Ward. — Elimination of Stream Pollution in New York 13 



taneous action on the part of somebody, but if they are not killed 

 off, the situation has by no means been analyzed to the extent 

 that is demanded. We must find out not merely whether short 

 exposure to those adverse conditions is going to affect the fish 

 unfavorably, but whether the conditions in the water have been 

 so modified that the chance of the fish obtaining food, the chance 

 of spawning and propagating itself, have been seriously interfered 

 with. 



And that brings us to a point where we should consider for 

 a moment the different ways in which pollution affects fish life. 

 I will pass over these very rapidly. Perhaps I should say the 

 different ways in which fish affect the human species, for, after 

 all, that is the fundamental point in our discussion and I need 

 not say anything to you about the esthetic side of the question, 

 fond as I know some of you to be of outdoor life. It will be sug- 

 gested to you at once, that the people possess in our streams 

 and ponds an asset for enjoyment that is of great value, and that 

 should be preserved reasonably in its natural condition. I need 

 not say anything to you as to the value of streams for the use of 

 communities for bathing. No boy who is born, as I was, on the 

 banks of the Hudson, brought up at a time when stream pollution 

 had not reached its present condition, could fail to appreciate 

 the value of going swimming. But some spots where I used to 

 go swimming in the Hudson are to-day in such condition that 

 anyone might well hesitate before he plunged into the water. 



I want to speak definitely of the points at which we have 

 suffered distinct financial loss. The pollution of our streams in 

 the first place has been of definite financial damage to the land- 

 holder. He is unable to use the water for watering stock. He 

 finds his cattle are poisoned in extreme instances, or do not thrive. 

 He finds that his rights are interfered with, and of course that 

 constitutes a legal right of action which to be sure is not often 

 availed of because of the well known uncertainties of the law and 

 of the difficulties which the individual meets in enforcing his 

 rights against the larger and more influential body. 



Then of course the greatest loss to the people is the loss in 

 fish. Now I think pollution affects the adult fish, but it affects 

 still more the young and the spawning grounds. Over the spawn- 

 ing grounds in a polluted stream is spread a mass of filth that 



