94 
TYNE POLLUTION. 
By E. M. MEEK. 
‘ 
In February of this year an * Experimental Sub-Committee 
for Watershed of River Tyne’ was formed in connexion with 
the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Standing Committee on 
Rivers Pollution. 
The members of this Sub-committee are as follows :— 
.—Dr. A. Meek, Chairman. 
.—E. G. Barnett, representing Federation of British Industries. 
—Alderman Wm. Clough, J.P., representing Tyne Port Sanitary 
Authority. 
4.—Dr. W. N. Haworth, Professor of Chemistry. 
5.—Dr. E. C. Jee, Inspector of Fisheries. 
6.—H. Paynter, Inspector of Fisheries. 
7.—F. G. Tuck, representing Tyne Salmon Conservancy. 
8.—H. M. Meek, Secretary. 
oS il 
Three meetings have already been held, and the motor yacht 
“ Evadne ” has three times made cruises up the Tyne for the 
purpose of taking samples of water from all parts of the river. 
The Tyne Improvement Commission has also kindly granted 
permission for experimental work to be carried on at the Swing 
Bridge, Newcastle—a badly polluted area—where samples can 
be taken and immediately analysed on the spot. 
This work has proved quite conclusively that the Tyne is 
frequently insufficiently oxygenated over large areas. 
The Sub-committee has had the good fortune, however, to 
begin its experimental work during a good year so far as the 
descending smolts were concerned, so the results of the analysis 

of the water samples will form an interesting basis for comparison 
in future years. 
At the first meeting of the Sub-committee, held at Armstrong 
College on Tuesday, February 21st, the causes of smolt mortality 
were discussed. 
(A) Drought.—Absence of a suitable freshet at the right time. 
(B) Sewage.—No attempt being made on Tyneside to treat or even 
screen the sewage. 
(c) Trade Effluents.—Especially those containing tar products 
and free mineral acids. 
It was generally felt that no practical measures could be 
recommended which would be likely to counteract the influence 

