1098 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [8] 



Conn. The outer packing of both cases was dry moss. While pack- 

 ing I observed that not all of the unimpregnated eggs had been re- 

 moved, and there were some impregnated that were not healthy, small 

 embryos and irregular development. I saw three or four bursted eggs. 

 Now I cannot think that these defects are owing to any fault in our 

 management. The inside moss in part of our boxes was rather drier 

 than ordinary, and I think that all or most of these went to Fenton. 

 (Both packages arrived at their destinations in good order. Mr. Brack- 

 ett reported condition " excellent." Mr. Fenton said, " good, except 

 some indented." Dead on unpacking in latter lot, 47 ; subsequent losses, 

 light.) 



January 23. — Shipped another lot of eggs (32,000) to Mr. Brackett. 

 1 had a case made on purpose for it, intending to have a space of 2 

 inches all around for outside packing, but by mistake it was made so 

 shoal as to leave but 1^ inch above and below\ I lined it with two 

 thicknesses of asbestos roofing felt on all sides and packed the remain- 

 ing space with the ordinary dry moss. The case is of half inch pine. 

 The felt used was about 3J pounds. (Without laps there would have 

 been needed only 2J pounds.) It costs in Boston 20 cents per pound — 

 here, about 22 cents. It weighs about 1 pound per square yard, and 

 its cost can be put at 2J cents per square foot. The package weighed, 

 In detail, as follows : 



Lbs. Oz. 



3 boxes eggs packed in wet moss „ 40 9 



Cover, side cleats, and nails 1 7 



Lbs. Oz. 



Total of inner package ^.. 42 



Moss 6 9 



Asbestos felt 3 8 



Case 20 4 



Total of envelope 30 6 



Total of entire package . 72 5 



A package with a protecting envelope of dry moss one inch thicker 

 than the above on all sides would weigh about 3 pounds 14 ounces 

 more. Supposing the two modes equally efficient in protecting against 

 cold, we save near 4 pounds weight, and corresponding amount on 

 freight by an outlay of 77 cents for asbestos and the trouble of lining 

 the cases with it. I believe this will hardly pay. [Subsequent experi- 

 ments showed that not even the above economy of space would be ef- 

 fected by the use of asbestos felt, its resistance to the escape of heat 

 being not much, if any, greater than that of an equal thickness of moss 

 alone.] Temperature of air at 7 a. m., 0° F. It has been below zero on 

 six mornings this mouth previous to this date, and once in December. 



