HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 
85 
done, if you only had the courage and energy 
to carry it out." 
The consignments usually arrive in the Til- 
bury Docks, they are taken round to the Atlantic 
Transport steamers for New York. Herewith let- 
ter from the Atlantic Transport Company, Ltd., 
dated 6th March, 1917 :— . 
"Dear Sir, — We have much pleasure in 
stating that we have carried many of your ship*- 
ments of Animals, Birds, etc. (in transhipment 
from Calcutta) to New York by our steamers 
from London, and they always occupy space in 
the Horse and Cattle Deck, which would not 
otherwise be occupied owing to our export trade 
to America as a rule not filling one third! of the 
available space in our steamers. We are always 
glad to get such shipments. The space occu- 
pied by your shipment is not suitable for general 
cargo. 
The Atlantic Transport Co., Ltd." 
Let me assure my readers this will prove a 
very considerable transhipment business in time 
to come. It is nothing unusual for the incidental 
expenses, such as Port Rates, Port of London 
Charges, Labour Insurance, Boxes, Cartage, etc., 
on an ordinary consignment to amount to £200, 
besides there is the Freightage to New York. 
The consignments vary from £750' to £1,600! each. 
During our busy season two consignments are 
sent monthly. This means American money to 
the value of thousands of pounds is distributed 
in Great Britain, benefitting all and sundry. 
Does Lord Northcliffe, Col. Lockwood, M.P., 
and George Edgar object to this? 
Are we Wasting Tonnage ! 
I will now point out to Lord Northcliffe, Col. 
Lockwood, M.P., and George Edgar where ton- 
nage is wasted. 
The above named gentlemen must understand 
that I have mixed with shipping for the past 
forty years. I have a general knowledge of the 
Docks and Dock Work. 
Let me advise them to direct their efforts to 
the following cases : — 
Is it correct that on a certain small steamer 
on charter to a certain Port in France, six Gov- 
ernment officials occupy a 500 ton cabin space, 
worth according to charter 27/6 per ton, which 
lias been going on for months? 
Is this a waste of tonnage or not? 
Is is correct that at a certain port in France 
there are several Refrigerating Stationary Store 
Ships, with full crews, entailing an enormous 
consumption of stores and coal, such storeships 
being supplied with stores by smaller weekly 
Steamers, the latter also entailing great ex- 
pense, the whole of which could be saved by 
the very simple process of (reeling refrigerators 
on land adjoining the various quays? 
The amount of money wasted in the above 
Stationary Storeships would have paid for and 
brought over here all the animals that have trod 
God's earth since the World began. 
I should like to ask the " Daily Mail" whether 
the above facts constitute a Waste of Tonnage 
or not ! 
Is it correct that a certain mail steamer was 
gutted of all its passenger accommodation and 
fitted up as a troopship in South Africa, and 
then at the last moment sailed with only three 
ordinary passengers? 
I forget the actual cost of this wastage, but 
it amounted to thousands of pounds. 
What do you consider that, Lord Northcliffe, 
Col. Lockwood, M.P., and George Edgar ! 
I could give a dozen other glaring cases of 
Wasted Tonnage, Money and Labour, but pre- 
sume the above three examples are enough. 
I trust the Members of the House of Com- 
mons will not put any obstacles in the way of 
capturing the enemies trade. I deserve their sym- 
pathy and support. 
In conclusion, I wish to express my gratitude 
to the various officials with whom I have been 
brought in contact with during the last two 
years. Everything possible that could be done, 
has been arranged in a most kindly businesslike 
manner. I feel confident some ofi these gentlemen 
smile at the various regulations they have to 
carry out. Anyway I thank them one and all 
(H.M. Customs, War Trade, Board of Trade, 
Import Restrictions, with others). 
JOHN D. HAMLYN. 
10th March, 19171. 
THE ALPINE HARE IN ENGLAND. 
By Fredk. J. Sti hbs. 
The vigorous protest made by Sir Frederick 
Treves will no doubt serve to bring the American 
squirrel to a sense of its position as a British 
mammal. Apparently, this sprightly little alien 
has been having too> much of its own way lately. 
Not long ago I wrote in these pages of the in- 
crease of Continental squirrels in Essex, and can 
now add that the original animals, were purchased 
as British (not from Mr. Hamlyn) and turned down 
by an lipping landowner a few years ago. 
A brief account of the successful acclimatisa- 
tion in England of another rodent may be worth 
describing, for the experiment is not well known. 
I refer to the introduction of the Alpine hare to 
the Penninesi. This species, famous for its habit 
of assuming a snow-while pelage in winter, is 
native to the whole of Northern Europe and Asia, 
