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Mr. Drneetx. I would suggest that as soon as the hearing is done, 
that you consult with Mr. Everett regarding these. I am satisfied Mr. 
Ketcham will be happy to help you with that. So if you will see to it 
that we get your full cooperation in that matter, I would appreciate 
it. Bete is no obstacle to your cooperating with us in this matter, is 
there ? 
Dr. Pearce. No, I don’t believe so, as long as I am directed by the 
Chairman. 
Mr. Dineett. You are directed. 
Dr. Prarce. Since I am directed I can see no reason. The interim 
report has been made public, and, in fact, Congressman Howard’s 
House bill, the proceedings of the Sandy Hook hearings, are now in a 
form which would inform each Member. If you can obtain a copy of 
this from Congressman Howard 
Mr. Dinceixi. We do have, Doctor, the problem of compiling our 
own record, however. 
Dr. Prarce. Yes, I would be glad to assist you in any way possible. 
Mr. Dincett. Doctor, there have been many statements made that 
this pollution and dumping were creating gill destruction, fin and tail 
destruction, scale damage, and so forth to different species of fish. 
Would you care to make a comment on that ? 
Dr. Prarce. I cannot comment as to the exact causative mechanism 
for the fin rot disease noted in fish. We believe that it might be tied to 
pollution. The fish that exhibit this are frequently found in polluted 
waters. 
Mr. Drincett. Do you find any in nonpolluted waters? 
Dr. Pearce. Generally, no. As you move out of the New York Bight 
area, the number of fish which exhibit or show this disease decrease 
in number, and the ones you find outside the area may be fish which 
were once resident in the New York Bight and which have moved 
into an unpolluted area. However, you cannot attribute this solely to 
the dumping of sludge or dredge spoils. The disease in lobsters and 
crabs, however, we have demonstrated to be associated directly with 
the sewer sludge and the dredge spoil. 
Mr. Diner. Doctor, will you address yourself to that particular 
oint ? 
: Dr. Pearce. Yes. Crabs and lobsters are both migratory forms. That 
is, they move offshore and onshore at different times of the year, and 
many of them must move across the waste disposal areas to get to 
their appropriate environments. In other words, the crabs at this time 
of year seem to be moving offshore, that is from Sandy Hook and the 
Jersey shore and the shores of Long Island out to deeper waters, and 
in many instances they must cross the sewer sludge and dredge spoil 
disposal areas. 
As I mentioned, in laboratory experiments we were able to induce 
disease in these crustaceans by keeping them on dredge spoils and 
sewer sludges. Now we have found animals collected in the field near 
the sewer sludge and dredge spoil areas that are diseased. The bodies 
of the crabs are deteriorated. The gills show symptoms of disease. I 
have a bottle with a crab in it. If you would be interested I would be 
glad to show it to you. It has this condition. The condition seems to be 
