STUDIES OF POULTRY. 



19 



CONTAINERS. 



The question of containers for dressed poultry between the packing 

 house and the retail merchants is one that has been greatly modified 

 ^ince the introduction of mechanical refrigeration into the industry. 

 Formerly, large boxes, holding between 100 and 200 pounds, or more 

 commonly, barrels holding 250 pounds at least, were used almost 

 exclusively to carry the chickens from the killing place to the market, 

 because the large package is more economical and more convenient 

 when layers of ice between the layers of birds is the source of refrig- 

 eration. 



FIG. 3. Broiling chickens packed breast up. 



The heavy weight of the contents of such a package induces decay. 

 TJncleanliness is also a great objection, as will be discussed later, and 

 it has additional disadvantages. When the temperature can be de- 

 pended upon for satisfactory chilling and maintenance of refrigera- 

 tion, these barrels are frequently used by those w r ho practice ice pack- 

 ing customs with the ice omitted; and they are sometimes used by 



[Cir. 64] 



