OCR Text |
Show Have Found Cause The U. S. Agricultural Dept., after investigating, has concluded conclud-ed that the strange malady which has been killing wild ducks by thousands in the marsh- es around the Great Salt Lake each year, seems to be caused by an alkaline poison. Fresh water is believed to be the only remedy yet discovered. As the flats around Great Salt Lake dry after high water, salts and alkalis crystallize on the surface sur-face of the ground. When light rains form pools on the flats, or when a steady wind blows the water across the dry barrens, the soluble salts are taken up by the water. Duck and other waterfowl water-fowl are eager t feed on the . newly flooded lands and imbibing imbib-ing these salts and alkalis art poisoned and die. The quantity of water which has reached the lake through the Bear, Weber, and Jordan rivers has been greatly reduced within the past 15 years, and in consequence conse-quence stagnant pools have formed form-ed over large sections of this region. |