524 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



•water from this brewery showed large quantities of albuminous matter, 

 in fact substances containing nitrogen, and the search for organic sub- 

 stances showed 1,000 parts in 100,000 parts of water, that is, 1 per cent. 

 The purifying arrangement, containing two pits, which has now been intro- 

 duced into this brewery lets the water from the second pit run out as clear 

 as spring water, containing only faint traces of nitrogen and only 5 parts 

 organic substances in 100,000 parts of water ; in fact, the composition 

 of the refuse water differed but little from that of the original water 

 employed in the brewery 5 all that could be noticed was a slight increase 

 in the quantity of lime. The water after having been thus purified 

 entered the pond at no great distance from the brewery. 



If we compare the experience of this and other countries with the 

 actual condition in manufacturing districts located on small streams 

 and rivers, it cannot be denied that so far little or nothing has been 

 done to prevent public waters from being rendered imi)ure. The above- 

 mentioned cases where water has been artificially purified are entirely 

 isolated, although the above-described j)urifying apparatus is neither 

 exi)ensive nor difficult to keep in order. 



It must be acknowledged that even in Germany more and more atten- 

 tion is paid to the depopulation of the fishing waters, so that in many 

 places suitable regulations regarding the fishing-season have been intro- 

 duced either permanently or temporarily. But one of the greatest evils 

 has so far been almost entirely ignored, and this is the impure water of 

 many streams and rivers, rendered so by many different kinds of refuse, 

 whose utilization as fertilizers or for industrial purposes is urgently 

 demanded in the interest of economy. It will, perhaps, be difficult to 

 make rules which would apply in every case ; but so far nothing has 

 been done to remedy this evil, and it is to be hoped that soon we shall 

 have suitable legislation on this question. 



The basis for such legislation will be found in the following x^oints : 



No impure or hurtful matter of any kind shall be allowed to enter any 

 pubhc water. 



In the different industries the impure water, properly so called, shall 

 be separated from simple refuse water, and the former shall undergo a 

 purifying process of either a mechanical or chemical character. 



Both methods should be under the superintendence of the health- 

 officers ', investigations are to be caused and directed by the inspectors 

 of factories. 



The washing of colored substances in public waters shall be prohibited, 

 as it can be done by suitable machinery in a much more efficient manner ; 

 the refuse water should, however, be subjected to a further i)urifying 

 process. 



In most cases it will suffice to use lime for this process, and the sedi- 

 ments should, if possible, be utilized in some manner. 



The refuse materials fi^om privies should never be thrown into public 

 water, as they possess a considerable value as fertilizers, and can be 

 much more suitably employed for such purposes. 



