THIRTY-SEVENTH BIENNIAL REPORT 23 



BUREAU OF FISH CONSERVATION 

 POLLUTION DETAIL 



Paul A. Shaw, In Charge 



The present biennium, cnverinc an expansion period for industries 

 and military camps, combined with restrictions through rationing of 

 equipment and materials, brought many changes in the work of the 

 Pollution Detail. The program in relation to war conditions may be 

 summarized as follows : 



OIL AND REFUSE 



Federal requests, originating from gasoline and oil losses of an 

 unusual character in coastal areas, resulted in certain personnel trans- 

 fers to cover the coast line and harbors more adequately. Prosecutions 

 through additional air patrol served to minimize offshore pumping of 

 oily bilge and ballast, but on our entry into the war this type of patrol 

 was no longer permitted and at San Diego and Port Hueneme full con- 

 trol by the Navy ruled out further coverage. 



However, in San Francisco and Los Angeles harbors, emphasis on 

 oil pollution enforcement was essential due to new and inexperienced 

 crews handling rush orders on both cargo and tanker shipments. Here, 

 full cooperation with Federal agencies continued through the biennium 

 with emphasis on prevention and clean-ups to aid the program of harbor 

 security and reduce fire hazards. Prevention became particularly 

 important where ownership of new vessels resided in the JMaritime Com- 

 mission or War Shipping Administration, since violations could not 

 ordinarily be prosecuted. 



Refuse piling and timbers from improvement of docks and new 

 construction may be discharged into State waters and constitute a serious 

 navigation hazard, especially in the landing of sea planes, and military 

 authorities have relied on our assistance in preventing the discharge of 

 such material. In this connection, out of five men from the Detail who 

 are on military leave, three have harbor security assignments and two of 

 these are continuing duties wdiere their cooperation on oil and refuse 

 pollution is still effective. 



MILITARY CAMPS 



In cooperation with Navy and Army officials, and the State Bureau 

 of Sanitary Engineering, numerous conferences were held relative to 

 installing proper sewage disposal plants at military camps to safeguard 

 State waters. 



DEFENSE PLANTS 



Exceptionally good cooperation was received in providing adequate 

 waste disposal protection at many new or expanding plants for war 

 production. 



