QUEER AIR TRAVELLERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19457, 22 December 1934, Page 23 (Supplement)

QUEER AIR TRAVELLERS.

TRANSPORT OF LIVESTOCK. a IN BUSINESS. 'MANY STRANGE CARGOES. I Sinoe the establishment by Imperial Airways, not long ago, of a department dealing with the transport of livestock by air, the work of this department has been increasing constantly. Many more pedigree dogs, among other animals, are now being consigned by the air routes from London to the continent. The other afternoon, for example, a visit to the airport showed tha't the officials had in their care, just at that particular moment, seven dogs which had arrived from various.consignors for dispatch by air-liner to different points throughout Europe, each animal being housed in a comfortable travelling box. “A v good many of 'the dogs entrusted to us," 'explained one of the experts, “are travelling over to be exhibited at shows on the continent. They not only complete their journeys so much sooner if they go by air, but they receive special care and attention, from members of our staff, while they are actually in transit. “ Apart from livestock consigned to from the Continent,” he added, /.“there are some strange cargoes, nowadays, which reach us from destinations along the Empire routes. “ The other morning, when one of the services arrived from Africa, we found we were handling a big crate containing. live locusts. These had been sent to England from the heart of Africa in order that scientists over here could try on them the effect of certain chemicals with which it is intended to fight the locust plague. Live Mosquitoes Carried. “ On another occasion, recently, an incoming service from Africa had on board a special box which contained V number of live mosquitoes. They, 100, had been consigned for experimental purposes to laboratories in this country; and they had been kept alive, during their air voyage to England, by feeding them with stagnant swamp water,- a supply of which, in glass containers, ■ had been shipped N with tljem. “ The value of air travel, in transporting livestock rapidly from point to point, was shown in a remarkable way iq Tanganyika not long ago. Out there the coffee plantations are apt to suffer from a-:pest known as the ‘mealy-bug.’ The destruction of these Insects by spraying is almost impossible, owing to the expense involved, and the difficulty of exterminating them completely. But it appears I hat they have one natural, enemy, the lady-bird. Lady-birds consider the mealy-bug a tasty morsel, and their presence in any locality keeps the pest in check. Unfortunately,* there were no lady-birds in Tanganyika, and so (he Government turned to the air service to remedy this defect. It was imperative that the lady-birds should arrive at the earliest possible moment, as the mealy-bug Pest was beginning to get a firm hold. “Therefore an urgent cable was sent to the Government entomologist of the Union of South Africa at Port Elizabeth. He at once sent a number of live lady-birds .by air to Tanganyika, where they were released immediately in the plantations with very beneficial results. The Government entomologist stated that, prior to the days of high-speed air transport, it had been most difficult to send beneficial insects for any considerable distance owing to the great mortality among them. 'But in this particular case,* in spite of the length of the journey, only ono of the lady-birds died on the way. They were, incidentally, furnished with a quantity of mealy-bugs on which to feed during their flight. “ A feature of animal transport by air Is the contrast between some of the consignments we have to handle. One moment we may be dealing with i number of racing pigeons, going out In their cages to some point on the :ontinent, to be released for a race oack to England. And then we may go across to an incoming machine and find among Its cargo a number of live crocodiles, monkeys, parrots, or tropical flsh in tanks. Performing Animals Included. “ There are regular dispatches to London by air, from the Bay of -Biscay. of the queer little fish known as sea-horses. These arc needed to replenish the tanks in the aquarium at the zoo. They travel In metal containers full of Bay of Biscay water. 'These containers have an arrangement like a bicycle pump attached to them, and every few hours, during the air journey, one of The crew of the airliner has to make a few strokes with this pump in order to keep the water aerated. “ Performing animals, travelling to and from menageries and circuses on the Continent, often make their journeys by air. Not long ago a fullygrown lion flew over to London in a gago Inside one of tho its trainer travelling with it, sitting just outside the cage. It had been feared that the lion might become upset during its nigh!. But actually the animal seemed soothed, rather than otherwise, by being in the air, and by the time it reached Croydon it was so quiet that its trainer went into the cage, put, a chain on the lion’s collar, and walked out with it, just as though the animal had been a big dog. And the lion, perfectly docile, just stood looking quietly round until it was led Into a travelling cage to be taken up to town. “On another occasion a machine from Ihe Continent brought in several performing ligers for a circus in London. On another day a performing horse —also travelling in a special compartment inside one of the big .machines —was landed at Croydon from Paris: while just recently a clever chimpanzee, living to London I from Ihe soitlh of France, in take part in dims in this counlry. walked up toj the air-liner captain, and shook hands i witli him solemnly, after its keeper! had led It from the machine.’*