The evening times., 1899-12-29
FISH DIE IN SALT LAKE
Prof. Moore Announces the Failure
Of Government Experiments.
The Water of the Utah Inland Sea
of Many Forms OF Animal Life.
Oysters Cannot Thriye-Success In
River Siouahs-Shrimps in Plenty.

The United States Fish Commission has
| recently made an enquiry into the FEAST
bility of introducing useful marine animals
into the waters of Great Salt Lake. with
| the result that it is believed that such in
PRODUCTION would be an utter waste Of time
and money. The objections TO the plant
ing of fish, oysters. and other sea animals
in Great Salt Lake is based on physical
rather than biological conditions
The water teens with brine shrimps and
insect larvae, so there is abundant food
supply. In fact, the available fish food
exceeds in quantity that usually found in
the sea. its abundance being largely due,
no doubt. il is said. TO the fact that there
are no fish to consume it.
The lake is also exceedingly rich in mi
mute plants, especially diatoms, which con-
stitute the chief food of the oyster, but
from a practical point of view this fact
has no value when the physical conditions
OF the waters of the lake do not permit
the continuance of the animal life if in
troduced.
The investigations which led to the above
HGNt JuSl Dtth ny
Prof H. F. Moore. of the Fish Commits
sion. and his findings are given in a state
ment which has just been issued. Prof.
Moore says:
1T was recognized of course. that the
area which. even under the best conditions.
would be found TO possess the requisite
physical characteristics could net be very
extensive, and that there was little hope OF
introducing marine fishes, for Great Salt
Lake holds salt water OF a density which
could not be endured by ordinary organ
isms Where fresh water flows into the
lake from the rivers there is forffiei a mar
row zone of a density approaching that of
the sea, lying between the fresh water On
the one hand and the salt on the other.
This zone occurs only near the mouths
of streams. and its limits are so circum-
scribed as to allow but small latitude for
the wanderings of fsa and other marine
possessing active powers of To-
comotion, and they would BE- restrictsd
therefore in the exercise of one of their
most important functions. ard would be
in constant danger of wandering into the
water where the conditions
would be fatal. The oyster, on The other
hand, is a sessile organism, and if its
surroundings be favorable, a re-
stricted area does not prohibit oyster cul- /
lure of certain character, except in SO |
much as it correspondingly restricts the |
number of oysters which it is possible to |
'aise."
Prof. Moore enters into a discussion of |
he fluctnating conditions near the mouths
If the several rivers, principally the Bear,
Jordan, and Weber. and shows that even in |
hese localities the conditions are not reg
liar enough to maintain marine fish life.
The density at the mouth of the Jordan
vas found to change from 10o9 To 1.C14l
within five minutes.
Prof. Moore further says:
The main body of the lake and n large
'art Of its shores are entirely unfit for
he introduction of marine animals of
value. owing to the high salinity
+ the water.
The proportional constitution of the sa-
inc contents OF the waters of Great Salt !
AXE is not vastly different from that OF
alt water. Great Salt Lake is sat and
OF alkaline. The physiological effect of
Is waters upon organisms placed therein
robably would not seriously differ from
hat of sea water were 1t not for its high
ensity, but to attempt to introduce fishes
r ether marine animals into water having
specific gravity Of 1.16S when they have
ecome adapted by nature to a density of
ut 102s. would be an utter waste OF eff
)rt.
IF the conditions as found at any given
me were constant, there would be no
laicuity in introducing such sessile marine
rganisms as the oyster, but the frequent.
lmost continuous. fluctuations in the
snsity Of the water make the attempt en-
rely unfeasible.
1T Is not improbable that places could
e found where q few adult oysters would
irvive. but the conditions are such as