MARKETING 107 



lids down with stout string and the squabs were 

 shipped in perfect safety. 



As the marketmen could make better rates, 

 they paid the expressage and deducted the 

 .amount from the returns. This included the 

 return of the shipping baskets. The expressage 

 was light — something like four baskets for 

 forty-five cents. 



It is best not to ship exclusively to one mar- 

 ket for fear of lowering the price. 



If the market the breeder selects demands 

 Hressed squabs, or if the breeder wishes to take 

 advantage of an added revenue by curing the 

 feathers, of course it is to his advantage to do 

 this part of the marketing as neatly and with 

 as much dispatch as possible. The squabs 

 should be gathered the day before they are to 

 be killed and confined in baskets or coops of 

 some sort where they may keep each other 

 warm, if the weather is cold; but not too many 

 in one compartment for fear some will be 

 smothered. The reason for gathering them up 

 so early is that the crop and intestines may be- 

 come entirely emptied of all undigested and 

 digested food, as in this state they will keep for 

 a much longer time after being killed. Twenty- 

 four hours is the length of time usually allowed, 

 A squab is ready to kill when it is plump and 



