Stream Pollution 55 



wastes upon streams of relatively insignificant volume /and upon 

 those which rank as the largest in the state. 



It does not seem to me to be important that I should report here 

 the details of such examinations. There is little likelihood that the 

 situation at points which were most carefully examined differs in 

 any radical way from that in other places which were not visited. 

 Moreover, no effort was made at any point to study the situation 

 intensively so that one could speak with exactitude regarding the 

 amount or precise character of the pollution. I endeavored to get 

 a broad and yet clear conception of the general situation from the 

 point of view of the biologist. I hope to make clear in later para- 

 graphs the general appearance presented and the inferences which 

 may reasonably be drawn even from what might seem like a super- 

 ficial examination of the situation. 



Only a small number of streams was exam'ned, with a view to 

 determining the general conditions existing in them at the particular 

 time ; certain preliminary statements with reference to the method 

 followed should be made before an account is given of the results of 

 the examinations. 



In the first place, while no attempt was made to determine the 

 detailed conditions at the time of the survey, yet the waters were 

 examined carefully up and down stream from the point where the 

 wastes were discharged, and the general character of the shore and 

 bottom and of the open water was determined in so far as it could 

 be by mere examination. Wherever plant growtji was seen or any 

 sort of animal life was noticed careful attention was paid to the 

 amount and character of the same, the extent of its distribution and 

 the vigor of its growth. The natural aspect of situations of the type 

 under examination was constantly kept in mind and was compared 

 with the situation actually existing in order »to determine the par- 

 ticulars in which there was an agreement and those in which the 

 present conditions differed from what might have been expected. 



It will thus be seen that the examination was general and con- 

 ducted from the biological standpoint. No effort whatever was 

 made to determine more precisely the conditions of existence by 

 chemical examination of the water or of the wastes, by any meas- 

 urement in the flow of the stream or of the amount of wastes dis- 

 charged, or by the study of the materials deposited on the bottom 

 or of those observed floating in the water. Such studies would be 

 of great value and should be a part of any extended and continuous 

 survey of conditions in the state. At the same time it was possible 



