The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-10-03
Exporting Cattle.

tion of cruelty to animals, who was
sent over by Henry Bergh, Iii presi-
dent of the society, to inquire into the
condition Of the cattle coming from
the United States. while ON shipboard,
writes as follows: The stalls erected
for the confinement of cattle are ar
ranged longitudinally along the entire
distance of the ship allotted for the
purpose. In large ships, sometimes
three, and on rare occasions four, rows
OF bullocks are secured. When there
are nor than two rows, the same ar
rangement is observed Of tying them
head and head, with their TANKS toward
the sides of the vessel. The cattle are
usually confined four in a stall, II feet
wide by feet long, although when the
animals are large, a length of 0 feet is
allowed. These dimensions are alto
gether too meagre and inadequate, and
they have evidently been determined
upon in order that the closest economy
Of space may be observed. When the
vessel is at sea, during the firstday, but
seldom longer than the second, the cat.
tie seem inclined to a loss of appetite;
consequently they are fed lightly, usual
ly given a few ears of corn each. By
the third day they recover their appe-
tite and eat all that is placed before
them. And here it may be %parenthet-
ically remarked that the condition OF
the cattle at sea is very similar to that
Of the human being. They experience
the novelty and inconvenience of the
voyage, and seem to feel the irksome-
ness of the confinement, all of which
o wear off If they are properly
treated; in fact their recovery from
sea sickness, which they seem to expo
rience IL the weather is at all bolster
GUS, and their general behavior at sea
is in many respects not unlike the con
ditions of emigrants when massed in
great numbers in the hold of a vessel.
The animals are fed from troughs
placed at the top of the shifting boards,
which are SO adjusted that each bullock
can receive his full share of food; all
conditions, such rs its proper distribu-
ton, being observed.
The usual routine of feeding cattle
during the voyage is as follows: Hay
at 8 O'Clock in the morning; water
shortly after; corr at 10; hay again at
1; water at 8; corn again at 5; hay for
the last time at 6, when their beds are
made for the night. When drovers are
sent to accompany them they are usual
ly seasick most of the voyage and
those who have suffered from this NAL
ady can imagine how little care animals
would receive from men hardly able to
care for themselves. Under such cir
cumstances, when animals are pros
trated by sickness or broken limbs
there being no veterinary surgeon on
board to determine what shall be done
for them-to kill them seems to be the
only merciful way to relieve them from
their suffering; but there is seldom a
butcher on board to do that work well
and quickly. This may be illustrated
by the reply a sailor made to me when
l questioned him as to how he killed q
bullock that had lain for hours with its
legs broken. "Oh. l did it with this -
said he, showing me a small jack-knife.
Well, / replied, you could hardly have
killed him Immediately with that knife.
NO. said the sailor, .'but l gave him
such a cut that he did not get over it."
Where the attendance is good each
bullock is given about eight gallons of
water-either fresh or condensed-per
day. The number of cattle shipped
usually varies from so to 500. During
the voyage, in case of the death of an
animal, the shifting boards are taken
out, the carcass removed by windlass to
the deck, and thrown overheard. The
death rate cannot be easily obtained, as
such information is given with great
reluctance, but 1 am enabled to state
that the number varies largely, the
conditions being treatment, ship accom-
modations, and weather. In some in
stances as high as 80 per cent. Of the
cattle have died at sea-. Idesire to call
attention to a matter of most serious
Importance concerning the shipment of
cattle by a class of irresponsible specu-
lators, who charter vessels without any
semblance of proper arrangements for
the convenience Of transporting cattle.
To such an extent has this nefarious
business been carried on between the
United States and Europe, that the
disgrace has been felt by all reputable
shippers. / find that in q large major
ity of cases the serious complaints of
cattle dying at sea, arriving at their
post of destination in q mutilated and
unhealthy condition, and of the i'm
proper sanitary arrangements of ves-
sells are made against those irregular.
contractors, who are called in the trade
"Jews.o 1 do not use the word in its
natural or offensive sense, but in refer
ence to a class who are the most heart
less in the treatment Of dumb animals.
The usual modus operandi Of these ir-
regular shippers is to take advantage OF
what they believe to be a rising market
in Europe, pick up rs many cattle as
they can find, good, bad and indiffer-
ent-not unfrequently the lame, halt
and blind-charter some vessel that he's
come into the port 'slight,n make a
close bargain with the captain, who, of
course, is anxious to take something
home to the expenses of his re-
turn voyage. and then send the animals
adrift, trusting to luck or Providence
that enough of them will reach their
destination alive to make the specula-
tion pay.
Some u~nprincipled dealers, because they
could see a few cents more profit, have been
guilty OF Offering worthless substitutes for