Daily camera., 1898-10-11
FAILURE OF PIGEONS
As Carriers in the War We're OF
Little Use.
Fanciers Attribute the Cause to Inex-
perience on the Pert of Those
Handling the Birds on
the Ships.

The reported failure of carrier pi-
eeons in war as a means of communi-
cation between ships and shore has
caused local fanciers speculation as to
the reason of their apparent non-suc-
cess in the south.
Just before the declaration of war
the naval authorities made extensive
preparations for placing in operation
the carrier pigeon service, and estab-
lished several cotes at leading naval
stations. These. it was declared, would
prove successful if certain conditions
were carried out by those on board
ships. One of the principal rules laid
down to be followed by the officers on
board the various ships was that the
pigeons were not to be kept Gagged
more than three weeks at time, and
should be released whenever possible
within two weeks.
The violation of this rule is said by
many local keepers of cotes to be the
principal reason for the failure of some
of the birds to successfully perform
their duty.
Mr.. E. F. Baker, president of the
National Association of Homing Pi-
geon Fanciers and president of the
American Flying club, of Baltimore.
said recently: "If the pigeons are not
taken care of they will fail at critical
moments. They are like athletes, and
cannot be worked unless kept in train
ing. When consigned to ship they
should be put in charge Of one man,
who will liberate them on instructions
from the proper officer. None should
be kept longer than two or three weeks
in their cages, and, even though no
messages are sent, the birds should be
liberated. If this is not done they can
not make 4 trip without becoming ex-
hausted.
81 placed on the auxiliary cruiser
Dixie cage of 20 birds. This cage
was especially constructed and con-
tanned water tank and receptacles
for food. 1t was built to give the birds
air, and the male and female birds had
separate compartments. All of these
reached the cote successfully from the
mouth of the Chesapeake bay, dis
tance of 200 miles air line. within a
few hours. Twenty-one had messages,
while the others were liberated purely
for exercise.
"a later batch was shipped to Capt.
Davies. These successfully reported
from distance of 200 miles at sea.
One had message for Mrs. Davies,
which l transmitted to her.
''I have several letters from R. B.
Bradford, chief Of the bureau of equip
ment, compnmtnting lne success OF
the birds. HAD the lnstruclloAs eNeL
the sournern fleet oeen carried out,
none of the birds would nave failed.
The cote at Key West or one at Tam
pa could have been kept posted as 70
the doings of the blockading fleet at
Havana by the pigeon system had the
officers on the boat taken pains to
keep the birds in training.
"a lack of knowledge as to the treat
ment of the pigeons is really the cause
for their failure. The cote at San
Francisco is reported to have worked
successfully Others in the north have
met with similar success. The pigeon
can surpass any dispatch boat if kept
in training, but when they expect the
birds to perform their duties success
fully they must not be kept Gagged un-
til stiff.
'.They invariably return, but fire.
quently become exhausted upon the
way. This is frequently caused be-
cause their muscles are stiff and they
have head winds to fight. We have
practically demonstrated that the birds
are safe and swift messengers if taken.
care of. hut If neglected they will fail"