IMPORTATION OF 1857. 89 



February the 1st, 1856. Though most of the bees 

 had died or escaped from the hive during the passage 

 enough remained to prove that by careful handling 

 they could be imported with little loss, and that they 

 would increase and make large quantities of honey 

 when here. 



I left San Francisco May the 5th, 1857, on board 

 the steamship Golden Gate, on my way East, for the 

 purpose of preparing a stock of bees for shipping to 

 California. 



Sixty-seven colonies were prepared from my own 

 apiaries, situated in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania. 



They were taken to New York, and shipped on 

 board the steamer Northern Light, which sailed from 

 that port November the 5th, bound for Aspinwall. 



The bees were put on board in good order, were 

 placed on the hurricane deck,^ept well shaded and 

 ventilated, and arrived at the latter port on the 15th 

 of the same month, being ten days from port to port. 

 Having arrived at Aspinwall in the forenoon, and 

 ascertained that no passengers or freight would be 

 sent forward before the next morning, I obtained per- 

 mission to open the hives on the Company's grounds, 

 and let the bees fly during that evening^ which 

 greatly relieved them, and contributed to their health 

 during the remainder of the voyage. 



The hives were closed up and placed on board the 

 cars, crossed safely to Panama, and reshipped on 

 board the steamer Sonora, which sailed from that 

 port on the evening of the 16 th, bound for San 



