136 Conservation Department 



much smaller, is almost as bad as it approaches the lake. The 

 sewage disposal plant of Batavia is only partly effective and pol- 

 lutes Tonawanda creek for a distance of 4 miles. East Aurora, 

 with a sprinkling filter disposal plant, a type considered one of 

 the most effective when properly operated, by-passes most of its 

 sewage directly into tributary 14 of Cazenovia creek. A case that 

 is, unfortunately, not without its parallels in other watersheds 

 studied. Canadaway creek, though showing evidences of its pol- 

 lution from Fredonia at present, should be entirely restored fol- 

 lowing the installation of the disposal plant there. Of the 30 

 miles polluted by these wastes, 27 would be suitable for fishing 

 streams. 



Milk Pollution. — By referring to the table of pollution it will 

 be seen that there are very few milk plants in this watershed. 

 The milk plant at Cattaraugus has a 12-inch waste pipe emptying 

 into tributary 7 of the south branch of Cattaraugus creek which 

 it takes 1% miles to recover from. The milk plants at Lime lake 

 and Delevan seriously pollute very desirable fishing streams. The 

 plant of the Merrill-Soule Co. pollutes Cattaraugus creek slightly 

 at Arcade. Their plant at Farmersville Station has one of the 

 most effective milk waste treatment plants in operation — a lime, 

 ferrous sulphate treatment which gives a clear, desirable effluent. 

 Of the total of 10 miles polluted by milk waste all would be suit- 

 able as fishing streams. 



Oil, Acid and Iron Pollution. — Rush creek deserves special 

 mention as being an extreme case of this combination of pollution, 

 which it receives from the Seneca Iron and Steel Co. In the upper 

 stretches of the creek oil pollution predominates and kills off all 

 forms of organic life with the exception of a fungus, which seems 

 to flourish midst such strong pollution. Near the mouth of the 

 creek an enormously rich growth of Euglena sp., which the high 

 acidity appears to favor, flourishes over the sides and bottom. 

 Such a rich growth of this form is rather rare. 



Glue and Tannery Wastes. — Cattaraugus creek at Gowanda 

 receives a load of waste materials from the glue and tanning 

 factory located there which it is unable to assimilate until its 

 waters are dissipated in Lake Erie. Above these two plants many 

 fresh water forms ahound such as mayflies (Chirotenetes, Caenis, 

 Heptagenia), caddisflies (Hj^dropsyehe), stoneflies (Acroneuria, 

 Perla), etc. A few hundred yards farther downstream, after the 

 effluents have entered, all fresh water forms have disappeared, 

 6 inches of fibrous sludge covers the bottom just above the power 

 dam and a mat-like growth of fungus (Sphaerotilus) covers the 

 stones in the riffles. From this point to the mouth of the creek 

 conditions of severe, though somewhat diminished pollution exist. 

 In the pools, sludge containing abundant Tubifex is found, blue- 

 green algae (Oscillatoria, Merismopedia, etc.) abound, Chirono- 

 midae are plentiful, and none but the more tolerant fish life is 



