22 American Fisheries Society 



States as to the extent to which it actually affects the fish upon the flood 

 waters in the spring. We know that if there were no fish ways it would be 

 impossible for a fish to get up. If the fish ways are there, and then they 

 do not go up, it is certain that you can charge it to pollution, especially 

 if the necessary steps are taken to see that the rivers are stocked in their 

 upper reaches. 



We have a very drastic pollution law in Massachusetts giving our com- 

 mission very autocratic powers. We have been just as reluctant to invoke 

 these laws in certain directions as has been intimated by Professor Ward. 

 On the other hand, we do find there are two ways of getting at the thing. 

 There is a certain class of corporations that are just wise enough to the 

 political strategy of the times that they do not want to oppose public senti- 

 ment any more than they can help. A large number of these corporations 

 will exploit a state asset in the shape of water power, but they do not want 

 the thing uncovered. We find that class of corporations perfectly willing 

 to cooperate with us whenever we, within reason, will point the way. There 

 is another class of bad actors that will compel you to put the short rope 

 on them before they will do anything. 



In this pollution question it occurs to me that the commissions have 

 a two-fold duty. It is a biological proposition and an engineering proposi- 

 tion. If we had in each one of our state commissions an engineering expert 

 whom we could send into the X. Y. Z. Company and say, "Gentlemen, I 

 come here from the State. Any communication that you make to me will 

 be considered as a privileged communication. Our desire is to work with 

 you in removing pollution. If you will reveal to us the character of your 

 pollution and show us exactly how you handle it mechanically, we will 

 undertake a constructive study to see what we can do in suggesting to you 

 a plan by which you can eliminate it. The state will stand the expense in 

 the first instance, because we regard this very largely as a state duty in 

 clearing up public waters, and then we will map out and give to you our 

 plan of constructive development." That will enable us to carry on our 

 campaign of education with these men in the most subtle and indirect manner, 

 because a practical business man at the head of one of these companies will 

 look at consequences and results and he will be ready to help you all he can. 



Mr. George D. Pratt, of New York. Concerning the matter that Mr. 

 Adams speaks of, in the conference we had last week these men said, "You 

 tell us what to do." I said, "No, I will not, that's up to you." I told them 

 it would take a force of men as large as the number we have on the Commis- 

 sion, over five hundred, to take care of all the different plants in the state. 

 Take the pollution from tanneries; it is an entirely different question from 

 the pollution from milk products, and pollution from lumbering is another 

 proposition. They are all different. Now, they all have their own chemists, 

 and it's for them absolutely to work it out. If we allow them to put that 

 up to us, they are going to "pass the buck" every time. The way to work 

 this problem out is to make them do it, and they will do it if they are made 

 to. 



