38 Second Annual Report of the 



examination of every acre of shellfish lands within the State. 

 The State's certificate of sanitary condition would quickly be 

 recognized by oystermen as a valuable business asset, tending to 

 inspire public confidence in the healthfulness and safety of this 

 most delicious food, at present so commonly looked upon with sus- 

 picion, and by many refused altogether unless cooked. The cost 

 of making the examination should be borne by the growers. The 

 examination should be made in part by a bacteriologist, following 

 the standard of purity for shellfish adopted by the United States 

 Pure Food Inspection Bureau. This is absolutely essential if our 

 growers are to protect themselves in the shipment of their products 

 in interstate commerce. The conditions found in Jamaica bay do 

 not by any means condemn all the oyster lands covered by its 

 waters, but they do determine that within certain areas the degree 

 of sewage-pollution is sufficiently great to render oysters grown in 

 such districts unfit for food if marketed directly from these waters. 



By chapter 522 of the Laws of 1912, supplementing chapter 

 568 of the Laws of 1909, the State granted to the city of JS T ew 

 York all lands under water in Jamaica bay, for harbor purposes. 

 This will result in the destruction of many acres of shellfish lands. 

 Nevertheless, the necessity of efficient supervision is not in the 

 least diminished. 



The discharge of untreated sewage and the waste product of 

 manufacturing establishments into the Hudson river has resulted 

 in the destruction of many acres of oyster lands, and has wrought 

 great damage to shad and other fisheries in those waters. The 

 growing appreciation of the necessity for sewage-disposal plants 

 and the agitation for them in our cities is at least a hopeful sign ; 

 their installation means the abatement of a nuisance and menace 

 of huge proportions. 



Every country of Europe prohibits its manufacturers from dis- 

 charging those waste products into public streams. Our law con- 

 tains such a prohibition when the waste is destructive of fish life 

 or oyster culture. There is no practical method for its enforce- 

 ment. The Commission should be given power to determine 

 whether or not the degree of pollution is sufficient to endanger 

 fish life and the right to an injunction if necessary to give effect 

 to the statute. 



