14 SQtJABS FOR PROFIT 



they get on the floor. Commission men grade squabs 

 by weight. The grades are 7, 8, 9 or 10 pounds, etc., 

 to the dozen. The highest price is paid for tlie plump- 

 est and heaviest birds. Squabs running 8 pounds to 

 the dozen is an average weight. As an example of 

 the way squabs usually run, we give below the details 

 of a shipment made October 12, 1905. 



4 10-12 dozen squabs, averaging 9 pounds per dozen 



at $4 $19.33 



3 9-12 dozen squabs, averaging 8 pounds per dozen 



at $3.75 14.16 



1-12 dozen squabs, at the rate of 7 pounds per dozen 



at $3 25 



Total $33.74 



These figures show that seven-pound squabs at that 

 time were much less profitable than eight-pound 

 squabs; that nine-pound birds brought about 7 per 

 cent more than eight-pound birds. The same condi- 

 tion holds good now. It should be noted that the 

 largest number of birds were in the nine-pound class 

 and that only one bird was graded in the seven-pound 

 class. 



We shipped 106 birds the following week. The 

 price had advanced 25 cents as follows : 



4 dozen squabs, averaging 9 pounds per dozen at 



$4.25 ;■ $17.00 



4 3-12 dozen squabs, averaging 8 pounds per dozen at 



$4 17.00 



7-12 dozen squabs, averaging 7 pounds per dozen at 



$3.25 1.89 



Total $35.89 



'It will be observed that the light-weight squabs 

 were few. The heavy birds were but three less than 

 the medium-weight ones, while the amount received 



