FRESHWATER FISPI El'IDE.MICS IX Ql'EENSLAND RIVERS. 195 



liis report to the Longreach Shire Council, dated 29th August 

 1918, being as follows : — 



The samples are highly contaminated with organic matter and 

 are unfit for drinking. 



We do not Icnow what was the composition of the water 

 from either situation during periods when the epidemic was not 

 present. 



When discussing the above analysis of the Longreach water 

 mth Mr. Henderson, he informed us that the sample Avas milky 

 and was taken at a time when the Thomson River was covered 

 with dead or dying fish, the water being then green and 

 stagnant. He said that the results relating to the presence of 

 ammonia were of no value as ndicating the constituents of the 

 original sample. The amount of total solids was distinctly lou 

 and the organic matter unduly high. 



On the occasion of our visit the water in the billabong 

 was found to be very darkly coloured, A^ith a greenish tint, 

 apparently on account of an exaggerated growth of algae. 

 The escape of fat or oil from the mass of decomposing fish 

 present caused the water to be foetid and to possess a greasj^ 

 feel. Ciliates and flagellates were in abundance, as were tiny 

 crustaceans. 



A report on a sample of water from Anthony's Lagoon, 

 Northern Territory, sent by Mr. Stretton to the Health Depart- 

 ment, Darwdn, during the 1918 epidemic, was issued by Mr. 

 M. A. Kelly for the Chief Health Officer, and contained the 

 foUoAAing information : — Colour, dirtv^ greenish white ; odour. 



