National Standard Squab Book. 71 



delivery of our pigtous to customers. Our responsibility does not ead 

 wlien we have given tliem to tlie expressman. Our guarantee follows them 

 as long as they are iu the hands of the express company. We will put 

 them into your hands safe and sound. 



Once in a while you will read of live stock and breeding associations 

 getting togetli'er and coraplainmg about the "exorbitant rates" charged 

 by the express companies. The trouble is not with the rates of the ex- 

 press companies, but lies wholly in the ignorance of the breeders who 

 meet to complain. They simply do not know how to ship and how to talk 

 to the express agents. 



We never read the above advice as to shipping live stock iu any book 

 or paper. It is the product of our own experience and the information 

 co.st us at least $100 iu excess charges before we learned how to get the 

 low rate. It is worth dollars to our customers, and that is why we have 

 given it here in detail. 



Killed squabs go to market at the rate charged for ordinary merehaudise, 

 uo matter what the distance. Breeders having special customers who 

 wish the squabs plucked should pack them in a clean white wood box 

 (with ice in the summer) and nail the box up tight. Such shipments go 

 through in splendid condition and if the breeder has a choice article, 

 with his trade mark stamped on the box, he gets the fancy price. Squabs 

 which reach the Boston market from jobbers in Philadelphia and New 

 fork are plucked and packed with ice du barrels. Breeders around Bos- 

 ton who reach the Boston market with undressed squa'bs send them m 

 wicker hampers or baskets on the morning of the day after they are 

 killed. 



In tlie graduated charge books of all the inter-state express companies 

 dating from Juue. 190?, « ill be found a special classification indexed 

 under P as "Pigeons." Tell your agent to look it uii in his book if you 

 think he overcharges you. There it will be f(Uind that live pigeons for 

 breeding are carried for the single, or merchandise rate for all distances 

 for which the rate per one hundred pounds is $2 or more. For all dis- 

 tances for which the rate per one hmidred pounds is less than $2, the 

 charge is now 1 1/2 times the merchandise rate, and not double it. This 

 ruling practically puts pigeons on the same easy scale of charges as 

 applied to common merchandise. No agent anywhere has a right to make 

 any e.xtra charges whatever on a iiigeon shipment. 



There is uo duty on our pigeous to Canada, Cuba or Porto Eieo, 



