71 



REPORT ON THE CONDITION OF THE WATER 

 OF THE TYNE DURING OCTOBER, 1911. 



By professor A. MEEK, with the collaboration of PROFESSOR BEDSON, 

 PROFESSOR HUTCHENS, G. SISSON and B. STORROW. 



It having been reported to me that the pollution of the Tyne 

 had become so bad, especially during a dry season, I made 

 arrangements when the "Evadne" was in the river last October to 

 get a number of samples taken. The samples were analysed in 

 the Chemical Laboratories of Armstrong College by Mr. 

 Herbert Blair, under the direction of Professor Bedson, and 

 certain samples were also examined bacteriologically by Professor 

 Hutchens, of the Durham University College of Medicine. At 

 the same time biological collections were made and examined by 

 Mr. Storrow and myself. 



The first series of samples were taken on October 20th, from 

 the mouth of the Tyne to Newcastle. There were 11 samples in 

 all. The first eight were taken from the piers to W. Dobson's 

 yard on the flood tide, and consisted practically of sea water. 

 The last three were taken from Hoyle, Robson and Barnett's to 

 Newcastle Quay, at the beginning of the ebb. These contained 

 80, 70, and 60 per cent, of sea water respectively. The average 

 analysis of the first eight shows the presence of free ammonia to 

 the extent of 1'2 parts per million, and of albuminoid ammonia 

 of 17 per million. This shows that for the lower reaches of the 

 Tyne the water is of sufficient purity for all purposes of fish life, 

 many marine forms of animal and plant life and even a larval 

 fish being obtained in the collateral samples examined for these. 



With regard to the last three which were taken at a time 

 when the fresh water began to mix with the salt water a 

 decreasing degree of purity is evidenced. The free ammonia 

 goes up to 2T3 parts, and the albuminoid ammonia to "24 parts 

 per million as compared with the first eight samples. 



On October 27th a further series of samples was taken in the 

 neighbourhood of Newcastle at about low tide. There Avas in 

 consequence a small admixture only of sea Avater. The average 

 of six of these for the free ammonia is 3"5, and for the albuminoid 

 ammonia '35 parts per million. One sample, taken within, the 

 mouth of the Ouseburn, showed free ammonia to the extent of 

 9.15, and of albuminoid ammonia '8 parts per million. 



