The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-01-26
PIGEON SERVICE
Suggestions for More Rapid Com
nluniCatiOn.
REQUIRES CAREFUL TRAINING
One Station Only Requir.
ed on Each Island.
Messages From Hawaii and Re.
turn in Ten HOurS-SuggeS-
tons for Training.


| 1871, the military and naval authori-
ties of Europe have been perfectiug
the use of carrier pigeons in time OF
war, and also for commercial purposes
in times of peace. The naval authori-
ties of the United States are also fol-
lowing their example.
The use of these birds, during the
seige of Paris was a remarkable sue
cess, both in sending and receiving
messages. The dispatches were &c
duced five hundred times by means of
photography, on films of collodion, so
that tissue paper two inches long and
one and one-fourth of an inch wide.
held $500 messages, of twenty words
each. That is, one bird carried $4,000
messages. And on one occasion sin
gle bird carried 10000 messages. These
were enclosed in goose quill one and
Ithree-fourths of an inch in length.
1t is believed by many who have
not studied the subject, that the birds
will not cross bodies of water. Some
experiments in sending them over the
Iinter-island channels, have failed. But
lit is quite clear that this was owing
to a failure to train them properly.
This will be seen from the many
most successful over-the-sea f1yings i'll
many places. In recent number OF
the Proceedings of the Naval Insti-
itue." Prof Henri Marion of Anna
polls gives much information on The
subject. He has charge of the govern
lment stations for this service, which
&c pnm nidIU extended
The French military and naval car
rier pigeon service is maintained at
a cost of 100000 francs annually. At
luxembourg 500 birds are kept; at Brest
500; at Lorient 500; at Rochfort 800; at
Toulon 1000, and 500 in Paris.
In 1895, La Petite Journal, of Paris,
expended $4,000 in experiments with
birds. The steamer ManOubia was
chartered, and $500 pigeons were taken
to sea, after being ten days. At dis
lance of 81 miles from land, 500 were
set free. None of them returned TO
the vessel. At 125 miles, 1000 were
set free in a wind and rain storm.
Only one returned. At 1877 and p
miles, 600 were set free, and one re-
turned. At 312 miles, 1900 were set
free and only twelve returned. Nor
were they sea sick at any time. The
Il
the French republic was awarded TO
a bird from Tours, which made 465
miles, 312 of which was by water, in
10 hours and II minutes. This speed
was at the rate of 80 and u miles ner
hour. The birds set free at a distance
of 312 miles, made from % to 80 miles
per hour. cat this rate a message
could be carried from Kauai to MANU-
kona Hawaii distance of $50 miles
in about five hours.) The French have
also a sea service between Toulon
and Corsica, and new service be-
tween Algeirs and Marseilles is now
being constructed, a distance of $50
miles across the sea. (being nearly
twice the distance from Kauai to Ha
waii.) There is also a pigeon service
between the islands of Reunion and
MauTitius, a distance of 120 miles. In
Italy there is a service between Mad
dalena and Rome, a distance of 40
miles of which $50 miles is across the
sea. There is also the Napoli-Cali-
gari (Sardinia) service, a distance #
| 294 miles across the sea. Captain Ma
llagoli of the Italian. army has trained
birds to carry messages back and
forth between Civita Vechia and Rome
a distance of 90 miles. Heretofore
birds would fly but one way, towards
home.
| The Spaniards have an excellent SER
vice across the Straits of Gibralter. 1t
is used to prevent smuggling. The
Portuguese, the Austrians, and the
Russians, are promoting this service.
The German government offers prizes
to 400 societies, who are trainig birds.
The English Admiralty have establish
ed a station at Portsmouth, where 300
birds are kept. and the war ships are
taking them to sea.
The people of Belgium are especial
" fond of flying the homing pigeon,
as a matter of pure sport. Formerly.
the flying distance was not over 80
miles. 1t has now greatly increased.
The Society Colombophile, of Ant
werp. sends as many as 5000 birds at