W. RUSHTON 75 



Sample shaken up showed froth at top which remained for 24 hours 

 before disappearing (in a purified sample froth should disappear in three 

 minutes). Sperms were active in this sample for one minute only. Ova 

 fertihsed in this crude sewage and removed to fresh water gave normal 

 embryos, only four hatching out. 



Yearlings placed in this sample would not hve more than 5 minutes 

 and throughout the period of emersion were in a violent state of 

 activity. 



Sample 7. This was a sample taken from the effluent pipe from a 

 distillery when a full discharge was taking place. 



A large amount of suspended colloidal matter was present which 

 microscopic examination showed to be broken-down yeast cells and 

 starch grains, some in an unbroken condition and others much broken 

 up. The whole was of a whitish colour with a large amount of finely 

 suspended matter very hke starch paste. 



The cloudiness took several days to disappear on standing when a 

 mass of fungal hyphae appeared on the bottom. 



Reaction ... ... Shghtly acid cold; neutral hot. 



Tested for presence of COg showed a large amount present. Milt and 

 ova were not available when this sample was taken and only its effects 

 on yearhng trout was ascertained. 



This was pecuhar, for almost as soon as introduced the fish became 

 very sleepy, remaining at the bottom of the vessel till finally overcome 

 within an hour and if left half an hour longer died. 



Repeating this experiment but removing to fresh water at the end 

 of an hour, when first overcome, the fish recovered its normal position 

 within 10 minutes, indicating that crude distillery waste puts fish out 

 of action probably through the excess of CO2 present and the deficiency 

 of free oxygen. This experiment has been repeated using freshly drawn 

 distillery wash from a London distillery and the same effect obtained. 



The amount of oxygen in solution rarely reached more than 2 c.c. 

 per Htre against a normal 6-7. Well aerating a sample of distillery wash 

 improved matters especially after standing for some time to allow the 

 colloidal matter to settle out. The addition of hme water or powdered 

 lime helped to improve the Uquor so that it was able to support fish-Hfe 

 if most of the COg was removed and oxygen introduced. 



