60 New York State 



bottom was visible only a short distance away from the bank 

 because of the cloudiness of the water, but wherever seen or 

 tested even roughly with a stick it showed the same deposit in 

 considerable thickness. The absence of green plants was extremely 

 noticeable and careful study of several different places did not 

 bring to light any of the pure water organisms, either plant or 

 animal. Large areas were over-grown with bacteria and fungi 

 and little masses of such material rose to the surface and floated 

 away in the current. Where by the force of the stream the 

 bottom had been scoured clear, as on some exposed shallows and 

 projecting portions of the bank, only barren areas could be 

 observed and even there the stones were slimy to the touch from 

 the film of wastes deposited on them. Some fish were seen, but 

 they were all dead and decaying on the bank or stranded in the 

 shallows. While only relatively few such specimens were seen, 

 they had evidently all been killed recently and had not undergone 

 much change since they floated ashore. If, as was maintained by 

 residents, such dead fish are thrown up constantly, then the toll 

 on the fish population of the stream must be pretty large. One 

 could hardly doubt that there had been introduced into the stream 

 in this region a very considerable amount of solid materials as well 

 as more fluid industrial wastes. The effect on the stream had been 

 bad and seems likely to grow worse unless the situation is modified. 



It was not possible to study the stream intensively in order to 

 determine how far down these conditions extend or how rapidly, 

 if at all, the water purifies itself and the conditions are ameliorated* 



The upper Hudson was made the object of more careful study 

 than was devoted to any other streams or region. Numerous 

 short trips were made along the bank and in small boats from 

 Troy northward. Two more extended surveys were carried out. 

 In the first of these the party proceeded bv automobile from 

 Albany to Palmer Falls and examined both the general condition 

 of the stream and the special conditions that existed at those points 

 where the introduction of industrial wastes is most extensive and 

 most marked. As the road runs parallel and close to the river 

 it was generally possible to get a complete picture of the conditions 

 and to note changes in appearance as well as to stop readily for an 

 intimate examination wherever a change was evident or was 

 suspected. 



With the stretch from Troy to the site of the present Waterford 

 dam, I was very familiar as a boy some thirty to forty years ago 



