220 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



[6] 



"Tbe insoluble residue coutaius calcium (as sulpbate aud carbonate), 

 silica, iron, mafi^nesia, and sulpburic acid ; no copper, lead, or nitric 

 a(;id. Pbospboric acid and nitrous acid not sougbt for. By tbe soap test 

 (usiufi' Wanklyn's solution of soap and miniature gallon) bardness was 

 estimated at 5.5 'degrees,' corresponding to 5.5 grains to tbe (imperial) 

 gallon of cjilcium carbonate (=0.0780 gram to tbe liter). The fact tbat 

 sulpburic acid was found in tbe insoluble residue and tbat no effer- 

 vescence was noted on tbe addition of acids indicated a quantity of 

 carbonic acid insufbcient to neutralize all of tbe calcium present. On 

 testing anotber sami)le of fresbly drawn water witb lime water, bow- 

 ever, a faint precipitate resulted. 



"By tbe Nessler test tbe water sbowed : Free ammonia scarcely per- 

 ceptible, less than 0.009 i)art per million ; ' albuminoid' ammonia 0.100 

 part per million. 



"Tbe 'albuminoid' ammonia a])pears to be due to a trace of oil, from 

 tbe pii>es or from tbe pump. This trace of oil, which exi)erience lias 

 shown to be very persistent in iion pijx's, the screw-threads of which 

 are cut by its aid, and joints closed by an oily compound of lead, has 

 probably something to do with tbe i)eculiar taste noted in the freshly 

 drawn water. After filtration and the addition of ice (whereby the 

 water is ain'ated) tbe disagreeable taste disapi)ears. 



"Microscopic examination gives only a negative result, there being no 

 residue and no organisms of any kind." 



This water, then, ap])ears to be free from organic matter in injurious 

 qnantity, clear, without sediment, and, after fdtration and atiration, 

 potable. It contains no substance likely lo be injurious to boilers and 

 no appreciable dissolved gases. It does contain, however, a large and 

 increasing amount of salt, as shown by the following observations made 

 at different times upon the several wells which have l)een sunk: 



Well A, 17 feet deep, May 10 



Well E ■!() fei^t (lee)), June 1 



Well K, 47 feet deep, June 12* 



Well F, 48 feet deep, June 3 



AVell F, no ftet deep (the four wells tofcetlier), June lOt 



AVell F, 50 feet tleep (the four wells together), Juno 12 \ 



Well F, fH) feet deep (the four wells together), September 11 § 

 WellG, 47 feet deep, July 10 



Grain 8 to 

 gallon. 



24.00 

 24. 00 

 15. ,10 

 21.90 

 39. 60 

 42. GO 

 (i3. 77 

 32.96 



Grams to 

 liter. 



0. .143 

 0.343 

 0.221 

 0.313 

 0.566 

 0.608 

 0.911 

 0.471 



* Well sunk 7 feet further and not pumped for three dsiys. 



I The four wells united, after four hours of steam piimping, 2,000 gallons per hour. 



; After thirty hours' steam pumping, average of 1,300 gallons per hour. 



§ After thirty days' eontiuuous pumping, 820,000 gallons. 



The wells from which the Commission draws its present supply started 

 wilb rather less salt than their predecessors ; the quantity was nearly 

 doubled by tour hours' steam pumping (about 8,000 gallons); it was in- 

 creasetl but slightly after tbe withdrawal of about 10,000 gallons more; 

 and has been increased nearly 50 per cent, by the withdrawal of rather 



