, For ponies 

 or sheep in a pen or hold the net would require to be made 

 oblong, of sufficient length to stretch across, secured at the ends 

 to the sides of the pen or hold, and supported by light stakes 

 when necessary. For horses and cattle, a bag-net should be sus- 

 pended alongside of each animal's head, or, if made a little larger,, 

 one between each pair of animals might be found sufficient. The 

 use of nets in the feeding of animals with hay is perhaps less 

 known on the north side of the Tweed than on the south side ; 

 but, from personal observation and experience, every confidence 

 is felt that the net, in one form or other, is capable of being- 

 adapted for the purpose in view, and that it offers greater 

 facilities, when the requirements of a steamer are considered, than 

 any other apparatus yet tried. Its chief advantages are these — 

 it is very portable and cheap ; the hay, when once in it, is secure 

 from the effects of wind, so that it forms the best vehicle for con- 

 veying hay in a steamer from the store to the stock, and for pre- 

 serving it when placed before them— (hay might be put into the 

 nets before shipment) ; it occupies the least possible room when 

 not in use ; it won't become sour or injuriously dirty ; and it will 

 allow the animals to consume the food with less waste than an 

 ordinary rack, while its use, as suggested, would place the sup- 

 plies within the reach of each animal ; and we therefore, without 

 hesitation, suggest it as the best apparatus for supplying food to 

 stock on board steamers. 



The supply of water, fortunately, presents much greater 

 facilities than food ; and, bearing in mind the reversal of the 

 animal's position, already suggested as a sine qua non, we 

 offer the following arrangement : — Let a small service-tank 

 be erected on some elevated portion of the steamer (such 

 as the small portion of deck usually built over the bow- 

 sprit), if possible sufficiently high to send water by gravita- 

 tion along the deck, the supply of which alone requires the 

 elevation of this tank above the main deck. This service- 



