From SHL data, it can be concluded that the density distribution of 

 finfish within and outside the dumping grounds of the Bight, appears 

 normal. Of the species taken, whiting, ling, winter flounder, yellowtail 

 flounder, windowpane, and longhom sculpin occurred most frequently. On 

 occasion large numbers of such fish as Atlantic mackerel, porgy, and 

 various herring were caught. 



Seasonal variations in the population density of finfishes in the 

 sewage sludge dump area follow seasonal fluctuations of dissolved oxygen 

 concentrations (SHL, 1972). It has not been demonstrated that such oxygen 

 variations occur only in the dumping grounds and not elsewhere in the 

 Bight. Similarly, attempts to relate fishery landings in the State of 

 New York with adverse effects of pollution from ocean dumping operations 

 have produced ambiguous results. While catches of certain species have 

 declined, catches of other species have increased. Seasonal and natural 

 variations, fishing by foreign vessels, and absence of effective con- 

 servation measures, are some of the factors that make landing statistics 

 for this type of study meaningless. 



SHL concluded that the dumping threatens many species of coastal fish 

 such as weakfish, bluefish, fluke and croakers, and anadromous fish such 

 as stripped bass, sturgeon, and shad. It was also concluded that ocean 

 fish, such as tuna, could be driven away from present fisheries, and 

 that migrating fish may spread contamination and disease to adjacent 

 areas. These conclusions have not been documented. The effects, of any 

 ocean dumping on the health of coastal fish, have not been positively 

 assessed, and the SHL conclusions, according to the SAC review, cannot be 

 statistically verified. The limited sampling design, the lack of temporal 

 and spatial replication of samples, and the selectivity of fishing gear 

 used, do not support the contention that a "representative picture of 

 the fish population" was determined for any station or that concentration 

 of heavy metals has taken place in finfish. 



A recent study of Philadelphia's sewage sludge disposal grounds by 

 the Franklin Institute and the Philadelphia Water Department (Baxter et 

 al., 1971) found the fish there to be unaffected and apparently in good 

 health. Fish speciments collected at the disposal site included winter 

 flounder, mackeral, stargazer, long-homed sculpin, and spiny dogfish. 

 The quantity of sludge disposed by Philadelphia is much less than the 

 huge quantity dumped in the N.Y. Bight, and the practice dates back 

 only to 1961. 



Fine solids in suspension may adversely affect the gill epithelium of 

 fish (Klein 1962), and can also affect invertebrates, especially filter 

 feeders. Laboratory bioassays by SHL using incinerator ash residues 

 (up to 10 percent by weight) did not produce significant size or weight 

 changes on benthic organisms, but concentrations above 5 percent by 

 weight killed winter flounder. Concentrations of acid waste greater than 

 1:600 (acid to sea water), in lab experiments, killed the white mullet 

 (SHL 1969) . As stated earlier the volume of acid waste disposed in the 

 Bight is not great, and the rapid dilution and neutralization of the acid 



132 



