Biological Survey — Erie-Niagara Watershed 117 



Tributary 7 of South Branch is seriously abused by the town 

 of Cattaraugus, but is probably of little value in itself and recovers 

 before reaching the main stream. 



Rush creek has already been discussed under Lake Studies. Its 

 neighbor, Smoke creek, also enters the lake in poor shape, with 

 depleted oxygen and high content of free carbon dioxide. 



The town of Silver Creek badly pollutes the stream of the same 

 name, but being so near it is practically equivalent to sewering 

 directly into the lake. 



Canadaway creek was found to be in a vile state below entrance 

 of Fredonia sewage, a condition which it is expected will be cor- 

 rected by the disposal plant soon to be in operation. 



Eighteenmile creek appeared to be inappreciably affected by 

 pollution from Hamburg, through its tiny tributary 5. 



Buffalo creek receives no pollution of a serious nature until it 

 reaches the city of Buffalo, and here for about 6 miles it is con- 

 verted into a septic basin, absolutely devoid of dissolved oxygen, 

 highly charged with carbon dioxide, and forming an effective 

 barrier to fish. The dissolved oxygen profile is given in Fig. 3. 



Tonaw^anda creek as has already been indicated is dredged 

 throughout the last dozen miles of its course before entry into 

 Niagara river, and because of this reversed flow such determin- 

 ations as alkalinity correspond with those of the river. The dis- 

 solved oxygen throughout this area is considerably reduced because 

 of opportunity for decomposition of foreign matter in the com- 

 paratively quiet water. The very bad condition of the stream as 

 it leaves Batavia is surprising in view of the supposed operation 

 of a complete disposal plant. There is abundant evidence of heavy 

 pollution. Fig. 4 is a x^icture of conditions found. 



Cattaraugus Creek. — Pollution to Cattaraugus creek by glue 

 and tannery wastes at Gowanda has long been a cause of concern. 

 This situation was investigated in collaboration with Mr. Cutler 

 studying the biological aspects, and Mr. Greelej^ the fish species, 

 to whose reports the reader is referred. The chemical data are 

 listed in Series IV, while Fig. 5 shows a part of the same graphic- 

 ally. Some idea of the load of decomposable material which is 

 thrust upon the stream may be obtained by reference to the values 

 for ten day biochemical oxygen demand. The content of dissolved 

 oxygen though greatly reduced was probably at no place insuf- 

 ficient for fish life. Nitrogen ratios show a mighty increase in 

 both free and albuminoid ammonia, nitrite and organic nitrogen, 

 w^hile the high alkalinity of the w^astes gives the water just below 

 its entrance a high content of normal carbonate. The stream is 

 obviously unable to assimilate the pollution which is somewhat 

 resistant to decomposition, and so a large part is discharged into 

 the lake, with the additional wastes from the cannery at Irving. 

 Throughout the entire distance, deposits of sludge were found in 

 the quiet places of diminished flow. Arcade is the only town of 



