The Morning standard. [volume] (Ogden, Utah) 1910-191?, 1910-09-25
INVESTIGATING THE 4
DUCK DISEASES.
Ogden Sportsmen Find the Cause
of the Contagion Among
the Birds.
Diseased Birds Were Found Near
Sewer Outlets-Clubs May
Get New Grounds.

natian, something that would either
confirm OF deny rumors that the
ieathered tribe was being eXtcrminat-
ed by a mysterious malady that wiped
out thousands oil the birds daily.
Reports from duIcccnt sections oil
northern Utah during the early part
OF the week had IL that all the ducks
OF the state were infected. and that
thoy would be all dead before the
season opened, or that the state food
ard dairy comm ssioner would pat a
ban on the sale or eating OF the
game.
1,.zse rumorS, as Is usual with most
ruIIors. had some foundation, but as
" the case of every other rumor,
Lhey grew to such exaggerated pro
portions that none knew but that the
wild ducks and the fascinating sport
OF shooting them would soon be as
unheard of as is the olden buffalo
hunts.
The truth of the story is as fol-
lows.
There is an Infection OF the ducks,
and an alarming infection. tco, among
those that make the Jordan river
near its mouth their feeding place.
Ducks are dying by scores In that
section. while hundreds upon hun
dreds arc infected with the disease,
Scientific men have termed it dys-
cntery, brought about by the staGnant
condition of the 5loughs and the riv-
er Itself. from the heavy pouring Of
sewerage water into the stream from
Salt Lake City sewers
aaa1. 4 III,
have been found on Promontory Point.
Several were dead, while others were
sick In the last stages of their bat
tie with the disease. It Is believed
that these birds flew straight from
the Jordan river district. where they
contracted the disease.
A committee OF investigation from
this city made the trip TO the Jordan
river flats yesterday and brought
eight of the sick birds back with
them for examination. The party con-
sisted OF MIR. BlgeIow. DR.. Baker
Willard Hansen. state food and dairy
inspector: John Browning. Francis
Thomas William Mathers. the Plain
City naturalist. and Game Warden J
S. Carver and o. B. Madison.
The party after careful investl-
CATION of the conditions prevailing
at the mouth of the Jordan and in
the vicinity reports that 40 per cent
OF the ducks In thai section are in
fected with the sickness or have died
from it. and that scores OF birds mi
grating there from other points have
fallen before the scourge.
Eight OF the stricken birds were
brought back 10 Ogden One OF
these was so far along in the con
tagion that it died before reaching
here. Another one was killed and
dissected by DIR. Baker. who deter
mined TO find out for himself the ma.
ture OF the disease After an exam.
ination he reached the conclusion that
the birds suffered from dysentery
and that the disease was caught from
feeding in the sewer water OF the
Jordan flats
Mir. Carver took the remaining six
birds TO his home and fed them gen.
erously with bird food and gave them
a liberal supply Of clear, fresh water
The ducks soon revived and at last
accounts were Tapping their wings as
active as any barn yard fowl
\ thorough inspection of the con
ditions prevailing on the Jordan river
VIII be made by state food and health
officials. The state chemist will an
alyze the water OF the stream and
sporting clubs OF Salt Lake will dc
everything in ;heir power to Danish
the sickness that threatens to spoi
such n popular sport.
IL was suggested by Salt Lakers
that the river should be channelec
right to and out into the lake. anC
mat the slouehs near the mouth be
interlined with canals and channel:
that might draw off the sewer water
nut this is considered impracticabl,
by local people
The only feasible solution so ia,
offered is the removal of the ducl
clubs OF that section to some othe,
healthful section; the abandonment
/ OF the up-keep OF the feeding ground.
there. and the thorough dIsinfectio7
OF the swamps. or the extension q
thc sewer pipes well out into III,
lake
II Is not expected that The diseas,
VIII affect feeding grounds in Webe
county and the shore line nearby
The duck clubs near Ogden all repor
that conditions this year arc abou
the same as they were a year ago
and that the mortality rate is n,
higher than in former years.
John Browning is reported as say
ing that there is nothing out of III
ordinary In the duck situation a
brigham City and the mouth of IN
Bear river.
Willi2m Mathers. a naturalist q
Plain City and prominent mombc
of the Lake Shore Gun club ,lco
same commissioner. reports that tn
oucSs on The grounds of the club nea
osoen arc entirely free from th,
epidemic that has affected Jorda
river ducks. He says that tho nro,
pects this season al his club are bc
ter than ever.
MI rudy of the Rudy Duck cIul
on tue Ior1an, says that he will civ
slVu 10 the man that can finJ IN
aead ducks on the Rudy club ground
ana the grounds cf the two clubs a,
Joining. '''' "'
mus, according TO Harry Anderson
John Sharp and "a score of otbor loo,
nlmrodS. the whole trouble seems ,
DC with the city sewer OF Salt LAX.
as II pcllutes the waters OF the To-
dan and indeed is three DAYS coiD
rom its outlet to deep water in III
lake. ' :" III
This opinion Is shared biz St,,
rood Commissioner Willard uanse,
VINO said this morning that in hi
opinion. the sewer IS to blame n
'ucush ne was judging only from r.
ports of the situation.
rarry Anderson says that II III
surplus canal waters are turned int
une rlVer at the right point the 81
uation may vet be saved.