EFFECT OF OIL POLLUTION ON MARINE AND WILD LIFE^ 



By 



F. W. Lane, V. 8. Bureau of Mines 



A. D. Batij:b, U. S. Bureau of Mines 



H F. Fisher, formerly tcith the American Petroleum Institute 



and 

 N. Habding, formerly with the American Steamship Owners Association 



CONTENTS 



rage 



Introduction 171 



General discussion 172 



Economic importance of coastal aquatic life 172 



Effect of oil pollution in driving fish from domestic waters 172 



Toxic properties of oily discharges 172 



Effects of oil on fish, shellfish, and fowl 173 



Present status of oil iX)llution 174 



Oil pollution and conservation of food resources 175 



Reports on oil pollution from various sources 175 



Conclusion 181 



INTRODUCTION 



During the latter part of 1922 and the early part of 1923 the Bureau 

 of Mines, then in the Department of the Interior, in cooperation with 

 the American Petroleum Institute and the American Steamship Own- 

 ers Association, conducted an investigation of the pollution by oil of 

 the coastal waters of the United States. Although the investigation 

 was essentially of a technical character, so many complaints and re- 

 ports were received relative to the deleterious effect of oil pollution 

 on marine and wild life that it became necessary to devote particular 

 attention to this phase of the subject. With the aid of specialists 

 in that line of endeavor the authors have attempted to summarize the 

 situation with respect to the effect of oil pollution on marine and 

 wild life. 



The authors wish to acknowledge their indebtedness to the officials 

 of the organizations that cooperated in the investigation as a whole, 

 to the Bureau of Fisheries, and in particular to Dr. H. F. Moore, 

 formerly Deputy Commissioner of Fisheries. They are also indebted 

 to Dr. Thurlow C. Nelson, of Rutgers College, New Brunswick, N. J., 

 and to Dr. David L. Belding, biologist in the department of conser- 

 vation of the State of Massachusetts. Appreciation is also ex- 

 pressed to other Government departments that aided in the prepara- 

 tion of this phase of the subject. 



^ Appendix V to the Report of the U. S. Commissioner of Fisheries for 1925. B. F. 

 Doc. No. 995. Published by permission of the Director of the Bureau of Mines, Depart- 

 ment of Commerce. 



58262 — 25 



171 



