24 THE MOLLUSK FISHERIES 



which in incredible quantities formerly resorted to that place; (2) 

 impair the vitality and even kill whatever fish spawn or fry may be 

 present; (3) check the growth of or completely destroy the microscopic 

 plants and animals which serve as food for the young fish and shellfish ; 

 (4) by developing areas of oily film floating upon the surface of the 

 water, enormous numbers of the surface-swimming larvae of clams, 

 quahangs, scallops, oysters, mussels and other marine animals may be 

 destroyed annually. But most serious of all is the fact that all the 

 edible mollusks, notably the clam, quahaug, oyster and mussel, act as 

 living filters, whose function is to remove from the water the bacteria 

 and other microscopic plants and animals. Most of these microscopic 

 organisms serve as food for the mollusk ; and in instances where the mol- 

 lusk is eaten raw or imperfectly cooked, man is liable to infection, if the 

 bacillus of typhoid fever or other disease chances to be present in the 

 mollusk. Though the chance of such infection is remote, it is neverthe- 

 less actually operative. Many typhoid epidemics in this country and 

 abroad have been found to be directly referable to shellfish from sew- 

 age-polluted waters. For these reasons approximately 1,500 acres in 

 Boston harbor and 700 acres in New Bedford harbor have become un- 

 suitable for the growth of shellfish; and the State Board of Health, 

 after investigation, decided that clams, oysters and quahaugs found 

 within these areas are likely to be the direct cause of a dangerous epi- 

 demic of typhoid. For this reason the taking of these shellfish for any 

 purpose was very properly prohibited; but at the last session of the 

 Legislature a bill was passed which permitted the taking of such shellfish 

 for bait, upon securing permits from the Board of Health, and provid- 

 ing heavy penalties for both buying and selling. As a matter of fact, 

 however, it is well-nigh impracticable to properly enforce this law, for 

 the reason that it is possible only in very rare instances to keep any one 

 lot of clams known to have been dug under these conditions under sur- 

 veillance from the time of digging until they are placed upon the hook 

 as bait. Complete prevention of the talcing of such shellfish is the only 

 method by which the public health can be properly safeguarded. Even 

 though in our opinion the annual financial loss to the public from the 

 destruction of this public fishery by the dumping of city sewage into the 

 water is not less than $400,000, the public health is of greater 

 consequence, and should not be jeopardized, as is the fact under present 

 conditions. Until such a time as the public realize that economic dis- 

 posal of sewage must take place on land rather than in water, laws 

 absolutely preventing any contact with the infected shellfish should be 

 enforced without exception. In instances like these it is greatly to be 

 deplored that but rarely under our system of government can legisla- 

 tion, which the best knowledge and common-sense demand for the public 

 weal, be passed in its adequate and beneficial entirety, but is so fre- 

 quently emasculated in the selfish interests of a few persons. 



