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DDT was most toxic to goldfish -when in colloidal dispersion, less 
toxic as a surfaoe application in the form of an oil emulsion, and 
least toxic when applied as a dust. In each case, however, the toxici- 
ty was sufficiently high to warrant caution against th© use of DDT on 
mosquito breeding waters where fish that are worth preserving prevail. 
DDT also killed water snakes, turtles, toads, and many species of 
aquatic insects. Aquatic plants or land vegetation growing near the 
treated water areas showed no injury when they were sprayed or dusted 
with the DDT larvicides. — Ginsburg (178); N. J. Agr. Bxpt. Sta. (275) . 
In Connecticut a DDT spray applied to sweet grapes (New York 
Muscats) did not protect them against orioles and blue jays which con- 
sumed all the crop not protected by muslin.— Bromley (96) . 
In Maryland 117 acres of the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge were doused 
with DDT mixed in an oil solvent and sprayed from an airplane. Experts 
of the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine (Department of Agri- 
culture) and the Fish and Wildlife Service (Department of Interior) 
predicted that every insect in the area would be killed. But of more 
importance, they hoped to learn what quantity of the deadly DDT oould 
be used for pest control without upsetting the delicate balance of 
wildlife. Careless use of DDT on mosquitoes, for example, might elimi- 
nate ducks and geese. Preparations for the experiment started almost 
2 years ago. The location of every bird's nest, anthill, and mouse 
hole in the area was noted. Trays were placed to catch the dead in- 
sects; small animals were trapped in boxes. Stretches of the Patuxent 
River were netted off and fish counted. The experiment will oontinue 
for another year before results are known. Surviving life in the 
treated area will then be compared with census figures for untreated 
control areas. Adding incentive to the experiment is the widely held 
belief that post-war air traffic will bring multitudes of foreign in- 
sect pests.— Anon. (57) and Birchfield (84). 
Fish and Wildlife Service observers will be present this summer 
at large-scale experiments in Pennsylvania and Maryland and in the 
Province of Ontario, Canada. Additional laboratory experiments as to 
the effect of DDT on various species of animals are underway at the 
wildlife researoh laboratory at Patuxent.— Anon. (55). 
n DDT has been found to be highly toxic to bees, both as a contact 
insecticide and as a stomach poison. If DDT ever comes into general 
use as an insecticide, it conceivably might upset the balance of natur- 
al conditions by destroying the pollinators that produce a majority of 
our food crops. Agricultural practices should be regulated to prevent 
the destruction of bees and other pollinators."— Anon. (43). 
