Show ba davi ON I 1 an interview with the bet best currier carrier pigeon in japan HE morning of our arrival at THE yokohama Yoko homa harbor we ve were boarded by represent representatives atiles of the press each E ach reporter brought with him a crate of carrier pigeons which were released at intervals bearing t photograph films in ill gut ta percha tubes tabes and closely written manuscripts in aluminum containers fastened to the left leg A total of 10 16 birds took the air for tokio among them carrier no on the staff of the bichl bichl Nl clil with a net dally daily circulation of in accordance cor dance with ills his habit he be bent tile the bunch home a distance of about 19 miles reaching headquarters with text and illustrations nine minutes ahead of all flyers A scoop if ever there m was as one later I 1 called at the office of the bichl nield and sent my card to the pigeon I 1 loft no was in and would talk for publication glad clad to meet you lie he said throwing out a full blue chest you are an old bird in the newspaper business come into my coop bierc we crin can have a chinchin chin chin illow how long oil have you been in the game eight years took it up two months after 7 left the egg catch em cm boung pick em cm for speed brings home the bacon now ilow fast are you oli oil about GO CO kilometers nn an hour up to 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 lying flying 20 to 30 00 kilometers can come through with ith a load of one ounce ilori than that over greater distances would tire a pigeon to the point of inefficiency rendering the bird easy prey to eagles and hawks everywhere more plentiful than we e feathered representatives of the press also we run the risk of being brought down by hunters equally indifferent to our professional status in s such uc h ca cases s C s t the 11 e tragedy Is hushed bushed by the author of it we just vanish all carrier no acknowledged to be the nural of the air an and d by the most direct route allowed that his fame rested upon a fundamental principle whatever has come to roe me lie he ala said is due to the fact eliat t by b y nature I 1 am a beeline bird to be explicit when trusted with messages or films I 1 rise as rapidly as possible to the height of four or five hundred feet determine my homing direction and take a straight bt flight for the coop wasting no time whatever in circling or changing clia nging my elevation once home I 1 settle yi the landing platform 11 and nd immediately in med lately enter the reception cage where I 1 am relieved of whatever r has been In trusted to me sly record for coming back with what in your country Is known as the bacon Is per cent not in all the years rears of my connection with nachi has any competing pigeon starting at the scratch beaten roe me to the shop they say I 1 have n 11 genius for nosing out the shortest route between two given points setting up exercises ilow how do you keep in fit condition what about emergencies when not on the job handling liand ling news I 1 do three hours a day exercising aloft over boklo all of us are jumping out of the coop mornings and afternoons to take the settin up work carriers are trained to regard one spot as home from which in wicker basli baskets ets no matter in what direction we are transported to whatever points the start staff reporters expect news to break when tossed in the air with films on our hacks backs or copy on our legs we are supposed to report in jig time during the naval maneuvers ort off yokohama Yoko homa boma in japanese waters eight 3 years ears ago december 5 a press ship eck deck overloaded with reporters and nests guests collapsed injuring 30 people under regulations all radio connections with kaith the shore had bad been bc cn cut oft halt half of tile the available pigeons on board were released and relayed the accident I 1 to tile the newspapers we saved the situation aided during earthquake during the earthquake we wore were the sole means of communication from outside points with the city ol of boklo as all lines were down and the system completely paralyzed its all in the days work with us lor for reward we ure 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 about 3 in your money the pair no strikes no ar u menta no unions in our lives no threw out his chest cooed coded in staccato and shook his plumage outside from the blue sky a sudden rush of exercising birds swooped over the penthouse ani and swung aloft in mad haste as though pursued A hawk plunged from aloft like a plummet missed his prey a single can canler ter lagging behind and am hurried away in ill tile the haze that occurs every day S said aid the champion but seldom Is it uny fly damage done hawks are afraid of birds in flocked formation safety in numbers but lie he lies files fassett who 11 blics I 1 es alone copyright serico fie nico |