SHIPPING CATTLE BY SEA
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sin, —In your article on the Report of the Sccittish S.P.C.A. you say, " in our view it is impossible to ship cattle by sea, especially in the winter, without cruelty."
In November, 1926, I crossed from Boston 'to Liverpool on a cattle-boat, the Leyland liner ' Devonian.' We en. countered bitter cold and the worst gale of the year, on the 20th passing within sixty miles of the gallant Aldworth,' the heroism of whose captain in saving his ship on that day and the next in " a high and dangerous sea " was commended in the Times and other papers. Old mariners declared they had never seen bigger waves in the North- Atlantic. Yet the cattle, which I visited several times during the voyage, suffered not at all. -
The ship, built for the trade, was extraordinarily steady, and from the departure from Boston the animals were eon.' stantly supplied with such an abundance of clean litter that had any lost its footing no injury could have resulted. The• air was kept at a warm, even temperature; with admirable, draughtless ventilation. There was no disagreeable smell.
The supply of food and water left nothing to be desired,. The men in charge, particularly the head man, were gentle, efficient, clean and devoted, and seemed sincerely to lament the fate 'which awaited- the magnificent beasts soon after debarcation at Birkenhead.- In fact, as I watched them contentedly munching in their comfortable stalls, my impression was that most of them were probably having the time of their-lives.• During the height of the long gale the majority were lying down. I did not see one that looked seasick, or in any way distressed.
I trust you will print this in justice to all—owners, builders, ship's officers, and cattlemen—who by their thoughtfulness secured, on this one vessel at any rate, so happy a result.
I am, Sir, &c., LILIAN M. liLlsNLL. The Overseas League, Vernon House, St. James's Street, S.W.
[We are glad to know that cattle are shipped under such excellent conditions in the Leyland liner ' Devonian.' We know that generalizations are dangerous and perhaps we overstated the case, but certainly from observation in all parts of the world we would repeat that the transport of cattle by sea is usually accompanied by cruelty. Anyhow it is satisfactory to know that some British liners have succeeded in eliminating the drawbacks to which we referred.—En. Spectator.]
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