SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 195 



It does not appear probable that there is any danger 

 of the pollution of the mussels by human or animal 

 faecal matter by means of these effluents, and this is the 

 danger with which we are more immediately concerned. 

 But some attention should be directed to the pollution 

 of the foreshore and shell-fish by a discharge which 

 appears to be a noxious one, and which the Committee 

 may be empowered to prevent. "Whether or not the 

 emanations from the Fish Oil and Fish Meal Works 

 constitute a technical " nuisance " is a matter for 

 consideration by the local sanitary authority; but the 

 fouling of the foreshore and shell-fish by an undoubted 

 manufacturing effluent (not a sewage effluent) is a matter 

 that comes within the purview of the local fisheries 

 authority. I would direct attention to the recently 

 published report on the shell-fish beds of England and 

 Wales by the late Dr. Bulstrode, of the Local Govern- 

 ment Board, in which this particular case of pollution is 

 considered.* 



The effluents in question are described as offensive 

 ones, and it is stated that the poor quality of the mussels 

 on the foreshore is due to the detrimental effect of the 

 effluents. In the Analyst's Report quoted above, the 

 opinion is expressed that the liquids would be harmful 

 to fish life because they would deprive the estuarine 

 water of a large part of its contained oxygen. It is true 

 that, as a rule, the discharge would be greatly diluted, 

 still it would probably happen repeatedly that small 

 parts of the mussel bed on the foreshore would be bathed 

 in effluent which had undergone little dilution — even 

 dilution to the extent of 90 per cent, would be likely to 

 be prejudicial according to the chemical analysis — and 



* Supplement to Rept. Med. Off. Log. Govt. Bd. for 1909-10 — 

 Shell-fish other than oysters in relation to disease. By H, T. Bulstrode, 

 M.D., p. 222; [Cd. 5313] 1911. 



