Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-07-06
CATTLE ON sHlPBoARD.
An Experienced Cattle Man Describes 10
vine Behavior ON an Ocean Voyage.

ullaln Reilly Is the foreman Tor one
of the largest cattle exporting houses in
New York city. He has made about fifty
trips across the ocean, taking from 100
to 200 head of cattle each trip,
1--WE are improving every day, he be-
gan, in answer TO the reporters inquiry
as to how the expectation is carried on,
but nothing p" he continued, twill ever
be absolutely perfect until some one builds
u ship purposely for cattle expectation.
''When we first began to export, we
were new in the business, and we had to
pay heavy for oT experience. At that
time we used TO lower the animals into
the hold Of the vessel in pens in which
they were packed so tight that they
couldn't move. 1t was impossible for
them 10 lie down, and if one managed TO, it
could not get up again-but soon another
would drop from sheer exhaustion, and
then the scenes that would follow after
the pressure had been broken would defy
description, Many in the pen would he
either trolden or kicked TO death, others
have their limbs broken and have 10 he
killed.
Nowadays the system is more perfect
in the hold Of the vessel. In big freight
ships, whose holds are wide and pur-
posely constructed for the traffic. we
build stalls running the whole length of
the ship.
''When an anim1 is lowered into the
hold of a ship it is led along the passage
way and backed into one of the stalls,
which are made of strong boards and
timber joints. In this il is firmly bolted
in by door. The pen is wide enough to
allow the animal " lie down, hut no
matter how heavy the sea it cannot he
thrown down, as it is strongly protected
both front and rear"
How do cattle act at sea-"
"Well, when first shipped, what with
the excitement Of being lowered down
into the hold and then backed into the
stall-and that is no easy job, | tell YOU
the animal is certainly more or less eX-
cited; but when say 200 get eNcited-and
I've taken more than that AT one trip
then il is a scene that is apt to try the
nerves of a man. Cattle for expectation
are selected from the best stock. and are
therefore well fed and high mettled. For
that number Vf cattle | generally have
about thirty men with me, the ship
allowing 50 many to go free rs
helpers II the other side. | have the ami
mails beds made. their managers well
filled with the most tempting food and
plenty Of water served them. We gener-
ally bring them aboard hungry. and they
begin munching, and by the time VT get
outside Sandy Hook they are like a tired,
hungry person, exhausted by travel and
feeling satisfied and warm. They o
lie down and fall asleep. We never start
with a load Of cattle in a storm, or in a
heavy sen, Tor if we did the animals
would get 70 scared that even the
steadiost ship would feel the effect Of
their tossing to and fro, and it would be
dangerous.
Everything is kept quiet during the
night. only the Waterman being per-
mitted TO stay in the hold whore the
cattle are sailed. In the morning we
feed them again. for il is important to
keep them well fed ON the way out.
Then the slip has struck deep water,
and if there is a heavy sea the ship rolls
considerably.
''It's strange, but still true" said Mr..
Reilly, but the steer is, if alone. the
least easily frightened animal you can
imagine. / have seen fat cattle wake up
on their first morning ont. when the ship
.r-.g V411.,., l,.up1,. H. a,t.l1,4't .zt
up, 50 tEry Traced their feet against the
sides Of the stall and lay there patiently,
now and then lowing, and eating the
feed thrown them as naturally AS If they
were On land.
Cattle" continued Mr.. Reilly, do
not got spasick. and as soon as they can
grt on their legs it is q curious sight.
They are tossed back and forward. and
with thrir Stamping make n terrible
racket. AMI they seem 30 look nj each
other as il inIuirlng what all that Shak-
ing mp and down meant.
1T is thcn that the cattle mems work
begins. There are always some vicious
brUtes among ih.!n. and if they are not
quickly sublued there would lie a panic.
The cattle mel quickly but quietly go to
The vicious ones, OAK them al first, mt
if that fails throw them down. and, SO to
speak. put them in irons.
Cattle soUn get their sea legs. and as,
except on stormy days, the matches are
kept open, they get accustomed 10 their
stalls and very few die on the voyage.
] think that on an ordinary voyage we
hose about 3 pcr cent. On a stormy yOy-
age, when the matches cannot h. opened,
If course we lose more, and nobody
would imagine now horrible a ships
hold is with 50 many herd Of cattle con-
fined for perhaps two, even three weeks,
without having any air.
''The English government laws in re-
gard b. the importation Of cattle from
America arr very strict. No sooner does
the ship reach Liverpool than the cattle
are u%nshippel and driven into the govern
mrnt yards, There they are allowed to
rest. They are aired, fed and watcrcd
and then thoroughly examined by the
government inspectors. Tie next day
they must he sold, for, the law makes il
compulsory that all American cattle must
be slaughtered on the third day Of land
ing. That 5 how it is that quotations for
American beef ere 50 frequently marked
dull. The butchers buy the cattle at
the lowest rates, knowing that we must
have them killed right off. New York
Star Interview.