Paul:
 
I used to drop the swarm into a wedge shaped screen basket (12x18' and 15'
deep) mounted on a pole and carry the swarm aside and lay the basket on a
board in front of an empty hive.  They'd usually go in but sometimes you'd
have to encourage them with a feather/brush.  At nite, close the hive and
take it home.
 
Dennis Cain
[log in to unmask]
 
 
At 01:46 PM 5/13/96 +0100, you wrote:
>Bee-listers,
>
>It is swarming season in Santa Barbara. I have received 3 calls alone in
>the past week to remove swarms from various sites around the town.
>
>I learned my lesson on the method of transporting one swarm which I would
>like to share with this list.
>
>A local trucking company had a swarm move into its yard and collect on a
>single branch 15 feet above the ground. Since the swam was right in the
>midst of trucks and people, the manager wanted them out ASAP.
>
>With the use of a fork lift, he lifted me up to the swarm.  I cut the
>branch with the swarm and dumped it into a PLASTIC bag. Forgot to poke some
>holes in the bag.  Big mistake!!  ByY the time I got to my apiary (10
>minutes traveling time),  1/2 the colony had perished by suffication. I
>found the queen but she was too far gone so I combined the remaining bees
>with a new colony I had collected a week before.
>
>My question is:
>
>1)What methods are used to transport a swarm back to the apiary?
>2)Would a burlap sack work better? Cardboard Box?
>
>I am interested in experiences from members of this list.
>
>Paul Cronshaw DC
>Hobby Beekeeper
>Santa Barbara,  CA
>
>