3 Dec 1898

Dear Sir,

During the past season the weather has been exceptionally unfavorable and the results obtained with the pigeons have proved even more discouraging than last year. I was abroad from home, in Bermuda & elsewhere, during the greater part of the season in consequence of which the same time was not devoted to the training of the birds as during the season of 1897.

Five of the birds were taken out and flown from points within a mile from the loft but of these only one returned after an absence of two days and in a dying condition. One was found alongside the road about 3/4 of a mile from the loft. Its plumage was damaged and it died the next day. Two were seen at Little Dover about five miles from here, but they flew away & no further tidings have been gleaned concerning them. With a view to rendering the birds familiar with their surroundings, the experiment of turning some other birds out of the house has been tried but without success. They will not leave the shelf or roof, unless forced to do so, & embrace the first chance of returning to the loft, several which were driven away became alarmed and confused, flew away and did not return.

As my time & that of M. Carmichael has lately been so fully occupied, I have since the 1st of Oct., instant, placed W.F. Lawson in sole charge of the birds. This gentleman, who has for some months past been residing here with his son, has lots of spare time and is giving the birds intelligent management. He has been endeavoring to coax the birds out with food and hopes in time to overcome the timidity which they display. He is devoting a great deal of time to them and it may perhaps be well to give the experiment another season's trial under his management. Having no other duties he is in a position to devote the whole of his time to it.

As I received no replies to my letter, the 26th April & 22nd June, the leg bands herein applied for were not supplied. We have not allowed the birds to breed this season as without the leg bands we could not mark the young birds & it appeared to be unwise to increase the number of pigeons & consequently the consumption of food, if your Dept did not intend to continue the experiment.

1. Name & Capacity........S.S. Dickenson
   • From... To..................July 1 - Dec. 31
   • Mos.................................3
   • Rate per month.................$5
   • Amount............................$15
2. Name & Capacity.......F. Lawson, Caretaker
   • From... To..................July 1 - Dec. 31 -
   • Mos.................................3
   • Rate per month.................$6
   • Amount............................$18
   Total $33

Certified Correct (signed) S.S. Dickenson