172 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



Attention is called to the fact that this paper deals only with oil 

 pollution as it occurs on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. No attempt 

 has been made to deal with other forms of pollution or to investigate 

 effects of oil contamination in inland waters. 



GENERAL DISCUSSION 



The effect of oil pollution on marine and wild life has received 

 much attention, due to numerous and widespread reports that the 

 fishing industry, particularly the oyster industry, has been adversely 

 affected, and that large numbers of wild fowl have been killed as a 

 result of oil pollution. In the course of the present investigation the 

 authors endeavored to secure additional information on the subject 

 by means of interviews, inspections, and correspondence. 



ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF COASTAL AQUATIC LIFE 



The total value to the fishermen of the fishery products of the 

 tJnited States approximates $90,000,000 annually. The oyster in- 

 dustry alone produces over $14,000,000 worth of food every year, 

 estimated to be the equivalent in food value of 254,000 dressed steers. 

 The most important aspect of the situation, however, lies in the vital 

 importance of aquatic life as a source of food and the possible effect 

 which oil pollution may have upon this source. It is stated that the 

 nitrates and other salts essential for plant growth, which are pro- 

 duced in the decomposition of sewage, and those which are brought 

 to the streams by the leaching action of ground water ultimately pass 

 out to sea and are lost unless utilized in coastal waters as a factor 

 in the growth of marine plants and animals. 



EFFECT OF OIL POLLUTION IN DRIVING FISH FROM DOMESTIC WATERS 



It has been asserted that practically all of our badly polluted 

 waters, where no signs of fish are now to be found, were good fishing 

 waters before the development of present-day congested manufac- 

 turing and shipping conditions. The increasing use of oil fuel is 

 said to be largely responsible for the marked decline of the fisheries 

 in many localities. As indicating that the reduction and control of 

 pollution will be followed by a return of former fishing activities, it 

 has been stated that during the great depression in industrial activi- 

 ties some two or three years ago the closing of entire industrial com- 

 munities was accompanied by a reduction in pollution of the streams, 

 and consequently fish were again found in quantity in many of their 

 former habitats. 



TOXIC PROPERTIES OF OILY DISCHARGES 



Experiments made by the Massachusetts department of conserva- 

 tion on the effect of industrial wastes on fish life indicated that a 

 mixture of 1 part crude petroleum to 1,000 parts of water did not 

 immediately affect brook trout.^ On the other hand, tarry matter 



• Pub. Doc. No. 25, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Annual Report of the Division of 

 Fisheries and Game for the Year Ended Nov. 30, 1922. 



