Evening star., 1928-03-04
Water Plant May Disturb Navigation on Potomac

| Dream and crapp!e that used to III
! Oxor Creek a few years ago have al!
deserted Even the lesser fry like cells
/ carp. snakes and bullsrogs have left for
! other regions.
! It Is an Ill wind however. that blows
! no one some good. Thanks to the pref
/ erence OF their larger enemies for open
/ water. thousands of minnows find
! sanctuary under the thick green ceiling
/ They IN turn have attracted hundreds
Of bird fishermen. such as the heron
and snipe. that find footing on the
tangled vegetation with Its pontoons of
air bladders. Hundreds Of hsrons, Of
several different species. with a sprin-
king OF snipe. kingtlShers. sandpipers
and plover have been seen at one time
using the f'cating mass rs diving raft
from which 70 pursue needless young
gninnowS,
Though wading birds have increased
along the river with .the advance Of the
trapa, the ducks and other diving birds
find 1t as great an obstacle as the row.
boats and canoes. Consequently the
plant bids fair - b>come as obnoxious
10 sportsmen as II already is IL rive,
dweliers
As concrete example Of the mis-
that promises To block navigation ON
the Potomac as effectively as the water
hvacinth has In the rivers Of Florida
Mr. Shannon recited the history Of an
ancient character known along the
water front MS Capt Bird
''For abou: 20 years. explained the
eecloeiSt. Capt Bird sQuatted In q
tiny shack ou the shore near the Home
for the Aged and lnfrm Here nom
rickety landing he rented dscrepit row.
boats 10 tsShermen III 1924 IL was
necessary % encirTle M island ot trapa
OF few acres to leave his lanGng. III
1925 he was cut OF! by SargaSSo as
effective agains; boating aS q similar
exnanSe of dry land and Si,cnt his time
Vilifving the trana which he called
Ssaweed' The old man died last VIM
ter, aud although Il 4 scarcely per-
mtsS,hle TO attribut, his death 10 the
trapa, this plant certainly deprived him
Of his means OF livelihood"
Aside from the disease. II disease II
Is that causes the decay ot the colony,
the plant seems ~ have no natural
enemies III this climate, The seeds arc
never the home of succulent grub
while the leaves are only occasionally
tightly snawcd ny punc;ured indicating
that they do no, furnish an attractive
addition to the bill VI fare ot loca,
insects There seems little likelihood
that the roasted nuts. one factor III
Keeping the plant under control In
Europe, viii find market ~ a sielicacy
favored by the great American public
IN competition with chewing gum and
hot dogs
The floating seeds and floating
roSettes. after the stem has deeayed
bring about wide dispersal down stream
hareed Spihes With which the rtpe
fruit IN furnished for ,lne are proh.
ably the means " certain amount OF
distribution against the current aS we'll
through adherence ~ the fur nf swim
ming animals and the feathers ut water
fowl
While the danger ot the spread el
the plant may seem oyeremphasiaed ar
ovrrdsawn. every naturalist who has
seem the tntAnae colony has appre-
eiated the menace that the plant pre-.
sents In the south II can eeSSune fl,l,y
as had ~ the water hyactuth. hotap,StS
he,,ave, and It's hasdtef character will
nermit u ta eNtend tar to the narth nj
the range at that pernietaus Plant II
cannot spread nnalaed fsVm pana ~
l,ond or river IL river aNd its atStrinl.
ton aians the coast will psohahly he
limited ,o salt water, Prompt meas,,ses
NJ determination are needed so protect
the sish and towi tor whlch the hts /
totic waters at the eotouAae are se
Justly tamV.s-
ttu.HFtsht tnSSA