Evening star., 1946-01-25
OUTDOORS

The United States engineer Ol-
fice for the Washington area Will
hold a public hearing at its nome
at First and Douglas streets NV.
next Tuesday morning, starting at
$50, to obtain views OF all parties
interested on the Potomac Rivers
perennial water chestnut problem.
This pernicious water weed rap
idlv was overrunning the Potomac
and its tributaries from WaShlng-
ton down to Potomac Creek until
about 1899, when the United States
Engineers undertook to eradicate II.
With what funds they had for this
purpose they waged ceaseless war
fare against 1t, beginning at WASH
ington and working down river
until last fall. 1t was a real prob
lem, and not until the engineers
had devised a sort of Rube Goldberg
cutting apparatus which really
worked was much progress made.
The water chestnut's dense green
vegetation formed a real menace.
Being an ideal breeding ground for
the Anopheles mosquito, which car
ries and spreads malaria, it gravely
threatened the health OF residents
along the river. It's sharp, barbed
seeds Uttered the beaches for more
than hundred miles and were
anathema to bathers. Its matted
growth seriously interfered with or
stopped small boat navigation,
ruined game fish and wildfowl
breeding and feeding grounds.
While much of the water chest
nut has been killed out, formidable
outcfoppings again are expected in
Ouantico Creek, Gunston Cove, Bel
mont Bay and Occoquan Greek,
along with scattered growths else
where. The battle must be con-
tinued, and to do this funds are
needed.
Under the Rivers and Harbors Act
of last year provision Is made for
the study of such projects, and
for the engineers to proceed further
this year, commencing about May. |
It will be necessary for them to hold
this hearing as study, so they
may obtain congressional approval
and funds with which to proceed.
Col. Donald G. White, District
engineer, invites all interested
parties to appear. Here is real
chance for local sportSmen and
outdoor enthusiasts to back UP the
engineers in this piece of really
constructive endeavor. If you can
not be present in person, may we
suggest you write Col. White. asking
that your letter be read into the
testimony.
The engineers have accomplished
what appeared at first to be almost
impossible and they are deserving
of every support we can give them
toward carrying on the warfare
against this pest.
Put a ring around the date of
February Is on your calendar and
save that evening for the annual
Ducks Unlimited banquet, 1t will
be at the presidential ballroom of
the Statler Hotel and tickets may
be had of George L. Dyer, 1741 K
street NV.
Tom Main. DU general man
ager (Canada) as usual will provide
the main attraction with new
DU. feature-length kodachrome
film which was taken last year on
the Canadian duck-nesting grounds
Glenn L. Martin, vice president in
charge of the Middle Atlantic sea-
board region, also will be on hand
to assist in any way he can. All
of you who have attended in the
past know what delightful affair
this always is. Possibly Main or
Martin will have the answers to
some of the questions you'd like
to ask
For most of us locally, the hunting
season is past until next November.
However, for those who have the
time and cash, there still is a
period ahead in which to enjoy
your favorite sport. The quail and
wild turkey season is open in North
Carolina until January 81, in South
Carolina until March / and in
Georgia until February %. Reports
from the South indicate that quail
shooting has been excellent lately.
Heavy rains have driven the birds
out Of the swamps and lowlands
onto high ground, making the going
much easier for the hunter and
dogs.
Local anglers hardy enough to
brave the clements have been
journeying to Aliens Fresh the past
week, but from all accounts haven't
been doing too we'll In our opinion,