FOREST AND STREAM 
21 
POISONING AND OBSTRUCTING 
WATERS. 
THE 
[FVo/n Proceeding* of American Fish Guitarists' Association .] 
BY FltKD. MATHER. 
F ROM all over the land there is a murmur of complaint 
about the pollution of our creeks and rivers by man- 
ufacturing companies, dyeing establishments, saw' mills, 
and the like; and while the General Government, States, 
and individuals are working to re-stock our nenrly ex- 
hausted rivers, lakes, and streams, this pollution is allowed 
to go on unheeded and unchecked. 
The murmur is gradually getting louder, and will ere 
long, we hope, reach the ears of our legislators in a tone 
loud enough to attract their l.nmediate attention 
The flowing waters, and the large lakes are part of our 
public domain, and no man, or body of men, should be 
allowed to defile them; yet it has been done almost without 
protest for years past, and will continue to be practiced for 
years to come, unless the attention of the people is called 
to it in u manner that shows to them that their vital in- 
terests are affected by it, and that the efforts of their Fish 
Commissioners, who are trying to increase their supply of 
food, are being continually thwarted by the greed of a few 
men, who, to save themselves the expense of draining 
their ■ poisonous refuse into the soil, where it might te 
rendered harmless in Nature’s laboratory, make sewers of 
our brooks and rivers. So also the dweller on small 
streams is cut. off from his supply of fish, which have al- 
ways ascended his brook, by the miller who has just built 
a dam across it lower down. The State of New York has 
a law covering the latter case, but it needs enforcing sadly, 
It provides that “every person building or maintaining n 
dam upon any of the fluvial waters of this State, which 
darn is higher than two feel, shall likewise build and main- 
tain during the months of March, April, May, September, 
October and November, for the purpose of the passage of 
fish, a sluiceway in the said channel at least one foot in 
depth at the edge of the dam, und of the proper width, 
with four inch-square cross pieces upon the bottom of the 
sluiceway three feet apart, which sluiceway shall be placed 
at an angle of not more than seven degrees, and extending 
cutirely to the running water below the dam, and said 
sluiceway shall be protected on each side by an apron at 
least one foot in height, to confine the water therein.” 
The penalty for non compliance with this act is $25 for 
each month’s violation. 
This is a recognition of the rights of the people to have 
unobstructed passage for their fish; but in regard to 
poisoning, the New York law says:— 
"No persons shall place in auy fresh water 
stream, lake, or pond, without the consent of the 
owner, any lime, or other deleterious substauce, with 
intent thereby to injure, poison, or catch fish, nor place in 
any pond or lake stocked with, or inhabited by trout, bass, 
pike, pickerel or sunfisb, any drug or other deleterious 
substauce with intent to destroy such trout or other fish.” 
This is a “misdemeanor,” and is punishable by $100 fine 
in addition to any damage done. The weakness of this 
section is in not including rivers, and in the words, "with 
intent to destroy such trout or other fish.” 
Any vagabond can get out of this by declaring that he 
only wanted to kill vegetation, snakes, or turtles. The 
amendments of 1872 provide, sec. 18:— 
"No person or corporation shall throw, or deposit any 
coal tar, refuse from gas houses, or other deleterious sub- 
stances, or cause the same to run or flow into, or upon any 
of the rivers, lakes, ponds, or streams of this Stale, under 
a penalty of $50 for each offence, in addition to liability 
for all damage he muy have done; but this section shall 
not npply to streams of flowing water which constitute the 
motive power of the machinery for manufacturing estab- 
lishments, where it is necessary for the manufacturing pur- 
poses carried on in such establishments to throw from, or 
run the refuse matter aud material thereof into such 
stream.” 
The last clause emasculates the whole section, and makes 
a mockery of all legislation on the subject. I have seen 
the dead fish in the bayous (or creeks as they are impro- 
perly called) below Albany on the west side of the Hudson 
from the refuse of the Analine works, which came in 
through the city sewers. 
It is a hard matter to poison a large river like the Hud- 
son, and do it thoroughly from end to end, a fact that we 
may be devoutly thankful for; but in times of low water 
in that river I have no doubt that the baleful influence of 
Albany's dye and chemical works extends to the shad 
hatching grounds, ten miles below. 
In the report of the Maine Fishery Commission for 1873, 
page 13, they say, in speaking of the shad fishery on the 
Kennebec :— 
“A careful exploration by Mr. Brown for the spawning 
ground of the shad at Topsham and Brunswick discovered 
that they had been driven from their old haunts by the re- 
fuse turned into the river by the Perkins paper mill." 
Last season while at Holyoke, Mass., 1 made a few en- 
quiries to learn if possible to what extent, if any, the 6had 
grounds on the Connecticut were affected by the refuse of 
the mills immediately above, and on the same side of the 
river with them. Being then engaged in transporting shad 
fry from there to the tributaries of the Mississippi and the 
Great Lakes, for the United States Fish Commission, I had 
no opportunity to investigate the effect of the poisons, but 
developed the following facts in regard to their amount. 
Just below the great dam, and within five hundred feet of 
the fishway, arc three large factories the first of these is 
lime will re cower; but it is not so. except perhaps in very 
shght cases. Thero is so much water in the Connecticut 
hat a large fish may get out of a poisoned streak in a short 
time but not so with newly hatched fry, who might bo 
caught in it, and who would have to swim perhaps several 
times their owu length to find pure water ” 
That the substances mentioned arc deadly poisons to fish 
is very evident; the only thing to be taken into considera- 
tion, is the amount of such poison us compared to the vol- 
ume of water and its consequent dilution. On the subject 
ol ordinary sewage from cities I am not prepared to speak; 
by ordinary sewage “please understand the drainage of 
private houses, water closets, wash of streets, and oilier 
things, not including factories using dyeing and bleaching 
chemicals. That this is regarded as poisonous to fish in 
England is evident by the following article from “ Land 
and Water" of Nov. 14th, 1874:— 
Cray River Pollution.— Vague rumors have reached 
me (not through an exactly official channel) that the sew- 
age now running into the Cray is to be carried in a sewer 
or sewers to an outfall about iwo miles north of Hartford. 
Now, though I am in no way connectrd with, and have no 
claim to the attention of, the sanitary authorities who have 
the matter in hand, I do hope that they will bestow some 
thought on what follows before taking such a courso as 
this Next session, there is every reason to believe that 
1 arl lament will pass a comprehensive measure for the pro 
vention of pollntion of livers. Is it not probable that this 
bill will deal with mouths and estuaries as with upper 
waters* It so, will it not include Dartford (and Barking 
too, for that matter)? This seems to be the only just 
straightforward way of dealing with the matter. It would 
in the case of the Barking outfall involve great alterations 
and many different interests would be concerned in such a 
change; but why not? The end of this note may supply 
a sonuion of this question. Othc-wise, no one would know 
where the functions of the Act would terminate. Every 
interested person would view the quostion through his own 
spectacles; and there would be no eud of litignlion I say 
again, as I have already said in your columns, either use 
your sewage on land in season, or precipitnte it altogether 
but do not let it foul water, either in lake, river, or sea’ 
There is no excuse for harboring refuse and beastliness 
about us, as there are several really practicable ami work- 
able processes available for the treatment of sewage aiul 
refuse; notably the Universal Charcoal and Sewage Com- 
pany. This company utilize by carbonization all vegetable 
and auimal refuse, as street sweepings, etc., of towns and 
villages, and with that they state that they are able to pre- 
cipitate the sewage so thoroughly that fish will live for 
months in the effluent water. Knowing the powers of 
charcoal, I quite believe all this. Moreover, the manure 
produced by this process is very rich, as is attested by sci- 
entific evidence of no mean order. This company are pre- 
pared, on the one hand, to get rid of all offal and unsalable 
street refuse; and on the other, to precipitate sewage so 
that the effluent is perfectly harmless. Now all this is very 
satisfactory, and demands a fair and impartial trial by 
some really expert scientist. Be this how it may, and not 
for one moment laying claim to any such title, if the com- 
pany think fit to semi me somq of their charcoal I shall be 
very happy to put it to a severe, test, and acquaint your 
readers with the result. In speaking thus of th 0 above 
company. I mean by no word of mine to disparage any 
others; many are very valuable, and many experiments 
must be made, on various kinds and samples of sewage, in 
order to determine that which may be most applicable' in 
individual circumstances. All I would say to everybody at 
work at sewage is: Don’t go und run it away down rivers 
estuaries, or seas; do something with it; or, at any rate try 
every experiment before doing so. Sewage varies, and 
must be treated accordingly. For my own part, I do not 
believe that taking out and utilizing the Cray sewage would 
cost one shilling more (ou both sides of the river) than to 
run it out into the outfall at Darford. For instance I know 
that, within about half a mile on either side of this house, 
there is one house on one side and eight or nine ou the 
other. All these can use either earth or cburcoal; but must 
be made to do so— prejudice is so strong in favor of old 
methods. What we want is a pure river and river bed; 
this latter we can hardly expect for some time under any 
circumstances, as there is a very great and dense mass of 
filth in the river, but, if all unite, north and west, and 
without any petty considerations of se'f interest, ’ and 
without any spirit of Bumbledom, we may have 'it at 
last.” 
the Carew Paper Company; second, the Hampshire Paper 
Company; third, the Glasgow Gingham Company. The first 
two discharge from »ne to two tons of chloride of lime per 
day, each; while the amount of dye stuffs, etc., emptied 
into the river by the latter will probably make the entire 
amount of villainous ingredients, foot up to between four 
and five tons per day of chloride of lime, acids, and dye 
stuff. The fishery and spawning grounds are about half a 
mile below, in a bend where the greater portion of 
this must be carried. This, in connection with from 
thirty to forty mills on the other side of the river, which are 
discharging (or were in July last) into the canals, or river, 
the same substances in greater or less quantity, must have 
a terrible effect upon the fish, especially those yet in the 
embryo stage. 
A well informed angler says: — 
“They say that fish that are poisoned with chloride of 
Another writer in the same paper says: 
“The surface of our rivers appear as if covered with oil 
or other fat substance. May this not be caused by the ma- 
nures now put on the land, making the fish soshvand timid* 
It would be worth the while of oiir Fishery Commissioners 
to inquire Into it while at the pollutious inquiry ” 
This subject is new to us, but is well worthy our atten- 
tion. So fur, wc have bent our energies to producing fish 
in vast numbers, with but little consideration of the many 
delicate conditions necessary to their future growth ; and, 
in my opinion, if the rivers were as pure to-day as when 
our forefathers landed on Plymouth Rock, there would 
now be the same immense shoals of salmon, shad and ale- 
wives ascending our rivers that there were then, multiplied 
tenfold by our methods of artificial propagation. 
Fish Portraits.— At the Fish Culturists' meeting last 
week Mr. Robert R. Wiseman, of Utica, exhibited four 
exquisite oil portraits of fish, painted from life at the Cale- 
donian Hatch House, now under the supervision of A. S. 
Collins, Esq., who rendered him very material assistance. 
They represented the salmon, salmon trout, speckled trout 
and grayling. The latter was an object of much interest, 
and, we learn, secured several orders for copies. 3Ir. 
Wiseman is a naturalist as well as urtist, and has devoted 
much time and attention to the study of fish and game. 
— Seth Green regards the instinct of salmon fry to 
return to their native streams, as an Insuperable obstacle 
to the successful introduction of Pacific salmon into eastern 
waters — which remains to be proved. 
4Hzfurxl fiistorn. 
GREAT FOSSIL 
BIRDS 
PARK. 
nr Ft>rtuf and Stream. 
FOR CENTRAL 
'T'HROUGH the favor of Mr. C. F. Holder, of the Mu- 
A scum of Natural History at Central Park, to whom 
our renders have been indebted for valuablo and entertain, 
mg articles relating to the great fossil bird of New Zealand, 
called the “moa,” wo havo beon furnished with a photo- 
graph of tnc collection of skeletons ns they stood In their 
section at the Canterbury Museum, at Christ Church. Now 
Zealand, from which we roproduco in our engraving this 
week all their anatomical features, together with such ad- 
jacent objects as will onablc U9 to comprehend the gigantic 
size of these birds. Wo learn also from Mr. Holder that 
invoices have been received at tho Central Park Museum, 
advising of the shipment to Now York of those self same 
skeletons, and they are now en route. 
— It is said that a benevolent lady up town, who is a 
compositor's wife, intends presenting each of the printers 
in the city with a pair of woolen mittens, bo that they ean 
have warm fingers and pick up the type better this freez- 
ing weather. 
About a year siuce Dr. Huast, tho director of Cunlcrbury 
Museum, Christ Church, New Zealand, communicated 
with the trustocs of tho American Museum in Central 
Park with refercnco to the cxcbnmru of specimens of natu- 
ral hisloly. He 6ent a list of species of tho remark- 
able fossil birds that had lately hern found near their ool- 
ouy, aud intimated a desire to part wiili certain duplicaies 
by exebango. The British Museum were ndvbod of tho 
opportunity as well; but tho American Museum “stood 
not on the order of going,” but went at onco, and cabled a 
telegram to New Zealand direct, saying:— “Wo will tako 
them." Consequently tho New World Museum is alone In 
possession of tho most extraordinary collection of fossils 
yet brought to the eye of science, excepting those retained 
at New Zealand. It is oxpocted that the birds will arrive 
here in tho course of a few weeks, ns they were shipped 
about the middle of December. Thu invoice gives the fol- 
lowing items. In ten cases uro contained as follows:— 
No. 1 contains complete skeleton of Dinomis maxin.vs. 
No. 2 contains complete skeleton of Metouornu didif-rm.it. 
No. 3 contains complete skeleton )f E/ryapteryz rheutes. 
No. 4 contains complete skeleton of JJinornit gracilis. 
No. 6 contains complete skeleton of Ey-yupteiyz gravis. 
No. 6 contains complete skeleton of Patapteryz Ciassos 
No. 7 contains complete skeleton of Mclonomis casuaru 
nus. 
No. 8 contains complete skeleton of Patapteryz elephan- 
topus. 
Nos. 9 and 10 contain separate hones of all the abo7o 
species, aud those of Dinornis ingen* D struthioides, and 
1). robustus, Aptornis did if arm is, and uai-pugornis Moarei. 
The complete skeletons are very handsomely mounted, 
and ho arranged that they may ho roudily taken apart lor 
study or transportation. 
There are enumerated with the specimens not complete 
hones of all the species, young as well as adult— the tra- 
cheal wings, stones taken from the region of tho stomach, 
several diseased hones, etc., etc. It will he seen that thero 
are here five distinct species (eifl’ht specimens) complete as 
skdetons, besides five other species less perfect. 
We have already given a detailed account of the discov- 
ery of these birds in former numbers of Forest and 
Stream. It 1 b interesting, In this connection, to know 
that the eggs of a greut bird of this family have be n found 
in Madagascar. A cast of one in the American Museum, 
Central Park, measures fourteen inches in length. 
—A Staten Island correspondent states that in feeding 
pound trout he finds they prefer raw beef to worms, grass- 
hoppers, or anything else, and argues that anglers will 
therefore do well |o uso beef for bait in fishing for trout. 
