1098 EEPOBT 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 insiae 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, 

 Hght.) 



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 3^ pounds. (Without laps there would have 

 been needed only 2 J 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 5 



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 month previous to this date, and once in December, 



