64 



of the various kinds of pollution must be studied before we 

 shall be in a position to determine the exact amount an alewife 

 can survive immediately or over a long period of time. The- 

 effect of severe recent or transitory pollution in flagrant cases 

 is conspicuously indicated by the presence of dead or dying fish. 

 Yet unappreciable continuous pollution may be fully as harm- 

 ful, due to the. cumulative effect over a long period. 



The following tentative plan of approaching the pollution 

 problem has been adhered to. It deals with local conditions 

 in a fishing and manufacturing state where the pollution evil 

 which vitally affects the future of valuable fisheries is closely 

 linked with the manufacturing interests, — a situation which 

 renders especially difiicult the application of remedial measures. 

 Educational propaganda is under way, but no effort as yet has 

 been made to use extreme legal measures in forcing the elimina- 

 tion of individual cases. 



Education. — The financial antagonism of the manufacturing 

 interests, both owners and employees, must be overcome, and 

 indifl'erent public opinion aroused by a campaign of education. 

 The evil effects of pollution can be presented to the public by. 

 lectures and newspaper articles; to the owners, by personal 

 interviews and correspondence. 



Survey. — Every source of pollution will be recorded, and the 

 co-operation of the owner in its removal requested. 



Disposal of Waste. — Through the expert advice of the State 

 Department of Public Health, means of waste disposal at the 

 least possible expense to the manufacturers are recommended. 



Utilization of Waste. — The manufacturers are shown how 

 they can utilize their own waste products to best advantage, 

 and thereby reduce or completely eliminate the expense of 

 maintaining a disposal system. 



Legal Action. — As an extreme measure, if the owner refuses 

 to co-operate, legal action for the elimination of pollution, as 

 provided for under the present laws, may be instituted. Laws 

 must be carefully drawn and sufficiently broad in their enforce- 

 ment to facilitate the handling of difficult cases of transitory 

 pollution, or where polluting material is surreptitiously emptied 

 into a stream under pretense of a nominally operating disposal 

 system. 



