Connecticut western news., 1889-10-16
CATTLE FORENGLAND
IT IS A PROFITABLE TRADE FOR
 CARGO STEAMERS.
Floating Oorrals and Nautical Cowboys
 Interesting Facts and Figures.

Floating Oorrals and Nautical Cowboys
 Interesting Facts and Figures.
 While the killing of cattle ill the West and the shipment of frozen beef to the East instead of the live ani- nials has played the mischief with the slaughter business in New York, the shipment of live cattle to Europe re- mains one of the most profitable branches of the trade of cargo carrying steamships. Not a week passes but from one to half dozen steamers leave the port with deck load of cat tie on board. The details of ship ment of cattle are interesting.
 The ship is prepared to receive them by building lot of substantial sheds all over the deck, except where gang ways or alleys are left to enable the men who care for the cattle-the nauti- cal cowboys-to get around and feed them. Of course, too, matches must be left unobstructed. The bulwarks of these ships are seldom less than two feet high. The bulwark is carried up by means of substantial wooden stanchions and boards to a height of six feet. This forms the outer wall of the sheds. A board roof is spread from this in- board eight feet wide, that is sup ported by substantial framework. The inboard side of the roof of the long shed-it extends from the poop to the forecastle-is a foot or more higher than at the rail 30 as to give it proper pitch. Along the front or inboard side of the shed is a strong rail, about as high as the top of an ordinary manager. When the sheds are full of cattle the heads of the animals are fastened to this rail by ropes of sufficient length 10 enable the cattle to reach down to the deck for food. The whole shed is divided into stalls not less than 10 feet 8 inches long, and each stall holds four steers. The stalls are di- vided simply by extending rails from the head rail to the bulwark. The in board side of the shed is open. The deck becomes a floating corral. Where the deck is wide enough and unobstruct- ed amidships sheds are sometimes built there as well. If the deck below the upper one is of iron SO as to absolutely prevent leakage through on the cargo below, the tween decks may be divided into stalls and filled with cattle. The process of taking the cattle on board is simple. They are nearly always fat stock, and not the wild long horns, and they are there fore docile. They are driven on to the pier and then up a gangway in single file to the deck. X somewhat steep gangway leads to the lower deck. The cattle are guided to the stalls by the marine cowboys, who make them fast in their places, putting up the rails that divide the stalls as fast as the cattle are ill place. These rails keep the cattle from slowing around fore and aft and interfering with each other. ..'s
 The contract between the ship and the shipper provides first of all that the cattle are at the owners risk. He must protect himself from loss by the sinking of the ship or the throwing of the cattle overheard in time of dis tress, or the death of the cattle from any cause en route, by insurance. The insurance amounts to $2 or so head according to circumstances. Those who have seen the cattle arrive out-the usual landing place in Eng land is at Deptford-say that it is ap- parent that the stalls are not cleaned during the ten or fifteen days it takes for passage, but that the cattle are we'll bedded with hay. They arrive out with no bruises generally. In one case mentioned to reporter the ship had rolled so that she had shifted hel cargo, and came into port with a heavy list to starboard, but the cattle were in excellent condition, some of them quite fat enough for Christmas beef
 and all in about as good condition af when they were shipped. AS they arc
 obliged to stand up nearly all of the
 time during the voyage, their legs were ] generally swelled somewhat on reach
 ing Deptford, but spectators say tha
 they walk up the gangway from tho | lower decks and thence down on the
 pier without difficulty. They art
 turned out to pasture for few days
 to rest, and are then ready for the
 slaughter house. It is asserted on the
 best authority that American cattle ar
 rive in Deptford in much better condi
 ton than the Irish cattle do from thu
 short passage to Scotch and Englisl
 ports.
 Henry's Bad Taste.
 Miss Porcine-' Pm afraid, Henry
 that our engagement must be broken
 Papa and mamma are both very angr,