366 Pork Production 



extremely hot weather is that of suspending from the car 

 roof sacks containing large cakes of ice, the movements of 

 the car being sufficient to distribute the cold drip. At 

 some futiu-e time the railroads may equip their hog-cars 

 with artificial sprinkling devices. Such an improvement 

 would result in a tremendous saving during the hot months 

 of the summer. In winter it is a good plan to protect 

 the hogs from the cold winds by nailing a few strips of 

 heavy building paper on the inside of the car, especially 

 on the windward side. 



Selling. 



The responsibility of the commission firm to which the 

 shipment has been consigned begins when the hogs arrive 

 at the market. The employees of the stock yards com- 

 pany and the commission firm's helpers, or yardmen, will 

 see that the hogs are unloaded and yarded. After a short 

 rest, the hogs should be watered and fed. A good fill is 

 essential not only to reduce the natural shipping shrink, 

 but also because the hogs will be more contented and 

 rest better before the buyers begin to arrive. Unusual 

 efl:orts to gain weight by an abnormal fill may reduce the 

 shrink, but it will also have the effect of lowering the price 

 bid. On the Chicago market, the seller has the privilege 

 of saying when the hogs shall be weighed. As a conse- 

 quence of this understanding between the buyer and 

 seller, the hogs are put over the scales when in the judg- 

 ment of the shipper and salesman they have eaten and 

 drunk their fill and when further delay would mean a 

 loss of weight. A good hosing when the weather is not 

 too cold will help greatly in giving the hogs a better 

 appearance. The owner should be with his hogs early 

 and until they are sold and weighed, but the judgment of 



