81 



the rise in freights following the war. They have been obtained as low as 

 $1.50 a pair in recent years, it is said. The best of the imported birds were 

 retailed at $4.50 a pair this fall. 



Pheasant carcasses are shipped best when crated, six pairs to the 

 crate, with plenty of ventilation. Do not wrap the bodies in either paper 

 or cloth. 



While it will pay the breeder at the present time to sell his birds alive, 

 there is always likely to be a surplus of cocks that cannot be disposed of 

 except for table purposes. The wholesaler is out of the question, as 

 both he and the retailer have to get their profit out of any birds sold him 

 before they get to the consumer. The breeder will therefore do well to 

 sell his birds to the retailer direct or, better still, to some club or hotel. 

 One sportsman's club sells its surplus birds to a large New York hotel at 

 $5 a pair. 



Wholesalers handle imported birds only. Among the New York 

 City retailers who carry pheasants in season may be mentioned: 



Alexander Wilson, 319 Madison Ave. 



H. H. Tyson & Co., Madison Ave. and Forty-ninth St. 



George H. Shaffer, 673 Madison Ave. 



William King, 581 Madison Ave. 



George Muller & Son, 932 Sixth Ave. 



In the illustration in Figure 15 are shown ringnecks in the windows 

 of one of the above dealers, reared by Mr. Morgan Wing at his Sandanona 

 Pheasantry in Dutchess County, New York. 



MARKET NEEDS BROADENING. The demand for ringneck 

 pheasants for edible purposes in the New York market is limited to people 

 of wealth because of the comparatively high price, and it is active when 

 the social season is on with its consequent entertainment. The first pheas- 

 ants arrive about October 15 and they are kept in stock continuously until 

 April or even May, depending on the exodus of society to the country. 

 November, December, January and February are the months of greatest 

 demand. 



Commenting on the situation recently, Mr. Alexander Wilson, one 

 of the retailers whose name is given above said: 



"I think there would be a great broadening in the market if 



birds were produced in larger quantities, thereby cutting down the 



price. Dealers generally, I am sure, would welcome this and in 



the end it would mean more money to breeders." 



Pheasants are killed by inserting a knife in the mouth and running it 



through the brain. They are neither drawn nor picked. Mr. Wilson 



states that the imported pheasants are sent over not frozen but rather 



