112 Conservation Department 



from the east. At accessible points the canal water was sampled, 

 and since an average depth of ten to fourteen feet was found to 

 exist, samples were taken just below the surface and at the bottom. 

 Results are listed in the tabulation of Series I ; and Fig. 1 repre- 

 sents a profile of the dissolved oxygen content. For the prepara- 

 tion of this, values found at the bottom and surface were averaged. 

 These figures have been plotted and connected directly with 

 straight lines, no attempt having been made to smooth the curves. 

 The excellent condition of the clear, plant containing water leav- 

 ing Seneca lake is shown, and effects of Waterloo and Seneca Falls 

 upon the first few miles of its course evident. Proceeding further 

 the inpouring of Skaneateles outlet with its load of unassimilated 

 material is marked, and grossly polluted Onondaga outlet clearly 

 indicated. To contributions of sewage, paper and woolen mill 

 wastes from Phoenix and Fulton must be attributed the continued 

 depression of the profile as it is traced to its end at the lake. 



Stream Studies. — The greater part of the story is recorded in 

 Series I of the tabulated data, and at this point any discussion 

 must necessarily be of a supplementary nature and supplied in 

 the hope that it will enable the reader to picture more easily and 

 clearly conditions as found at the time of investigation. 



Owasco outlet is a large rapidly flowing stream, dropping 

 approximately three hundred and twenty -five feet in its seventeen 

 and one-half mile passage to the Seneca river. It has been highly 

 industrialized by the city of Auburn through which it flows, no 

 less than nine dams taking advantage of its one hundred and fifty 

 foot drop through the city. Sewage from about two-thirds of the 

 population enters the stream in a raw state. In spite of this the 

 dissolved oxygen content was found reduced only to a minimum 

 of 76 per cent where conditions were at their worst.* The oxygen 

 supply was found to have recovered rapidly, and the stream but a 

 short distance from the city was filled with an exuberant growth 

 of water plants, thriving on the abundance of food, and contribut- 

 ing in well known manner to the reoxygenation of the stream. 

 (Fig. 2). This pollution like all other cases varies in intensity, 

 and in addition, the flow of water is not constant, being controlled 

 at a State dam to meet industrial demand. Effects of dyes and 

 other substances possibry directly poisonous to fish were not 

 studied. 



Wood creek is deserving of special mention because it has the 

 questionable distinction of being the worst case of pollution ever 

 encountered. This comparatively small stream receives the raw 

 sewage from the city of Rome, which converts it into a veritable 

 open sewer, absolutely foul, with blackened unsightly shores, and 

 uninhabitable to fish life for miles. The first spot analyzed below 

 sewage entrance, nearly one and one-half miles below in fact, 

 showed an oxygen content of one-half of one part per million. At 



* See minnow tests on Owasco outlet, p. 92. 



