[5] DISTRIBUTION OF CARP DURING SEASON OF 1881-82. 1125 



at intervals of twenty-four hours. These shipments, amounting to about 

 (5,000 fish (scale carp), reached Dallas in fair condition, though they were 

 much weaker than the leather variety brought in the car, and less fitted 

 to endure rough travel. 



From Dallas the car Mitii the full comi)lement of messengers pro- 

 ceeded to Austin via Hearue, supplying as arranged all applicants along 

 the route. In order to provide for supplying the numerous applicants 

 in the vicinity of Corsicana it was found necessary to lie over at that 

 place twelve hours, the train agent kindly making arrangements to take 

 us up on the next train. On reaching Austin I was met by Mr. R. R. 

 Robertson, the Texas Fish Commissioner, who was kind enough to take 

 charge of the delivery of carji to applicants in that vicinity. From 

 Austin we proceeded to San Antonio, where I remained, but sent the 

 car on to Laredo. At Laredo Mr. Ellis was detached with enough fish 

 to sup]»]y applicants in the extreme south of the State. From San 

 Antonio we returned via the Sunset route to Houston, where I left the 

 car, and with Messenger Thompson proceeded via New Orleans to Wash- 

 ington. I delivered on the way fish to isolated ijersons who could not 

 be reached in any other way. Meanwhile the car proceeded to Houston 

 and was here joined by Mr. Ellis, who had been instructed from Wash- 

 ington to take the car to Saint Louis and await further orders. 



The routes traveled by the car and detached messengers were i^lanued 

 so as to completely reach every ])art of the State, imd the measures 

 taken beforehand to notify applicants were so thorough that of upwards 

 of 800 applicants not more than 7 were unsupplied. 



The fish were delivered to the applicants or their authorized agents, 

 or else they were left at the most accessible point and the recipient so 

 notified. 



- The satisfactory issue of our work is largely due to the liberal facilities 

 accorded us by the various lines of railroad traversed. Anything in the 

 way of suppl ies or service was unfailingly rendered. Special acknowledg- 

 ments are due Mr. H. M. Hoxie, the general manager of the Saint Louis, 

 Iron Mountain, and Southern Railway*. From Saint Louis westward 

 until our return to that point, free transportation for car was granted 

 on all lines of railroad traversed by us. 



The result of the work demonstrated that in making shipments by the 

 car-load we can carry a much greater number of fish by using small 

 buckets instead of cans, and also that buckets can be used with great 

 advantage and economy in shii)ping by express, provided the i)assage 

 does not last more than thirty-six or iorty-eight hours. 1 am not satisfied, 

 however, that this mode of shipment is iwracticable in warm weather. 

 This must be decided by experiments. 



The State of Texas seems to possess extraoixliuary facilities for rais- 

 ing carj), and as many of the recipients went to great expense to pre- 

 pare ])onds it is bc^lieved that carp-raising will soon become a valuable 

 industry iu that State. 



