18 HAMLYN’S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 
The African Trade is just as bad. I have 
been waiting four months for stock paid for in 
advance. The Port Elizabeth Agency is a shock- 
ing offender in this respect, and whether I shall 
ever receive the Cranes, Baboons, Antelopes al- 
ready paid for seems doubtful. From enquiries 
I find that objection is taken by many Captains 
to receive this freight, one excuse made in Cape 
Town last month was that the Chacmas might 
bite some of the numerous children on board! 
Considering live stock, smal! packages, always 
travel on the boat deck, and that children are not 
allowed on that particular deck, this paltry excuse 
hardly applies. There is a place for children on 
steamers. There is also a space for live stock, 
such soace being the boat deck and recognised 
as such during the past forty years. 
My representative, S. W. Shaw, cables that 
he has succeeded in making a small ‘shipment on 
the s.s. “ York Castle.” 
The arrivals during the past six weeks have 
been fairly numerous. The Zoological Gardens, 
Regents Park, have been very fortunate in having 
received the following consignments :— 
By s.s. ““Khiva,” shipped at Aden by Lieut. 
Archer, 2 Cheetahs and 2 Eagles. (I 
wonder what the P. and O. would say to 
me—an ordinary trader—if I dared to 
ask them freight from Aden!) 
By s.s. “Malakand,” shipped by Mr. Ezra, 
Calcutta, 2 pairs Peafowl. 
By s.s. “Professor,” shipped by Dr. Van 
Someran, East Africa,] Green Pigeon, 1 
Plantain Eater, 2 Francolins; also a col- 
lection of birds presented by Dr. Hop- 
kinson from Gambia, West Africa. 
There was one other consignment, particu- 
lars of which I have mislaid. 
The above stock could never have been im- 
ported by a dealer, for the simdle reason they 
could not have borne the expenses incidental to 
the voyage, in other words they were not worth 
the expenses on them. 
It has always been my practice to pay the 
respective offcers, Butchers or Horseforeman, 
liberally for services rendered, and I sincerely 
trust that every Society does the same; if that 
is not so that might account for the objection to 
accepting freight homeward, in other words J 
have to suffer for the meanness of others. 
On the “ Mississippi” Mr. Cura received four 
boxes of Snakes. 
On Calcutta steamer Mr. Chapman received 
two boxes Parrakeets; there was a great mortality 
during the voyage. ’ 
live stock to be shipped on ordinary Bill of Lading, 
Here is a report of six boxes shipped by 1 
Harper, Calcutta, for Westley T. Page :— ze. 
cee cage Java Sparrows and other small pica 
1 cage Quails, Larks, Siskins, Shamahs (40 
_ of these died on voyage). — ab 
1 cage Indian Parrots (15 dead). 
1 cage Spice birds (great loss). 3 
1 cage Honeysuckers, Sunbirds, etc. (67 
shipped, all died first night out nee os 
Calcutta). 
1 cage Flycatchers (15 dead). 
This shows a very heavy loss and reminds — 
me of the old saying: “Fools rush im) where uaa 
Angels fear to tread.” 3 
West African consignments are not very well — 
known to me, the trade being centred in Liver-— 
pool. 
An anonymous correspondent has drawn my __ 
attention to an account in “The Avicultural Mag- 
azine’—‘ The Revival of Aviculture,” and asks, — 
‘““Why these arrivals are not mentioned in the 
Arrival List on cover of Magazine.” The answer 
is very simple. They were not Trade Arrivals in — 
the ordinary way. The sailors on the West Afri- 
can steamers have been great Traders from time 
immemorial. 
My definition of a Trade Arrival is this. The 
toi pay freightage, Port and all shipping charges, 
entries to be passed and cleared through the Cus- 
toms. I do not suppose for one moment that 
any two of the above lots came through in the 
above way, but if Mr. Rogers feels agrieved and 
can produce duplicate Bills of Lading, I will give 
£5 to any Liverpool Charitable Institution. 
Messrs. Elder Dempster cannot keep check __ 
on what arrives “underground” through their — 
sailors. I certainly cannot do so, It is these 
private consignments which (ee injure the — 
legitimate Trader. 
The expenses on the Indian consignment are 
over £700. I have never received any South 
African consignment without the expenses being 
doible the cost of stock in Africa; therefore I 
strongly object to all those who bring over stoc 
escaping these charges. 
Another disadvantage under which the Lon- | 7 
don Trader works is the extraordinary charges — 
of the Port of London Authority. It is the only 
Port in Great Britain or the Continent to levy 
charges on wild animals. They render me 
service whatever for the very heavy exorbi 
charges made. In one transhipment last 
the Calcutta steamer berthing opposite th 
parting New Yorker, £15 was pee for 
