The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-13
DUCK SHOOTERS
ARE BOWED DOWN
Scarcity OF the Water Birds Of
Flight Seems to Be
Explained.
SERIOUS SITUATION IT IS
Strange Epidemic Destroying
SERIOUS SITUATION 1T IS
Strange Epidemic Destroying Y
Ducks by Millions on the
Lakes to Northward.

Virginia duck shooters. especially those
who reside in Richmond. and there are
scores of them, have been greatly dis
turbed this past fall and winter because
Of the scarcity OF ducks on the waters
OF the old Commonwealth They have
been puzzlIng their minds to find cause
for It.
A story that comes from away up I'M
Canada, where the ducks move and have
their being in the hot summer months.
and where they lay their eggs and hatch
their young to keep up the supply seems
TO explain the matter. Virginia sportsmen
are very much Interested In this matter.
for IL the ducks are being destroyed by
epidemics on the Northern lakes In the
summer season, there will be grief along
the water front of Virginia In the fall
and winter seasons.
But the story, which comes from Las
chine, Canada, reads as follows:
From the far North comes bad news
for sportsmen There are indications that
great numbers of wild ducks have died
Of some epidemic disease.
Last year seemed to be a record year
for Wild ducks Broods were large and
early, and when the autumnal flights be-
gan the birds were strong and not easily
killed. Tho spring flights were notably
larger than usual, as a natural conse-
ana SportSIliei aeSpSSlsu u 80
markable fall for waterfowl.
The contrary has been the case. Bags
were miserably small The autumn flights
have In many places not been seen at all.
There has been disappointment all along
the line of lakes in these latitudes where
hunters are accustomed to wait for the
fall migration of the ducks.
A couple of travellers have just come In
from an overland trip down from Hudson
aStc he, first
for the scarcity Of the birds. They report
that lakes to the far North are in some
instances fairly covered with bodies OF
dead ducks They could not account for
the enormous mortality.
About twenty years ago the writer tn-
vestigated somewhat similar condition.
In that case the cause OF the mortality
among the ducks was discovered to be
Intestinal kind of typhoid perhaps.
though in most instances quantities OF
minute worms of the tapeworm variety
were discovered.
All game waterfowl are subject to in-
testinal troubles. which are especially
prevalent In dry seasons, when pools and
lakes are moro or less stagnant, North
ern lakes are usually fed by springs,
which suffice to keep the level up to o
certain standard. 81
The outlets arc 80 barred by nature that
the flow from, them merely removes the
surplus. This accounts for the slighs
changes in the appearances of the re-
mote lakes after the phenomenal drynesS
of the summer of 1905.
But where there Is no current to speak
of, the water Is pretty sure to be bad
Thus the cause OF the disease which az
ficts ducks may be- found In stagnanc
water, or those may be right who look (
further for the cause of the trouble.
1t ia stated that the May fly suffered
severely this last year from parasite,
which is commonly found lodging within
It while in the chrysa1is stage. It Is d
said that as the flies struggled to the sur
face 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 do devour q good many
water insects. May flies among
Others, no doubt: and last springs crop
may have contracted disease from some
Of the injected insects. Or 1t may be that
the mildness OF last winter was favor-a
abe to the increase of such microscopic n,
bests as have caused the sickness among
the ducks.
At any rate, the whole matter is we'll
worth Investigating by game protective
stubs, which may be able to enlist the
services OF entomologists in government
employ. and proceed along scientific lines
IN their Inquiries, Science has assisted
the anglers by developing and protecting
young fish. 1t may be no less necessary
to the sportsman who carries a gun