The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-26

OF messenger pigeon service throughout the
dominion, extending from Halifax to
Windsor, and connecting all the principal
seaports.
In the United States pigeons have been
used as messengers for a long time. Be-
fore the laying Of the Atlantic cable hom-
ing pigeons we're employed to carry the
news of the appearance of the transatlantic
steamers to the telegraph station at SANDY
Hook. The pilot boats have experimental
with them at various times. and birds have
often been let fly from steamers and yachts.
The United States Signal Service has es-
tablished a loft at Key West, and it is I'M
derstood that the results have, so far, been
highly satisfactory to the department at
Washington. A naval homing pigeon loft
has also been established at Coasters Is
land. Newport, for experimental purposes
in carrying on communication between
ships at sea and the maitland.
It is this employment of the birds that
the English admiralty propose to investi-
gate, together with their use as messengers
between ships separated from one another
some distance.
Experiments in both directions have al
ready been made by Germany, Italy, and
notably by France. The first attempts to
domesticate pigeons on board ship were made
by the French on board thor artillery ship,
birds to the noise made by the firing of the
guns, q cote containing q dozen. young
Birds was placed on the bridge between
four guns Of large calibre that were fred
about 100 times a day. This birds were
much frightened at frat. but soon got 40
aftsrward they were liberated, with the re-
suit that they always returned, whether the
guns were being fired or not, and whether
the ship was under way or at anchor. Many
experiments with pigeons on board snip
and on shore demonstrate that the bird
perfectly adapts itself to life on board
ship, recognizing its own ship among q
fleet of many .other vessels, and neither
noise nor smoke can frightsn it away.
Every outgoing French man-of-war ia
now provided with y number of pigeon voy-
ayers, which are tossed" at various dis
tsnoes, according to their stage Ct training.
cipher dispatches In small quilts attached
to their wings or tails.
The service of pigeons for naval .pur-
poses may be of great Importance. ships
defending 4 const could BY this means Q
important information ashore, signal the
hh movements. On the high seas they
could carry orders from the fagships to
vessels beyond the reach OF any ordinary
signals. The experiments Of the English
should be carefully watched, and the les
sons to be learned should stimulate our
government to the proper organi zation,
IA "A
messengers.
The latest development in the messenger
| pigeon service has been the "there and
back fight. For a long time it was be-
lieved that pigeons would fly in one direc-
ton only, from the point whore they were
tossed straight to their homes, thus max
ing 1t incumbent to keep up a large stock
OF birds if communication was to be main
tanned for any length Of time. In the last
few years numerous attempts have bsen
made to teach the pigeons to fly to q place
and then fly back. The ''thers and back''
flight has at last bean successfully. accom-
plished by several Italian birds. The route
ns at present established is from Rome to
Civita Veoohia, forty. miles away, and re-
turn, and the time taken for the round trip
10 a little over three hours. To get the birds
to Nv over this limo required much careful
Rome and are fed in Civita vacohia. Star
can feed In Rome they refuse to leave.
So far, the 'there and back' flight seems
to be limited In distance to about forty
miles. This Ia enough for feet use at sea,
and among vessels In squadron GOULD b.
utilized with the greatest benefit.