LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 
U. S. Department of Agriculture, 
Bureau of Animal Industry, 
Washington , D. C ., May 19 , 190 Jp. 
Sir: I transmit herewith copy for a revised edition of Farmers’ 
Bulletin No. 177, the ; title of which is Squab Raising, prepared by 
Mr. William Ei Rise, of N^w Jersey, a practical poultry breeder who 
has been especially successful with pigeons. His experience and 
method of presenting the subject are explained in the following state¬ 
ment from a letter accompanying the original manuscript: 
For the past twenty-five years I have been interested in breeding poultry, but 
during the last ten years my attention has been directed to keeping pigeons for squab 
growing. 
There is money in this industry if intelligently managed, but the breeder must 
know how to begin, and how to proceed after a beginning has been made. I have 
studied the question in all its phases in my own pens, have read every book I could 
find, and have fought my way up through all the drawbacks and difficulties of the 
business. 
At one time for financial reasons I disposed of my flock and buildings. About five 
years ago I started again with a single pair of birds, buying a few from time to time 
until a small but well-selected flock was obtained. This flock has paid all expenses 
of every kind, the bills for erecting two new houses at a cost of $250 each, and the 
wages of a man two days in each w T eek to dress squabs and clean out the houses; and 
to-day I have a fine flock of 600 pairs of as good birds as it is possible to secure, 
everything paid for, and the birds in good, healthy condition, and yielding a fair 
weekly income. 
I have treated the question of squab raising from a practical standpoint only, draw T - 
ing largely from personal experience. I have found some very rough places along 
the road to success, and I have tried to so describe my experience that others wdio are 
facing the same difficulties may be helped, and those who desire to enter the busi- 
* 
ness have a safe guide. 
Considerable new matter has been inserted in this edition in which 
the author discusses chilled eggs and dead squabs, the causes and rem¬ 
edies, and offers some suggestions regarding the purchase of breeding 
stock. 
Respectfully, D. E. Salmon, 
Chief of Bureau. 
Hon. James Wilson, 
Secretary of Agriculture. 
177 
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