Preacher wrote on Mar 16^th, 2011 at 4:48pm:

wrote on Mar 15th, 2011 at 2:17pm: Preacher wrote on Mar 14th, 2011 at 7:46pm: Those blue barrels aren't air-tight. Preacher, I disagree. The hole you're talking about is to tread a plastic tie wrap through so it lays across the seal. You need to do that if you ever take the barrel on a jet. Otherwise you find a very funny looking blue barrel at the baggage pick-up. There's no problem going up, air will escape OK, it's the descent. That's a different hole or a different design. The hole I'm talking about is near center on the lid of my barrel.  The inside part has a little plastic plug that allows air, but inhibits water.  It's not intended to have something else put through it.

P, You have a different lid than is common then. I've seen and used probably a dozen barrels owned by different people on several trips now in Cdn & US. Never saw one with a lid modified like yours.