85 



POLLUTION OF THE TYNE. 



BY A. MEEK AND G. SISSON. 



In view of the interest which has been aroused on this subject, 

 and the conference of representatives of local authorities and 

 interests which is to be held in Newcastle under the chairmanship 

 of Mr. C. E. Fryer, I.S.O., Chief Inspector of Fisheries of the Board 

 of Agriculture and Fisheries, we venture here to submit briefly 

 the results of the examination of samples of water from the Tjme 

 taken in October, 1912, and August, 1913. The samples were 

 taken at the places mentioned in Wmchesters, held at arm's length 

 beneath the surface, and from three positions, viz., in the centre 

 and near each side of the river. They give therefore a fair analysis 

 of the whole body of water moving past each place 



The results show that there is in particular a polluted zone 

 opposite Newcastle, which moves up and down with the tide, 

 but is never entirely removed, even under the most favourable 

 conditions. This zone is very deficient in oxygen, and is usuallj^ 

 characterised by a strong smell. It is brought into this condition 

 by the discharge of sewage and trade effluents into the river and 

 the neighbouring streams. Both these effluents take up oxygen ; 

 and the absence of dissolved oxygen naturally causes the water 

 to be unable to support fish Hfe. The dissolved and suspended 

 matters have also an actively poisonous effect on fish. 



The result is seen in the regrettably large number of salmon 

 which annually perish in attempting to pass up the river to the 

 spawning grounds. 



A, — 16th October, 1912. 



No. 



Place. 



Opposite Blaydon Brick "Works 

 Opposite Blaydon ;Manurc Co. 



Entrance Blaydon Burn 



Coal Staiths, Dunston 



Entrance Derwent River 



Entrance Team River 



Fifty yards above Redhougli Bridge 

 Under King Edward Bridge 

 Newcastle Quay Landing Stage 



Per 

 Litie. 



NaCl. 

 gms. 



1-85 

 2-80 

 3-53 

 5-85 

 1-86 

 1-46 

 9-94 

 10-40 

 7-02 



