30 SEWAGE-POLLUTED OYSTERS AS CAUSE OF TYPHOID. 



Since that report so completely covers the situation under dis- 

 cussion, the following descriptive data are also submitted: 



The Jamaica Bay oyster beds are leased by the State and constitute the largest 

 oystering district in New York State waters. They are said to yield from 500,000 to 

 1,000,000 bushels yearly. The principal shipping points from this bay are at Canarsie, 

 In wood, and near Flatbush Bay, although large quantities of oysters are taken direct 

 by schooners to New York markets. 



Area of Jamaica Bay inside of Rockaway Point estimated exclusive of marshes to 

 be 16,690 acres. Mean range of tide 4 feet. Tidal daily volume passing in and out 

 twice daily is roughly 2,900 million cubic feet. 



The principal points of pollution are at the four sewage disposal plants at Sheeps- 

 head Bay, East New York, Jamaica, and Far Rockaway, at the outlet of Paerdegat 

 and Kings County hospital sewers into Paerdegat Basin, at Bergen Beach, at Canarsie, 

 and along Rockaway Beach district. In addition to these points, pollution reaches 

 the bay from various summer cottage colonies, the principal colonies being located 

 at Plum Beach, at Sand Bay, east of Canarsie, along Mill Creek, at Ramblersville or 

 Remsen Landing, along Bergen and Cornell creeks, and at the several stations on the 

 bay of the Rockaway Beach Railroad. 



The pollution differs greatly at most points in the summer and winter seasons. The 

 Sheepshead Bay disposal plant, using the chemical precipitation method, which the 

 other three plants also use, receives sewage from a normal population of 2,000 in winter 

 to a summer population of 40,000 to 50,000 on special days. The treatment is prac- 

 tically ineffective. 



Bergen Beach is visited by from 50,000 to 60,000 persons weekly in summer, and the 

 sewage, from an average of 8,000 person's daily, is discharged into the bay. 



Paerdegat Basin receives sewage from a permanent population of over 10,000 per- 



Canarsie is visited by an average of 16,000 persons daily in the summer season, 

 including 30,000 on Sundays, and practically all the sewage from this population 

 reaches the bay. 



A permanent population of considerably over 50,000 persons contribute sewage to the 

 New Lots or East New York disposal plant. An average of 10,000,000 gallons of sewage 

 and storm water per day is pumped at this plant, and in addition a relief by-pass is in 

 operation from 11 o'clock a. m. until midnight. The plant is so much overtaxed, the 

 sewage being detained for only 17 to 20 minutes, that the treatment is practically 

 ineffective. 



At Sand Bay, 127 cottages, at Old Mill Creek, 176 cottages, at Ramblersville, 220 

 cottages, at Bergen Creek, 50 cottages, at Cornell Creek, 53 cottages, and along the 

 line of the Rockaway Beach Railroad, over 200 cottages, have privies which discharge 

 into the water or onto marshes subject to tidal overflow. 



The Jamaica disposal plant, effluent from which is discharged into a branch of 

 Bergen Creek, treats the sewage from about 18,000 persons out of a total population of 

 25,000 in Jamaica. The plant has ample capacity as a chemical precipitation plant, 

 although under the best of operating conditions a reduction of organic matter and bac- 

 teria of about 50 per cent only is possible. 



The Far Rockaway disposal plant receives sewage from a normal population of 6,500 

 and a summer population of 30,000. During the summer season the plant is undoubt- 

 edly overtaxed. 



The Rockaway Beach district varies greatly in population. In the winter season, 

 from October to June, the population is about 6,000 as based on the registration. 

 During the summer season the average daily population is from 55,000 to 60,000, and 

 on a conservative estimate, based on the traffic figures of the railroad and steamboat 



