47 2 Transport of Sussex Poultry. [nov., 



themselves average rather more than three-quarters of a cwt. 

 in weight, so that if we take the weight of the chickens at from 

 about 2\ to 2§ lb. it will be seen that the weight of the crate 

 very nearly doubles the cost of the carriage of the birds. The 

 consignments take about twelve hours in transit, arriving at 

 the Sussex stations in the early morning. 



Transport from Wales. — The amount paid for the carriage of 

 lean Welsh chickens into Sussex is insignificant in comparison 

 with the imports from Ireland. The through rate from Wales 

 to Sussex (Uckfield Station) ranges from 5s. to 5s. 3d. per cwt., 

 and last year's total was no more than 26 tons from that source. 

 This appears at first sight to be an unaccountable drop from 

 the 40 tons of two years ago, but the lower quantity is partly 

 accounted for by the fact that the import agents are not now 

 bringing in any birds for the supply of their own fattening 

 coops, as they did previously. There is, however, another fact 

 to be noted in this connection, and one which particularly 

 concerns the subject of transport, viz., the adoption of a crate 

 of lighter construction, which makes a considerable difference 

 in the gross annual returns. 



Whereas the Welsh chickens had previously been conveyed 

 in wooden " tops," very similar to those used in the Irish trade, 

 they are now carried in wicker " flats " or hampers. The old 

 style Welsh " tops " weighed about three-quarters of a cwt. 

 and carried forty fowls ; the new " flats " weigh about half 

 a cwt. and hold thirty-six fowls. So that, although the quantity 

 contained in each is reduced by four, there is an approximate 

 saving of about 28 lb. in the weight of the crate or hamper ; 

 which the agents roughly estimate to make a difference of about 

 id. in the supplementary cost of the chickens, reducing the 

 cost of carriage per bird from 3^. to 2d. Against this it must 

 be noted that " flats " are more expensive than " tops " in the 

 first instance, and naturally have not such a long life. As 

 in the case of the Irish fowls, the transit of the Welsh is effected 

 during the night, and the consignments arrive at their Sussex 

 destination in the early morning. 



The Outward Traffic. — Having secured what may be termed 

 the raw material, by collecting and bringing in the lean chickens 

 from all available quarters, the fatteners have by no means 

 finished with transport and charges. After undergoing the 



