366 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
being avoitierl as much as practicable, protected from the beat of the sun, laid on 
the lloor as received from the boats, the heads of each row resting on the tails of 
each preceding row, and a layer of crushed ice 1 or 2 inches thick spread over the 
whole. There the fish remain until it is necessary to place them in the shipping 
packages, which may be boxes or ordinary sugar-barrels. The former are preferred 
if satisfactory shipping rates are secured, but because of more favorable shipping 
rates barrels are more frequently employed. A layer of crushed ice is put in the 
bottom, on which the shad are placed on their backs, with the heads at the ends if 
boxes are used. This is followed by a layer of fine ice, succeeded by similar layers 
of fish and ice, with a double quantity of ice at the top, the boxes being covered 
with boards securely nailed and the barrels with bagging fastened under the top 
hoop. 
ICING OYSTERS. 
Ice is very generally employed in preserving and shipping shucked oysters to the 
retail trade. During cold weather only a small quantity is used, but the ice bill of 
the oyster-dealers throughout the season is a considerable item. In using ice for this 
purpose it was formerly considered important to keep it separate from the oysters — 
generally by having a separate ice chamber in the package or keg containing the 
oysters. In some packages the chamber occupied one side of the package, or it filled 
a space entirely surrounding the oysters, but usually the ice was in the central part, 
the oysters filling the annular space about the chamber. A variety of packages have 
been invented for this imrpose, differing jiarticularly in the manner of affording sepa- 
rate access to the two chambers. Many of these have been patented, and for further 
description of them reference may be made to the following United States letters 
patent : 
No. of 
pateut. 
Date. 
In favor of— ^ 
No. of 
patent. 
Date. 
In favor of— 
103551 
111722 
1351)83 
142703 
158089 
[ 190333 
199569 
1 209189 
240143 
May 31,1870 
Fel). 14,1871 
Jan. 21,1873 
Sept. 9,1873 
Dec. 22,1874 
May 1, 1877 
Jan. 22, 1878 
Oct. 22,1878 
Apr. 12,1881 
Alfred Booth, Chicago, III. 
Do. 
L. E. Comstock, Baltimore, Md. 
James C, Jones, New York. 
Do. 
Do. 
James J. Phillips, Norfolk, Va. 
Frank Pfeitfer, Norfolk, Va, 
0. P. Johnson, Cambi'idge, Md. 
240281 
250107 
255017 
265137 
300061 
300476 
374119 
405488 
438391 
Apr. 19,1881 
Nov. 29,1881 
Mar. 14,1882 
Sept. 26, 1882 
June 10, 1884 
June 17, 1884 
Nov. 29,1887 
June 18,1889 
Oct. 14, 1890 
Alvin Squires, Hartford, Conn. 
C. A. Sheridan, Detroit, Mich. 
C. L. Pond, Bufl'alo, N. T. 
Do. 
S. L. Frazer, Toledo, Ohio. 
0. P. Johnson, Washington, D. C. 
M. H. Dotson, Baltimore, Md. 
John P. Kuhn, Alton, 111, 
John T, Store, Baltimore. Md, 
A refrigerator oyster-shipping package, patented by a leading oyster-dealer, and 
formerly used to a considerable extent, is constructed as follows: 
A sLeet-iiietal can is employed with a capacity of 20 gallons, flanged edges projecting from the 
top ends of the can. In the center of the can, extending from top to bottom, is formed a rectangular 
ice chamber which is opened at the top and has four sides exposed within the body and to the contents 
of the can. This chamber is closed by means of a wooden cover of suitable dimensions to tit snugly 
within the flanged edges of the end of the can over the opening into the ice chamber and against the 
screw-cap, and projecting a little beyond the ends of the flanges, and secured thereto so as to be easily 
removed. At the opposite end of the can a similar wooden cover or guard is fastened, these covers 
also serving to protect the ends of the can from injury during transportation. The can is placed in a 
wooden case or enveloi)ed with wooden covering to protect it during shipment and to more effectually 
exclude heat from the contents of the can. The oysters are placed in the annular space about the 
ice chamber, this space holding about 15 gallons : the ice chamber is tilled with ice and the covers 
fastened, when it is ready for transportation. ( See Letters Patent No. 1 11722, dated February 1 1, 1871. ) 
