18 FIRST AXXUAL EEPOKT OF THE 



difficulties lias been successfully carried on under the direction of 

 the State Fish Culturist. 



The most serious problem with which the Conservation Commis- 

 sion is called upon to deal in the administration of this bureau is 

 that of pollution of our public waters by the untreated sewage of 

 municipalities and the waste of manufacturing plants. Thousands 

 of acres of shellfish lands have been destroyed by the deposits of 

 contaminating substances. Public health is jeopardized and 

 migratory food fish supply reduced by the destruction of great 

 numbers of fish in waters polluted by various manufactur- 

 ing waste. It is estimated that in the Hudson river alone over 

 fifty thousand acres of what were formerly valuable shellfish lands 

 have been ruined by the deposit of industrial waste. Legislation 

 is needed to prevent the pollution of public water from sewage by 

 requiring municipalities to install sewage disposal plants. The 

 question has been ignored too long, although its great importance 

 has frequently been called to public attention. Provisions should 

 be made by statute prohibiting the cities and towns of the State 

 from sewering into public waters, and the authority of law should 

 likewise be vested in this Commission to prevent by injunction the 

 pollution of streams by the manufacturers in all cases where it 

 can be shown that the deposit of such materials in streams is 

 destructive to fish life or where the public health is imperilled by 

 a continuance of the process. 



The investigation of sanitary conditions of oyster beds is bcinir 

 actively prosecuted by the Commission, and .such measures will be 

 taken as are deemed necessary for the protection of public health.- 

 Many of the states 1 , including Massachusetts, Maine, IJhodo Island 

 and Maryland have already dealt with the problems of pollution in 

 a modern and progressive manner. The city of Baltimore has but 

 recently inaugurated a system of sewage disposal and prohibited 

 the discharge of manufacturers' waste products into the water? 

 within its jurisdiction. The same work is now being given active 

 consideration by ihe fisheries and health authorities of New Jersey. 

 This State -should no longer delay action upon a question which 

 concerns the health of its people and the protection of one of its 

 important industries. There is a great necessity for ,a biological 

 station on Long Island for the study of the habits, spawning 



