PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 1922. 91 



It is not intended to convey the idea that special attendants will 

 not be necessary in handling large shipments of fish or under par- 

 ticularly difficult conditions, but by taking a large number of cans 

 to some central point and sending allotments of fish to the various 

 applicants one man should be able to cover a given territory more 

 expeditiously and economically than is possible under the present 

 system. Reaching applicants residing at points off the main rail- 

 road lines usually involves extra expense, since the attendant, be- 

 cause of irregular train service, frequently has been obliged to re- 

 main over night at the point Avhere the last delivery of fish was 

 made. 



The lard can and jacket complete costs less than $1.50. The 

 jacket represents about 65 per cent of the total cost. In short- 

 distance shipments, where express charges are not high, the cans 

 may be returned for reuse. In cases where there would be excessive 

 express charges the recipient of the fish may be requested to return 

 the jackets only, by parcel post, a frank being furnished for the 

 purpose. 



PRACTICAL. APPIilCATIONS. 



A specific instance of the results obtained by this method is illus- 

 trated by the following in connection with the distribution from the 

 Orangeburg (S. C.) station in the fall of 1921. A messenger with 

 20 cans of black bass and bluegills left Orangeburg at 5.30 a. m. 

 He supplied 17 applicants at 9 points, and returned to the station 

 at 11 p. m. on the same date, the entire expense in connection there- 

 with being $21.47. The method of procedure was from Orangeburg 

 to Fayetteville (N. C.), where six applicants were supplied. From 

 Fayetteville fish were forwarded in jacketed cans, in care of the 

 train baggage-masters, to 11 applicants. Had the messenger de- 

 livered fish to each applicant in person 65^ hours would have been 

 required, and the cost would have been practically doubled. The 

 cost of distribution from the Orangeburg station during the fall of 

 1920 under the old method was $1.57 per can of fish distributed ; the 

 cost under the new method during 1921 was 90 cents per can. 



From the Bulloch ville (Ga.) station 28 deliveries were made on 

 four messenger trips. On one trip to Atlanta, Ga., 10 shipments of 

 fish were made to points in Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, and 

 Georgia. No complaints were received. 



In the fall of 1920 a special shipment of Gambusia was sent by 

 messenger from Edenton, N. C., to Washington, D. C., the cost of 

 the trip being approximately $25. Practically the same number of 

 Gambusia was shipped to Washington, D. C, in the fall of 1921 in 

 two jacketed cans, the express charges being only $1.57. 



At the Edenton (N. C.) station a reduction of approximately 50 

 per cent in the distribution costs was brought about during the 

 fiscal year 1922 by generally adopting the new method. Messengers 

 with fish for distribution were sent to the three important railroad 

 centers — Greensboro, Raleigh, and New Bern, N. C. — and the con- 

 signments were forwarded to applicants from those points by ex- 

 press or in care of the train baggage-masters. No complaints came 

 to hand of failure to receive fish or of fish received in poor con- 

 dition. The following statement shows the actual costs of making 



