Biological Survey — Oswego Watershed 137 



Sulphur Pollution. — Tributary 44 of Canandaigua outlet at 

 Clifton Springs shows a unique form of pollution caused by the 

 sulphur springs in the vicinity. This, together with a certain 

 amount of sanitary wastes causes the stream bed to be absolutely 

 covered with a thick mat of sewage fungus intermingled with ex- 

 cessive growths of pollution algae of the blue-green type. It 

 would be hard to conceive of a more luxuriant growth of these foul 

 water plants. They produce a most unsightly and unsanitary con- 

 dition. Normally this would be a feeder for Canandaigua outlet. 



Conclusion. — Certain forms of fresh water plant and animal 

 life are constantly associated with a favorable environment for fish 

 life. This is readily understood when one considers that their 

 living conditions must be the same as those that favor fish life, 

 i. e., fresh, clean, well-aerated water. When we find instead an 

 association of foul water plants and animals, i. e., certain blue- 

 green algae, sludge worms, etc., we know that fish cannot thrive 

 under the conditions found there. 



The more outstanding cases of pollution in this watershed are the 

 ones that have been discussed in the preceding pages. For a com- 

 plete survey covering all cases of actual or potential pollution the 

 reader is referred to the tabulation. Particular attention should 

 be given to "effect on stream and fish life" in the table below. It 

 must be emphasized, in this regard, that to get an accurate picture 

 of the effect of pollution from any one source, or sources, upon a 

 stream, both the tables and graphs for the biological and chemical 

 data should be studied in conjunction with one another. 



A total of 108 miles of stream were found to be polluted. Of 

 this total 60 would be suitable for fishing streams. 



It is a significant fact that the outlets of the five Finger lakes, 

 Canandaigua, Keuka, Owasco, Skaneateles and Otisco are all seri- 

 ously polluted, totalling about 45 miles of polluted stream. Of this 

 amount 20 would be suitable for the propagation of fish were there 

 no contamination present. The reader is referred to page 92 of 

 Mr. Greeley's report for a discussion of the fish life in these outlets. 



