LEAD POISONING FOR WATER-FOWL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 131, 18 July 1941, Page 2

LEAD POISONING FOR WATER-FOWL

A Government report received by the Forest and Bird Protection Society from Canada states that manv wild fowl in that Dominion die of blood poisoning from gobbling up spent buck-shot lying in the bottom of marsh land. Once the lead pellets are swallowed they remain in ihe bird's alimentary tract until they arei greatly l reduced by the acid in the digestive fluids. In the meantime, the lead derived from the shot affects the bird's/ blood, muscles, nerves and internal organs, producing characteristic lead poisoning and often resulting, in death. In an effort to help in wild life conservation, scientists have developed a shot made of an alloy of lead and magnesium which, while as effective for hunting purposes, will dissolve rapidlj' enough, if swallowed, to prevent blood poisoning. It is believed that manv waterfowl in New Zealand have found death in the same way because similar shot is. used here. For one pellei that lodgers in a bird, thousands fall on the haunts of ducks. Reliable investigation is needed to an accurate estimate of mortality due to lead poisoning in this coun-

Best Advertising - . The fact that the board had used its newspaper advertising space' to encourage a reduction in consump* lion of current was referred to by Mr J. H. Hall at a meeting of tbr Poverty Bay Electric Power Board. Be remarked that the positictn seemed paradoxical. The managing-sec-retary. Mr R. P. Baigent, explained that the Lighting Controller had required the board to advise its cony sumers of the necessity for economy The use of the advertising space in the. newspaper was cheaper than getting out special circulars. "The board had to get in touch with its I consumers, and this was the best method," commented the chairman. Mr F. R. Ball. Seregant Makes Amends. It sounds too good to be true, but there are those who are prepared to swear the incident really happened at a parade of an Auckland Home Guard unit recently. Most of the company had been digging a trench all the morning, and when they had finished they received orders to fill it up again, and, as in golf ethics, to "replace the divot'" and leave everything as they found it. When the task was completed the commanding officer went around to 'aspect. "Good heavens!" he staid to the sergeant in charge, "you*ve got the sods round the wrong way." The sergoant was equal to the occasion, "Company," he barked, "about turn"

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