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Show V r Sad Sight For Waterfowl Sportsmen DUCK MALADY WIPED OUT THOUSANDS OF REFUGE FOWL Continued from Preceding Page 20 miles long and 100 feet 'wide, the center of it standing six feet above the water line. . The object in building low, sloping dikes was to simulate a beach and prevent excessive erosion. The idea has proved most successful. After 19 years of service the dikes show only a minimum of cutting, even though at times 60 mile gales have whipped the surface of the water. The refuge is divided into five independent units, separated by ten miles of partition dikes, and dive lakes totaling 40,000 acres now are flooded s with fresh water. Wooden dikes at the in placed various intervals, make It posto sible regulate the depth of Water In the lake units from a few Inches to three feet. At a point where Bear river divided to form the old natural delta, a concrete diversion dam was built in 14 sections. By lower- ing the steel control gates the water may be backed up the river for a distance of 13 miles and forced out through the various feeder canals which supply a portion of the units. Sickness Persisted However, despite the thousands of dollars spent by the government, the impounding of the fresh water, the location on the project of government experts in bird life, the dreaded duck sickness persisted in taking the lives of thousands of ducks. In certain seasons, hundreds of ducks were picked up by refuge officials and brought to a duck hospital established Bear River Bird Refuge Employee Picks Up for the study of a sickness of which experts seemed to know . . . sick and dead birds on the refuge. Sick birds are given the cure at the duck hoslittle. What caused the sick- pital. One duck treated for botulism was found 83 days later at Palmyra Island in the ness, no one knew; it was eviPacific Ocean, 3,600 miles from the refuge. dent that in the warm summer o f healthy birds suddenly would workers found, was simply to temperature of the water by seasons, great numbers be stricken, would lie on the prevent the marshes from dry- depth to prevent the growth and of the botulism beaches or float helpless on the ing out and to keep them well development You'll See At The Refuge . . lake units. germ which grows in most flooded with a plentiful. supply foods ;of a vegetable nature at Find Cause of Sickness of cool fresh water. And the .on Following Page) (Continued to was the secret regulate Western duck sickness was main the baffling malady that took by far the heaviest toll of the IF YOU PLAN TO GO duck . population. Men were employed to shoo ducks away from certain stagnant pools where it seemed to be especially prevalent, but the mortality continued year after year. Then E. R. Kalmbach, a government biologist of Denver, Colo., found the malady to be a form of botulism, or food poisoning, causdied by a certain sease germ. Aided by this vital clue, the experts at the refuge traced the trouble to the slimy ooze at the bottom of the marshes, which they found Inhibited by the germ. It remained comparatively harmless until the water in the marsh NORTH OR SOUTH became shallow and easily warmed by the sun. At high temperatures the botulism germ The Avoset, the pretty, long-bille- d bird shown above sit- multiplied rapidly, spreading its poison in the water. ting down on her speckled eggs. The soultion, the research spill-fcoxe- east ... west d WELCOME TO THE WORKING GROUNDS OF BE TO SURE THE WITH US WE CARRY A PULL LINE OF INSURANCE FOR FIRE YOUR LIABILITY VACATION AUTOMOBILE The Grandest little town In the U.S.A. Were proud of its scenery achievements. and A golfing, camping, swimming, boating, horseback riding - Everything to make your vacation the best Is here. Jfarmall lYtTIM fishermans paradise, OF FARMINQ -. SEE US TODAY! EARL MAI&SEN Brigham Truck and Implement Your International Dealer Insurance Group . ; First Security Bank Building, Brigham ' 129-3- ! 61 PHONE ' 1 1 YOU START ON THAT TRIP. INSURANCE AGENCY Local Agent For FARMERS PHONE 300 ! BE SURE THAT YOU ARE WELL INSURED BEFORE U K, f ll t f . I A. I A H I - |