The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-16
PLAGUE AMONG WILD DUCKS,
LAKES IN THE FAR NORTH Gov
Erred WITH DEAD BIRDS.
BAD News From Canada for sportsmen
The Mortality Attributed by One
Theory TO a KIND OF Typhoid Fever
Disappointed Last Fail.

Theory 10 a Kind OF Typhoid Fever
Gunner Disappointed Last Fall.
LACHINE, Canada, Dec. I5.-From the far
north comes bad news for sportsmen'
There are Indications that great numbers
Of wild ducks have dec OF some epidemic
disease.
Last year seemed to be a record year
for wild ducks. Broods were large and
early and hen the autumnal lights be-
gan the birds were strong and not easily
killed. The spring fights were notably
larger thar usual as a natural consequences
and sportsmen expected a remarkable faIl
for waterfowl.
The contrary has been the case. Bags
were miserably small. The autumn flights
lave in many places not been seen at all.
There has been disappointment all along
the line of lakes in these ATTITUDES where
hunters are accustomed to wait for the
fall migration of the ducks.
A couple OF travellers nave just come in
from an overland trip down from Hudson
Bay, whose news suggests the first reason
for the scarcity Of the birds. They report
that lakes 10 the far north are in some
instances fairly covered with bodies OF dead
ducks. They could not account for the
mortality.
About twenty years the writer in
vestigated a somewhat similar condition.
In that case the cause Of the mortality
among the ducks was discovered to be
intest nal, a kind of typhoid perhaps,
though in most ~stanc es quantities OF
minute worms Of the tapeworm variety
were discovered.
All game waterfowl are subject to in
festival troubles, which are especially
1 ,.o,nIan& In drv ana aOna when nOOlR and
lakes are more or less ~stagnant. Northern
lakes are usually fed by springs, which
suffice to keep the level up to a certain
standard.
| the flow from them merely removes the
surplus. This accounts for the slight
changes in the appearances OF the remote
lakes after the phenomenal dryness OF the
summer OF 1905.
But where there is no current to speak
of the water il pretty sure to be bad. Thus
the cause of the disease which affiicts ducks
may be found in tagnant water. or those
may be right who look further for the
cause Of the trouble.
severely this last year from a parasite,
which is commonly found lodging within 10
while in the chrysalis stage. 1t is said
that as the flies struggled to the surface
Of the water in June they were so weakened
by the attacks Of the parasitic enemy
that few OF them managed to gather enough
strength to fly away at all.
Young ducks 10 devour a good many
embryonic water insects, May flies among
| others no doubt, and last springs crop
NAV have contracted disease from some
of the infected insects. Or IL may be that
the mildness of last winter was favor
able TO. the increase of such microscopic
pests as have caused the sickness among
the ducks.
At any rate the whole matter is well worth
I investigating by game protective clubs,
which may be able TO enlist the services
of entomologists in Government employ.
and proceed along scientific lines ! n their
INQUIRIES. Science has assisted the anglers
by developing and protecting young fish.
IL may be no less necessary TO the sports
man who carries a gun.