EFFECTS OF NAVAL ORDNANCE TESTS ON THE PATUXENT RIVER FISHERY 



Introduction 



Naval ordnance research, an essential part of our national defense program, 

 cannot be effectively conducted without extensive field experiments . These 

 experiments obviously entail the detonation of heavy submerged explosive charges. 

 The effects of this type of work on marine resources has been the subject of much 

 speculation, but little study. Seismic surveys for coastal oil resources have been 

 studied to a considerable extent, but these projects have generally been of short 

 duration, in scattered areas, and for the most part have utilized light charges 

 of nonmilitary types of explosives . 



The proximity of the Maryland Department of Research and Education to 

 the U.S. Naval Ordnance Laboratory's test facility at Solomons, Md., provided 

 opporUmity for a cooperative, continuing study of the effects of heavy submerged 

 charges of TNT -type explosives on the fish populations of the Patuxent River. 

 This study is based on observations made during 1946-49 and 1953. 



Acknowledgments 



Throughout the entire course of these observations, personnel of the U.S. 

 Navy and U.S. Naval Ordnance Laboratory at Wliite Oaks, Md., and at the Test 

 Facility at Solomons, Md., offered all possible cooperation and assistance. 

 Special thanks are due Mr. J. J. Green, Lt. Comdr. W. F Tutt, and Mr. V. M. 

 Korty for their interest and help in the final stages of the project. The authors 

 also thank all members of the staff of the Department of Research and Education 

 who assisted in fie.ld observations. 



The Problem 



Basically, the problem may be stated as follows: "Wliat Uas been the effect 

 of th.p T.I. S. No'val Ordr^ance Laboratory's explosive test work on the Patuxent 

 River .Qshi," y?" Tliis question immediately resolves itself into tour individual 

 phases . 



(1) Whdi has been the trend of fish production in the Patuxent River 

 sjTi.cp Che initiation of explosive test work? 



(2) Has tills trend been markedly different from the trend of the 

 Clesapeake Bay during the same period? 



(3) Has the explosive test progr am damaged the Patuxent River fishery? 

 IC so, to what extent? 



