REGULATION OF SHIPS THAT CARRY EXPORT ANIMALS. 
Another danger that menaced our export trade had its origin in the 
mproperly fitted ships and in the alleged cruel treatment of animals 
on shipboard. In the early years of the transatlantic traffic, before 
the large and commodious cattle boats of the present day were con- 
structed, these animals were largely carried on “‘ tramp ’’ ships,—vessels 
which were not engaged in a regular trade, but which were sent from 
port to port after such cargo as could be obtained. As such ships might 
not carry cattle on more than one or two voyages a year, they had only 
teinporary cattle fittings, and were without conveniences for supplying 
the proper quantities of food and water. ‘The pens were so insecure and 
so exposed that frequently both fittings and cattle were washed over- 
board. The attendants were often inexperienced and worthless. The 
space was overcrowded. The ventilation was insufficient. The boats 
were occasionally unseaworthy. 
As aresult of these conditions, reports frequently reached the pub- 
lic of ships arriving in British ports affer an unusually long voyage, 
with the feed and water exhausted and the animals dying from hunger 
and thirst. Sometimes during storms it was necessary to fasten down 
the hatches, and then, it was alleged, that, on account of insufficient 
ventilation, large numbers of animals would die asphyxiated. Again, 
it occasionally happened that, in heavy seas, the weight of the cattle 
would be thrown upon the halters with such force that the fastenings 
would give way and the animals be mixed and jammed together in the 
greatest confusion. If the attendants were inexperienced, or, for any 
cause, unequal to the occasion, some of the animals would be crushed 
and trampled to death, others would be bruised and maimed, and the 
general appearance of those landed would make a most unfavorable im - 
pression. 
Such occurrences could scarcely fail to attract the attention of hu 
mane people abroad, particularly when the sentiment of humanity was 
intensified by the desire to limit American competition. The barbarities 
of the transatlantic cattle traffic were described in language glowing 
with indignation and horror, the cruelties were exaggerated and multi- 
plied, atrocities were described that never were committed, and illus- 
trated pamphlets were prepared and circulated in order that the full 
power of sensationalism might be invoked. As a result of this agita- 
tion, a bill was presented to the British Parliament to prohibit the im- 
portation of live cattle from beyond the seas, and the Queen was 
strongly urged, in the name of humanity, to use her influence to secure 
its passage. 
This emergency was met by the act of March 3, 1891, authorizing 
the Secretary of Agriculture to enforce necessary regulations to secure 
the safe carriage and humane treatment of cattle exported from the 
United States. Careful investigations were at once made by the Bureau 
of Animal Industry and regulations formulated which were acceptable 
to the British Government. The rigid enforcement of such regulations 
led to the withdrawal of the poorer class of ships from this trade, since 
they could not compete with the regular liners if compelled to fit ina 
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