Irish emigrants to America were now sending money back home by drafts and cash. Landlords began to issue notices to their tenants to appear in court for non-payment of rent. Terror of being placed in prison caused families to flee their small holdings and emigrate to England if they did not have money for the fare to America. In January, the government introduced soup kitchens, although they were already in operation by charities. The soup is given free to the infirm, poor widows, orphans, and children. By the end of January, much food was being distributed, but it did not meet the demand. Crowds waited for hours outside the distribution centers and fights often broke out. Famine epidemics began to spread of typhus, and scurvy. In February families were being found dead in cabins, their bodies being eaten by starving cats and dogs. The ships coming to America were overcrowded and under stocked with provisions. By June the streets of Montreal, Canada are filled with impoverished emigrants from Ireland. Many had typhus. There was discontent in England at the amount of their tax money being spent in Ireland. The crop in September was very good, but only one-fifth of the normal potato crop has been planted due to a shortage of seed.