296 



with sand, and dissipation by wave action. Beaches appear in good condition 

 on the surface. Marine life seems to have minimal problems. Because of winter- 

 ing populations most waterfowl suffered moderate losses. However, we know that 

 80 percent of the loons, 90 percent of the horned grebes, and 23 percent of the red- 

 breasted mergansers wintering in the survey area have been affected." 



A revised appraisal on January 30 concludes that : 



At this time beaches are relatively clean, although rocky beaches still contain 

 varying amounts of oil. Marine life seems to have minimal problems. Algae on 

 rocky shores are expected to die, but regrow by spring. Waterfowl deaths now 

 stand at 189 (known and verified). Two hundred and fifty-seven birds have been 

 sighted with some oil fouling, and we expect that the majority of these will not 

 survive. Seventy-four birds reported last time are unaccounted for at this time. 

 It is normal for injured or sick birds to move into grassy areas or dense marsh 

 areas where they die or are preyed, upon by predators. Consequently, we assume 

 the 74 birds not accounted for are dead. (If these are added to confirmed deaths 

 it brings the death toll to 263. ) The 257 birds sighted with oil covering parts of 

 their body are not expected to survive. Deaths are attributed to oil ingestion. 

 All data based on actual field studies and confirmed reports. No estimates or pro- 

 jections included. 



DAMAGE TO COMMERCIAL SHELLFISHERIES 



Raritan Bay^ N.Y. and N.J. 



Exhaustive studies in Raritan Bay were carried out by the Public 

 Health Service as part of the investigations resulting from shellfish 

 bed closures and public health hazards resulting from pollution of 

 Narragansett Bay. Most of the information presented in this case study 

 was taken from the enforcement conferences which resulted from these 

 investigations. 



An outbreak of hepatitis in 1961 was traced to consumption of raw 

 shellfish from the Raritan Bay. In 1963 the Public Health Service 

 found the same level of pollution as in 1961 and the project scientist 

 concluded that in that year this health hazard "precluded a safe shell- 

 fish industry and interfered with legitimate use of the waters of 

 Raritan Bay." 



The bay was closed in 1961 to all shellfishing by order of the New 

 Jersey State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Kandle. 



Bathing has been restricted on most of the beaches on Staten Island 

 along this bay ( see case study on Staten Island beaches) . 



A total of 3,789 fishermen lost their livelihood in all of New Jersey 

 due to closings, as of 1965. The Raritan Bay closing, therefore, would 

 represent a maximum of 3,000 men out of work. 



All 1961 and 1962 water samplings by the Public Health Service 

 show a heavy fecal bacteria count, both on mean average as well as 

 for spot samples (lowest mean 50/100 ml., highest 9,700/100 ml.). The 

 origin was traced to many insufficiently treated sewerage plants par- 

 ticularly at Atlantic Highlands, and Keansburg and raw sewerage 

 from the Earle Ammunition Depot (N.J.) and seven sewerages serv- 

 ing a total of 3,000 inhabitants in Tottenville, Staten Island. Besides 

 these, three additional sources of pollution are (1) the Narrows where 

 sewerage from New York City passes through a "funnel," (2) the 

 Raritan River, and (3) Arthur Kill. 



Great Kills Park was a man-made landfill, where garbage was 

 dumped as a fill. It was impossible to ascertain how much pollution 

 could be attributed to this fill operation. Only the statement by wit- 

 nesses that the landfill operation caused pollution of the adjacent 

 water is available. 



