In a message dated 2/21/99 4:30:51 PM EST, [log in to unmask] writes:
 
>
>  Tom correctly relates that many beekeeping books say that it is important
to
>  release the worker bees from the cage the queen is shipped in, before
>  introducing her into the hive.  I am of the opinion that that advice is one
>  of those points that was stated by someone at one time, and has since been
>  repeated without further investigation.
>
Please note I am a different Tom than the one quoted above.
My experience is that it makes no difference whether you release the
attendants or not but I only have 30 colonies and someone with 3000 may be
able to determine a difference.
 
One thing is important if you don't release the attendants make sure the hole
in the queen cage is pointed up. That way a dead attendant cannot block her
exit.