Stream Pollution 71 



legally constituted authorities of the state to consider fully and 

 carefully the consequences of such installation and to guard to the 

 utmost against results which will prejudice the welfare of the 

 people in general or destroy natural conditions that are a source 

 of present advantage to the state. There is no doubt whatever that 

 the erection of a new dam at the point indicated and the canaliza- 

 tion of the stretch from this place to the Spier Falls dam will have 

 a serious and perhaps permanently unfavorable influence on the 

 famous fishing region at Big Bay. 



This pre,,»Lry -»«y »veL „„. y a small par, of .he water 

 systems in New York state, but the territory examined was such 

 as to give a fair idea of general conditions. The regions described 

 are neither those in which stream pollution is most extreme and 

 conspicuous nor those in which the influence of pollution is least 

 marked. Furthermore in those places which are described I have 

 given only a general report of conditions ; more careful study would 

 certainly bring out more vividly the results of pollution on aquatic 

 life. Yet brief and in a sense superficial as the survey was, it 

 brought out clearly the widespread and serious effects already 

 produced by stream pollution. I have tried to show how these 

 influences are growing, how difficult it is to repair damage done, 

 and how real is the menace to regions as yet unaffected. From 

 every point of view the question demands early consideration 

 and above all else prompt action to repa'r the damage and prevent 

 further loss. The public interests should be safeguarded by vigor- 

 ous measures. Otherwise New York state will suffer still greater 

 losses and be compelled to assume larger burdens for the restora- 

 tion of her aquatic resources to a normal level. 



