22 New Hampshire Experimext Statiox [l^ullctin 234 



the commission cost being 1.4 cents per pound. Then, too, on the same 

 market Rocks sell higher than Reds and Reds higher than Leghorns, 

 making a proportional difference in commission cost. 



Method of Procedure 



In order to make a preliminary survey of this problem from the ship- 

 per's point of view about 50 New Hampshire broiler shippers were vis- 

 ited. It was surprising to find how small a percentage of men had 

 kept their way-bills and return statements from the commission house, 

 or who had a system of accounts for recording such transactions. The 

 records obtained and used in this study are from 18 New Hampshire 

 shippers representing 265 express shipments of broilers to the West 

 Washington Market of New York City. The data for several ship- 

 ments were not recorded because of exceptionally large shrinkages re- 

 sulting from high mortality. 



The data have been tabulated to show the cost of marketing broilers 

 between one shipper and one commission house. All of the shipments 

 and expenses incurred when dealing with one house in each year or sea- 

 son have been totaled and reduced to a cost per pound basis. The 

 same procedure was followed in figuring costs when a shipper consigned 

 his broilers to more than one commission house. The identity of the 

 shippers and commission houses has been retained by n,innbering. 



The only items of cost considered have been value of shrinkage, cost 

 of coops, express and commission charges. No costs for labor in coop- 

 ing or trucking have been entered. 



The shrinkage expense was ascertained separately for each shipment, 

 and at the market price for the shipment. In case of a loss the value 

 of the shrinkage was added to the other costs; on the other hand, where 

 there was a gain in weight, this amount was figured at the market price 

 and subtracted from the other costs. 



One-waj^ coops were charged at 60 cents each and any refunds were 

 subtractecl from this amount. All return coops were charged at 20 

 cents each, except in one instance where the shipper had made arrange- 

 ments with a commission man to store a whole carload of return coops 

 and obtained them at 16 cents apiece. 



The summary of the studies is shown in Table 4. Of the 135,495 

 pounds of broilers shipped, returns were made for 128,366 pounds, mak- 

 ing a net shrinkage of 7129 pounds or 5.2%. The occurrence of net 

 gains and shrinkage is shown in Figure 11. 



As few commission houses report the gross weight of coops and broil- 

 ers when delivered by express, it was not possible to learn on a large 

 number of shipments the actual shrinkage in transit, or the gains in 

 Aveight made by the broilers under their care. 



It is a general opinion on the West Washington Market that a 10% 

 shrinkage is to be expected in transit. Some believe they have grounds 

 for a claim against the carrier when the shrinkage exceeds 10%. No 

 ruling, however, has been made to this effect by the Interstate Com- 

 merce Commission. One shipper received adjustment when a coop of 

 broilers was lost by the carrier, and another recovered losses due to 

 smothering of the birds in transit; but no cases were found where the 

 express company paid claims on the basis merely of shrinkage in weight. 



