William O. Douglas

“ A chicken that has been killed and dressed is still a chicken. Removal of its feathers and entrails has made it ready for market. But we cannot conclude that this processing which merely makes the chicken marketable turns it into a 'manufactured' commodity. [3]
At some point processing and manufacturing will merge. But where the commodity retains a continuing substantial identity through the processing stage we cannot say that it has been 'manufactured' within the meaning of § 203 (b) (6) .
The Commission is the expert in the field of transportation. ”

“ It is plain from this change that the exemption of 'agricultural commodities' was considerably broadened by making clear that the exemption was lost not by incidental or preliminary processing but by manufacturing. [2] Killing, dressing, and freezing a chicken is certainly a change in the commodity. ”

“ The words 'fish, including shellfish,' were added after the word 'livestock' (79 Cong.Rec. 12220) , and the exemption was strengthened by making it 'absolute rather than discretionary' with the Interstate Commerce Commission. Id., at 12225-12226.↑ The fact that most poultry is sold alive and is not killed and processed by the grower is not controlling. For § 203 (b) (6) exempts carriers transporting 'agricultural commodities' unless those products are 'manufactured.' The exemption is concerned with the stage of the processing, not with the person who does it. ”