The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-04-05
CROSSING THE SEA IN PENS.
The Great Business of Shipping Live
Cattle to Europe

From the Net0 York star.
The exporting of live cattle is an enor-
nous business and has steadi y been incrsas-
ing for several years past. This increase
will be larger during the present year than
at any time before.
Most of the cattle are purchased in
Chicago, Kansas City and a few in
Kentucky. They are sent east in regular
cattle trains and delivered 20 the steam
ships which are II take them on their long
journey across the Ccsan. The risk in
transportation is great and the shippers are
obliged t. pay from $40 to $50 per head and
must take the risk of having their stock cast
overheard in case Of a dangerous gale. In
such a case the ca tie are treated the same
as ordinary ballast
The cattle are usually placed in pens on
the upper deck of the steamer. From two
to four are put in each pen with ropes tied
about their heads to prevent them from in
juring their fellow prisoners. Each ship
ment is accompanied by a man to each
twenty-five cattle, and over him is fore
man. The duties Of these men are to watch
the cattle, feed them aud keep them in as
good condition as possible. Some idea of
the expense OF a shipload may be CLEANED
from the fact that each man receives SIS
per trip. The feed makes another impor-
tant item. During a voyage go pounds OF
by each animal. The care-takers have a
hard time Of it, for as soon as the vessel be-
gins to roll many Of the cattle are taken
sick and fall down. Then there is a STAN
pede OF the others, and, as frequently hap
pens, some are thrown down and trampled
to death.
1t often happens that the steers break
down pen and begin to run loose ON the
vessel. If is happens during a storm,
there is only one remedy, aud that consists
in driving the steers overheard
The actual death rate is computed to be
three-fourths of per cent. The usual pro-
ceeding when steer dies is to take off his
hide and as much fat as possible before
throwing the carcass into the sea. These
are taken possession of by the insura CO
companies, if the owner is insure!, and sold.
The winter is the worst time for shipping
cattle, as many OF them caunot stand the
exposure of a voyage on the deck.
In cases where prizs cattle are shipped
they ars put under deck If possible.
The Russian Monarch which sailed on
Saturday, irried $40 head of cat 10, which
were placed on aud under deck. The fol-
lowing are a few of the vessels that carry
the largest number of cattle: the Rich
mond Hill, which takes $50; the Bostlnia,
which can accommodate 704 head, and the
st. Romans of the Sumner line of steam
ships. 1t is on the latter liue that the
largest shipments are made.
TIE compsnles which make a speciality of
carrying live stock are the Anchor line and
the Wilson line, which run two cattle
steamers a week
These steamers land at London, Liver
pool, Glasgow and Hull where they unload
and the consigIees take possession of their
stock, which they either sell to the butchers
at once or fatten them before placing them
on the market. Many British tramp
steamers also make money in this traffic
and run both winter and summer.
The chief American shippers are M. Gold
smith and T. c. Eastman Of this city
Nelson Morris Of c icago, Meyers & House
mann and Lehman Bros. of Baltimore and
j. A. Hathaway OF Boston.