10. Premiums for hatching eggs varied among producers from an 

 average of about ten to 60 cents per dozen in 1947. Average for all pro- 

 ducers was about 27 cents per dozen. 



11. Of all hatching eggs shipped, about 10 percent go to New Eng- 

 land. 52 percent to Middle Atlantic states, and 31 percent to Southern states. 



12. About 41 percent of all hatching eggs are shipped direct to the 

 hatcheries. 



13. Fiber cases make up almost half of the total shipped, commercial 

 wooden cases 31 percent, and heavy returnable cases 21 percent. 



14. Careful checking and repair of egg cases is important. 



(a) One shipper replaced 10 percent of his paper cases each trip, 

 (bj Another shipper repairs almost a third of his returnable 

 wooden cases each trip. 



15. The cost of shipping hatching eggs by plane is still too high to 

 encourage many shippers and savings in breakage do not offset the extra 

 cost. 



16. Air freight rates to some Florida points are more than double 

 rail rates, while air express rates are over six times rail express. 



17. The bulk of the hatching eggs moving to the Eastern Shore or 

 Del-Mar-Va area go by truck. 



18. In shipments to a Maryland hatcherv- about six eggs per case 

 were found cracked or broken at the farm, less than one egg per case from 

 farm to terminal, and about eight eggs per case were broken from terminal 

 to hatchery. 



19. Shippers vary greatly In claims for losses by rail. One large New 

 Hampshire shipper made claims in 13 percent of cases shipped and another 

 less than 1 percent. 



20. Egg breakage in the corners of the cases were double the average 

 breakage. 



21. Eggs in the top layer had the heaviest breakage; those in the 

 4th layer, the least breakage. 



22. Methods of reducing egg breakage in shipments may include: 



(a) handling and careful checking of eggs before packing. 



(b) elimination of oversize and thin shelled eggs. 



(c) extra size or built-up cases for oversize eggs. 

 Id) extra flats top and bottom and between layers. 



(e) careful checking of all cases used; making repairs where prac- 

 ticable, and elimination of those that would not carry eggs 

 safely. 



23. Premiums for high hatchability reward the careful and competent 

 producer. 



24. Several large hatcheries do pay for hatching eggs on the basis 

 of hatchability, but many dislike the extra bookkeeping involved. 



23 



