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Show An Interview With the Best Carrier Car-rier Pigeon in Japan THE morning of our arrival at Yokohoma harbor we were boarded by representatives representa-tives of the press. Each reporter repor-ter brought with him a crate of carrier pigeons which were released re-leased at intervals bearing photograph films in gutta-percha tubes and closely written manuscripts manu-scripts in aluminum containers fastened fas-tened to the left leg. A total of 1G birds took the air for Tokyo, among them carrier No. 15S, on the staff of the Nichi Nichi, with a net daily circulation of 1,-250,000. 1,-250,000. In accordance with his habit he beat the bunch home, a distance of about 19 miles, reaching headquarters with text and illustrations illus-trations nine minutes ahead of all flyers. A scoop, if ever there was one. Later I called at the office of the Nichi Nichi and sent my card to the pigeon loft. No. 15S was in and would talk for publication. "Glad to meet you," he said, throwing out a full blue chest. "You are an old bird in the newspaper news-paper business. Come into my coop where we can have a chin-chin." chin-chin." "How long have you been in the game?" "Eight years. Took It up two months after I left the egg. Catch 'em young; pick 'em for speed J' Brings Home the Bacon. "How fast are you?" "Oh, about 60 kilometers an hour up to 300, carrying a maximum of three films and three tissue sheets of manuscript, or enough to fill a column. The total weight of the receptacles, loaded, is about seven grams, although a full-grown bird flying 20 to 30 kilometers can come through with a load of one ounce. "More than that over greater distances dis-tances would tire a pigeon to the point of inefficiency, rendering the bird easy prey for eagles and hawks, everywhere more plentiful than we feathered representatives of the press. Also, we run the risk of being brought down by hunters equally indifferent to our professional profes-sional status. In such cases the tragedy Is hushed by the author of it. We just vanish, that's all." Carrier No. 15S, acknowledged to be the Nurmi of the air, and by the most direct route, allowed that his fame rested upon a fundamental fundamen-tal principle. : "Whatever has come to me," he said, "is due to the fact that by nature I am a beeline bird. To be explicit, when trusted with messages mes-sages or film, I rise as rapidly as possible to the height of four or five hundred feet, determine my homing direction and take a straight flight for the coop, wasting no time whatever in circling or changing my elevation. Once home I settle on the landing platform and immediately enter the reception cage, where I am relieved of whatever what-ever has been intrusted to me." Setting Up Exercises. "How do you keep in condition? What about emergencies?" "When not on; the job handling news I do three hours a day exercising exer-cising aloft over Tokyo. All of us are jumping out of the coop mornings morn-ings and afternoons to take the setting-up work. Carriers are trained to regard one spot as home, and travel in wicker baskets, no matter mat-ter in what direction we are transported trans-ported to whatever points the start reporters expect news to break. "During the naval maneuvers oft Yokohama In Japanese waters eight years ago, December 5, a press ship deck overloaded with reporters report-ers and guests collapsed, Injuring 30 people. Under regulations all radio connections with the shore had been cut off. Half of the available avail-able pigeons on board were released and relayed the accident to the newspapers. We saved the situation. Aided During Earthquake. "During the earthquake we were the sole means of communication from outside points with the city of Tokyo, as all lines were down and the system completely paralyzed. para-lyzed. It's all in the day's work . with us. For reward we are fed on a. diet of corn, peas and mullet. Our tenure of service is from 20 to 25 years; our market value Is 10 yen abut $3 In your money the pair. No strikes, no arguments, no unions In our lives." No. 15S threw out his chest, cooed In staccato and shook his plumage. Outside from the blue sky a sudden sud-den rush of exercising birds swooped over the penthouse and swung aloft in mad haste, as though pursued. A hawk plunged from aloft like a plummet, missed his prey, a single carrier lagging-behind, and hurried away in the haze. "That occurs every day," said the cham-j plon. "hut seldom is any damage' done. Hawks are afraid of birds in flocked formation. Safely in mini-' hers, hut he Hies fastest who ili,.' alone." Cu;vr:jr!U WN'i" S.r :re. J |