10 
features removed, contains practically all the bacteria 
found in the crude sewage.* From the public health 
point of view the clarifed effluent apparently may be 
little if at all better than the original untreated sewage. 
Under these circumstances I would ask—is it not a very 
serious matter that such an effluent should be allowed to 
discharge anywhere in the neighbourhood of shell-fish 
beds, or where any fishery contaminationst could take 
place? I may also remark in passing that however pure 
such an effluent may look in mixing with the sea, bathers 
should be warned against its dangers. Another point 
with which we are not directly concerned at present, 
although it is of great interest to the scientific man, and 
may be of practical importance to the country, is whether 
enormous quantities of valuable fertilising materials 
which ought to be applied to the land are not now being 
wasted in the sea. We can leave the bathers to the 
sanitary authorities, the question of fertilisers is one for 
the chemist and the agriculturist; but we are directly 
concerned with the coast fisheries, and I would urge that 
the Committee, and all fisheries authorities, should give 
most careful consideration to the relations between shell- 
fish beds and any sewage effluents, whether “ treated ” 
or not. 
Early in the year | asked Mr. Johnstone and Dr. J. T. 
Jenkins, who was at that time working in my laboratory 
at Fisheries subjects, to devote a certain amount of time 
in each week to a careful examination and classification 
of all our fisheries statistics (accumulated during eight or 
nine years), with a view to the drawing of any conclusions 
* London County Council Bacterial Treatment of Crude Sewage. Third 
Report by Dr. Clowes and Dr. Houston, 1900. 
+ Lam not alluding to the conditions in the Thames, which I do not 
know personally. It may be that no difficulty arises there. I am speak- 
ing of the question generally, as such effluents may be likely to increase 
around our coast, and will require careful attention. 
