cheese cloth or other absorbent material. When in use the bag is 

 saturated with water before the shipment is delivered to the car- 

 rier; the small amount of water that escapes through the ring of 

 perforations is taken up by the encircling absorbent material and con- 

 ducted to the outer covering of canvas. The evaporation from the 

 constantly moistened canvas is the prime factor in maintaining a 

 lower temperature of the water. The cover provided for this con- 

 tainer is open in the center and perforated near its outer margin. 

 Water splashing out of the can falls back again either through the 

 perforations or through the central opening, thus aiding, though but 

 slightly perhaps, in aerating the water. 



Experimental Results With Protected and Unprotected 



Containers 



The table on the following page shows results of some experi- 

 ments in regard to water temperatures with this and similar devices, 

 as compared with unprotected cans. 



It may be seen from the table that an even temperature can be 

 maintained and that, when the margin between the air and water 

 temperature is not too great, the temperature of the water may be 

 considerably reduced through evaporation. 



experimental shipments 

 The first shipments of live fish were the top minnow (Gambusia 

 affinis). The results in each case were highly satisfactory, as indi- 

 cated by the following: 



1, Edenton, N, C, to Washington, D. C. One 7-gallon can con- 

 taining 250 top minnows was delivered to the express agent at 

 Edenton at noon August 12 and was not received in Washington 

 until noon of August 14, having been much delayed en route. Although 

 this lot of fish was about 50 hours without attention, it arrived in 

 good condition with a loss in transit of only about 25. It is very 

 doubtful whether an attendant could have prevented this small loss 

 under the same conditions. The temperature of the water in the 

 can on leaving Edenton was 75° F. Unfortunately the watchman 

 on duty at Washington failed to note the temperature on arrival. 



2. Washington, D. C, to New York City. One 7-gallon can 

 containing 210 Gambusia was shipped by express from Washing- 

 ton August 18 at 4 :30 p. m., water temperature 79° F. Mr. F. W. 

 Collins, 17 East 42nd St., New York City, to whom the fish were 

 consigned, reported as follows : "I went to Jersey City this morn- 

 ing (August 19) and found the fish to be in good condition on 

 their arrival there. The temperature was 68° F." 



39 



