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BULLETIN OP THE BUREAU OP FISHERIES 
carries in a soluble state the tannins, resins, and other chemicals which might leach 
out into the water. If injurious chemicals pass into solution from logs or bark, one 
would expect to find evidence of a negative reaction of oyster larvae toward bark. 
Since no direct evidence has been found to show that logs or logging operations 
injure oysters, and observations indicate that no injury is probable, it can be safely 
assumed that the serious condition now existing in Oakland Bay is in no way related 
to the presence of log booms in the adjacent waters. 
POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF DOMESTIC SEWAGE 
Within the last few years Shelton has had a fourfold increase in population. Not 
all of the new residence areas have been connected with the sewer system emptying 
into Oakland Bay, and the disposal of sewage has not increased proportionally with 
the population. Dr. W. M. Beach, health officer of Shelton, states that domestic 
sewage disposal has increased less than 20 per cent in the last four years. The oyster 
beds are at the opposite end of the bay from the sewer outlet, and the State sani- 
tary engineer was unable to find evidence of domestic sewage pollution over the 
oyster beds. 
On the mud flats near the city of Olympia oysters thrive in water that is heavily 
polluted with domestic sewage. Also in Liberty Bay and Sinclair Inlet, they live in 
contaminated water. Legal restrictions are necessary to prevent the marketing of 
oysters from such beds, but reproduction and growth are apparently normal. There- 
fore, sewage is evidently not a factor for consideration in the present problem. At 
any rate, it is improbable that the small increase has a bearing on the recently 
developed condition of the oysters. 
SULPHITE WASTE LIQUOR POLLUTION 
As a result of the survey of conditions in Oakland Bay some definite conclusions 
are forced upon us: (1) The oysters are dying at an alarming rate; no set has been 
obtained in three years, and consequently, the oyster industry is at a standstill. 
(2) The growth of at least one marine plant is greatly stimulated, and that of some 
animals is prevented. (3) Barnacles, clams, mussels, and hydroids which tolerate 
a wide range of physical conditions have apparently not reproduced in Oakland Bay 
in the last three years. (4) There is no indication that this condition has been caused 
by abnormal temperature, or by a varying salt content of water. (5) Log storage, 
sawdust, or domestic sewage probably could not have caused this great, sudden, and 
unique change in the fauna and flora of the vicinity. (6) There remains one factor 
to examine; that of the sulphite waste liquor added to the water of Oakland Bay by 
the Rainier Pulp and Paper Co. 
During the construction of this mill an examination of Oakland Bay waters was 
made, and the unpublished report of H. W. Nightingale, State sanitary engineer, 
of January 21, 1927, states: 
From this preliminary investigation it is concluded that the mill is so located with respect to 
the shell-fish growing areas that the discharge of its waste will create a potential danger. From 
the standpoint of the chemical determinations on the sea water in Oakland Bay and Hammersley 
Inlet the conditions now appear to be normal for the support of the marine life. 
As a result of investigations it was recommended that a portion of the waste 
liquor be taken out of Oakland Bay either by scow or by pipe line, and a pipe line 
was constructed before the mill began operations. Some of the waste liquor was 
pumped out of the bay, and some was dumped into the bay at the mill. 
