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R. N, STEELE 

 oysters in Puget Sound as six billion pounds a year. 

 Think of it, equal to the entire fishery of the United 

 States, six billion pounds. I am wondering if we are 

 here now today to decide what part of this six billion 

 pounds of the potential can ever be produced. 



I know from personal experience as an 

 oyster producer just what a small concentration of sulfite 

 waste liquor can do to an oyster bed. It can completely 

 destroy all commercial value. Sulfite waste liquor in 

 low concentrations may not kill oysters, but the growth 

 and fatness are disturbed to the point that you are right 

 out of business. 



The recommendations set forth in this 

 report, if followed, would certainly help clean up our 

 waters, but it is my opinion that the reduction of wastes 

 should be watched and -control led at the mill outfall rather 

 than by monitoring the water. As far as the oyster is 

 concerned, this outfall should be eliminated and the wastes 

 burned or evaporated, for it cannot be proven that sulfite 

 waste liquor, even in minor concentrations, does not have 

 some adverse effect on oysters or its reproductive cycle. 



I compliment you on this report and ask 

 again that you keep our standards high, for without high 

 standards we shall certainly lose the roost productive body 



