506 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
Green shrimp arrive in barrels holding about 150 pounds, while 
the cooked shrimp come in 5-pound tins, about 100 pounds to the 
barrel. Lobsters are received in ordinary slat barrels with a net 
weight of 50 to 100 pounds. Scallops are received in 9-pound cloth 
sacks (1 gallon), 10 to 20 sacks to a barrel. Live hard crabs arrive 
in 30-pound boxes and soft crabs in the Chesapeake crab box, which 
is known as a “crab trunk,’’ so-called because of its several layers 
of trays. Crawfish are received in 10 and 15 pound baskets and 
sacks. Shell clams are received in 70-pound sacks, 180-pound 
boxes, and 270-pound barrels. Shell oysters are received in barrels 
containing about 270 pounds, while shucked oysters arrive in 1-gallon 
cans, 15 or 20 cans to a barrel. Live fish are brought down the 
Mississippi River in specially constructed barges. Shad roe is 
received in 1, 3, and 5 gallon pails, packed in barrels. Pulpo is 
received in 15-pound boxes and squid in 120-pound boxes. Frogs 
arrive in barrels with a net weight of 100, 150, or 200 pounds, depend- 
ing on the weather. Caviar is received in pails of various sizes. 
All shipments of fresh fishery products are packed in ice. 
Some of the local wholesalers express a desire for the adoption 
of standard boxes for the shipment of products received in their 
market. This is especially true of fish shipments. For the ship- 
ment of the smaller varieties of fish, such as Spanish mackerel, 
flounder, catfish, and similar varieties, the 100-pound box is suggested ; 
the 140-pound box for varieties of medium size, such as the red 
snapper, buffalo fish, and carp; and the 200 or 300 pound box for 
larger varieties, like the halibut. A box of larger proportions is 
cumbersome to handle. The smaller and medium sized boxes 
should be equipped with handles extending not more than 4 inches 
over each end. Each container should provide for the proper amount 
of fish, with sufficient space remaining for snow or ice to insure 
preservation en route. 
From a selling standpoint, the contents of such containers will 
represent a standard net weight for each class of fishery product. 
Then, should occasion warrant, the contents could be sold by the 
container, eliminating weighing and rehandling at the market. 
From the standpoint of transportation, an express or freight car 
could be filled more completely. The extension handles make 
picking up and setting down easy, and eliminate the possibility 
of upending the boxes while in transit. The 100 and 140 pound 
boxes, being of medium size, can be handled easily by two men. 
Shipments made in containers of this style present a better appear- 
ance upon arrival at their destination. The fish lie flat in the boxes, 
and loss due to spoilage (caused by the breaking of the body wall 
of fish packed in containers not conforming to their size) will be 
eliminated. Also, the lower layers will not present that ‘‘squashed”’ 
appearance, which is frequently seen in fish packed in boxes or 
barrels of larger dimensions and holding a greater quantity of fish. 
Shrinkage of shipments made in boxes is about 1 per cent less 
than when made in barrels. While this amount is of no great signifi- 
cance in the case of a single package, the aggregate will amount 
to several hundred pounds in a carload shipment. 
The use of stencils instead of shipping tags is suggested where 
possible for marking the name and address of the consignee onthe 
container. Such stenciling should always be done on each end of the 
boxes. 
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