The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-01-27
Gambling EEgs.

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Gambling Eggs.
The methods employed IN Gambling egg.
have been described before IN our col
umns, but the following from the 4lmerjca,
CuLtieat0r on this subject is well worth re
producing:
There are few articles o. farm produce
which are so easily affected as eggs 10y
damp, toul atmosphere, anu the extreme,
of heat and cold. The shell of an egg i.
Exceedingly porous, and when the place OF
storage Is too warm and dry the albumer
evaporates and when too cold and damp
the egg seems to lose its vitality and rapid
ly becomes stale. The porous shell also
admits of absorption, and single rotten
egg, the shell Of which happens TO be
broken or cracked, will contaminate whole
dozens IF eggs in the same package. As
remarked in recent article the almost
universal custom now is to ship eggs In
cases expressly prepared for that purpose
This system of egg carriage, which was
designed simply to preven, breakage, has
done great deal to improve the marke,
quality Of eggs. They do not come in con.
tact with each other, and after they are
once packed no amount of knocking about
will addle them
The system OF inspection Is called cand
ling, and the method may be described as
follows: A dark room is provided, or a
corner is curtslned off from tine store, In
which no ray of sunlight is allowed TO IN
trude. Within this enclosure a single
candle, oil lamp or gas jet is provided So
that the 'Candler' may face it conveniently
and have the light on level with his face
II the lot of egg which he Is about to in
spect is known to be good one, that Is,
having come only short distance, and
from party who has good reputation,
the operator grasps three eggs IN each
hand, from a case at hs side and quickly
passes each egg between the iigh. and his
eye. Those which are good have clear
transparent shell and wildly rosy light
shows through them. An egg which is
perfectly fresh seems TO carry It's freshness
with it and appeals to the favor of the
sight ut once.
"A rotten or added egg is perfectly
Opaque, black IN color and is detected at
once. Not 60 with those that are little
old or having renamed on one side for a
considerable length Of time, begin to show
signs of decay. In these cases small,
sometimes very faint, black spot is seen,
and to the quick glance of the inspector
this is enough 70 condemn II and consign
II to lot which is 10 be eaten at once,
probably by the customers OF cheap res
taurants and boarding houses. In no case
where the least sign of decay or age is Wis
ible, Is the egg placed IN the receptacle set
apart for those of the first quality and
known as fresh Should the consignment
be found to run bad or come from long
ia much more deliberate fashion, for ex-
perlence has taught him to be conscientl-
Gus, and his work Is much more difficult.
In this case he only handles two eggs at q
time, one in each hand, and the process Is
necessarily slower, more careful scrutiny
being necessary.
with the best OF packing and the ut
most care some eggs In every case or pack.
age are sure to crack These the GAMBLER
places to one side, generally with those
which are slightly damaged or old, and all
are sold together. In making his returns
tor the consignment the rule is for the
dealer to allow one half price for these, and
this rule Is found to WORK quite .ltisiac-
torily. In Chicago and some other mar
kets egg candlIng' is followed as regular
business by men who have become experts
at the trade, for trade it really Is. These
men charge regular price Of ten cents
per case OF thirty.slx dozen, and when they
are a, work are enabled 10 earn as much al
$500 per day or even more. In Boston
the inspection Is done BY some one IN the
employ of the seller, or by the seller him
self, and no charge is made for the work.
II may be safely said iha, our dealers AZ a
rule are conscientious and furnish their
customers with only fresh or first class
eggs. There are some, hOwcyer, who do
not pretend to be honest and only seem To
care for the immediate profit. These men
are soon wellknOwn and should be avoid
ed, not only BY the consumer, bat also by
the shipper & shippers reputation IS
quickly known by all The dealers in the
market. They exchange notes and com
pare, zone with the other their obserys-
tons on the quality, style Of package anG
general qualities of meTl, or dement, Of the
different shippers, and will take nothing
which comes from a man who Is not con
sdered By them first-Class"