BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 125 



With reference to the quantity packed in the maritime provinces an- 

 nually, I have ascertained that the product of 1884 will, in New Bruns- 

 wick, exceed that of the previous year by 1,000,000 cans, that of Nova 

 Scotia by 500,000, and Prince Edward Island by 500,000. Cases in 

 Avhich the lobsters are packed are made uniform to contain 48 cans. 

 In New Brunswick five lobsters are now required to fill a pound can. 

 From these facts there is only one reasonable conclusion to be drawn — 

 that unless the lobster fishing is prosecuted under certain necessary 

 restrictions — in our own province, at least — this valuable crustacean 

 must soon be exterminated. 



Natural, History Society, 



St. JoJm, N~. B., January, 1885. 



23 REPORT ON THE POLLUTION OF THE POTOMAC RIVER BY 



THE DISCHARGE OF WASTE PRODIC1S FROM GAS MANUFAC- 

 TURE. 



By MARSHALL McDOIVALD. 



In compliance with instructions, based upon the request of Commis- 

 sioner Edmonds, I proceeded on Saturday to make an examination of 

 the river along the Georgetown front, with the view of determining: 



1. The amount and nature of the waste products discharged into the 

 river from the factories of the Washington Gas Company, and the es- 

 tablishments employed in converting their residual products into ammo- 

 nia, &c. 



2. The probable influence of such discharges in affecting unfavorably 

 the conditions of life in the water. 



I beg, respectfully, to report as follows : 



(A) The waste products from the Georgetown gas works are all dis- 

 charged, I am informed, into Bock Creek ; no arrangements having been 

 made by this company for the further conversion of any into useful 

 matter. 



(B) The establishment engaged in the conversion of the coal tar pro- 

 duct from the Washington gas works discharges also a certain amount 

 of waste into Bock Creek near its mouth. This discharge consists of 

 water carrying in suspension a dark oily substance, which passes into 

 Bock Creek either floating or in suspension ; but seems to sink below 

 the surface a short distance from the point of discharge. The amount 

 of discharge from this source is probably 30 or 40 gallons a minute. 



(C) I was unable to get information in regard to the nature and 

 amount of product discharged from the ammonia works, the pipe lead- 

 ing into the river being carried down below low water mark. 



(D) The main discharge into the river is, however, from the regener- 

 ators employed in the establishment for the manufacture of gas from 

 oil ; this gas being employed as an enricher of the gas derived from 



