The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-07-15
CROTON LAKE.
FISH DYING BY THOUSANDS AND REAPPEAn-
ANcE or THE GREEN SCUM

FISH DYING BY THOUSANDS AND REAPpEAn-
ANcE or THE GREEN SCUM.
Readers OF the HKRALD will doubtless remember an
account published few weeks since, OF apparent
disease then prevalent among the fish in the Passac
River and Rockland Lake. Many found Dead
but happily the mnlady its course. A similar
phenomenon has very recently beeu observed IN
Croton Lake ON It's first appearance The residents In
the vicinity OF the lake felt natural alarm lest its
direct result should be, not alone contamination Of
the water, but indication thar there might be u
lurking source OF impurity in addition 10 the usual
deterioration Of the water incident to tho sumner sea-
son. Dead Dish first noticed about week ago.
and they soon began to collect along the shores.
COLLECTING DEAD FISH.
Mr.. Fernando Wood, Jr., the superintendent of the
Crolvn dam, acted promptly the natter and sent
out men daily patrol the borders OF the lake
in boats. gather up the carcasses ana bury them.
This was petty undertaking, Croton Lake is about
six miles in length and indented with small
coyes and ,nlets.
The quantity collected the first day, last Monday,
was estimated at about bushels On Tuesday
some four bushels found, and on the following
day three. since that time it has been evident that
the epidemic was slowly abatng, and yesterday only
one bushei was picked up. From the returns made by
the fish plain that least twenty bushels
of the dnny tribes have already persisted within
week past ia these waters. II they had al been al
lowed along the shores or as they hoaled the
Cr0ton water IN New YORK could hardy nave cscapcu
a. least q nshy taste
Crolon Lake rs plentifully stocked with white and
yellow percn, black bass, pcKcrel and several var-
eties oil Interior fish. The chief mortality has occh
confined TO three four. and the order as naned-
Dace, white perch, cat ish ana yellow pcrcn. Some
fine specimens OF the wnite perch observed, rang
ting from ono TO two pounds N weight. ~ may 20
Sze seldom canght by the angler.
SCIENTISTS AT SEA-
No satisfactory local theory has been preached to
account for iish malady. One person as indeed
suggested that the Paris green used by farmers TO de-
nroy the potato Dug my have bad something to DO
With IT, But II so, why have certain varieties ialed
10 DO anectedy Mr. WOOD refers to Professor Chand-
er's opinion in previous cases--vz, that tue source
Of the disease be in the produced by
The decay o vegetation II may no mentioned that
hook ana line hshlug the lake has been unusually
Indifferent Tor weeks past.
The water In Croton Lake yesterday was not
usually low. but II ccrtninly not IN good condi-
ton. Looking down from Pines Bridge there IS TOO
much pale green INT visible 10 suggest punt,
and OF tho coves the green scum rs quite thich
superintendent; Wood accounts Tor tie presence OF
this substance by the fact that the reservoir at Boyds
Corners has oeen drawn on wihn the last few days,
and me has brought 1t do&n, as previous 10
thai time there was nothing oI Inc KIND seen HOW
ever that be- II appears TO be on the Increase ana
will probably 20 on accommodating unless heavy rams
should The water In the lake IS now nine
in. hes below the level DAM and sixteen be-
low before the supply reservoir was tapped
ENLARGING
Comm issioner Campbell has recently devised plan
for adding The capacity OF Croton Lake to the ex
tent OF 500 000 600 gallons and the whole expense
viii not exceed SlO0 Under his direction workmen
now employed IN boiling limo OF tmoers IL
inches ny ~ lip OF the dam, which equivalent
to adding one loot TO original height The
aquedrct which Is conduit ~ icet D
Inches by ieot is now running as
iuli as is thought by the Chief Engineer
TO be prudent-namciy, 10 The depth OF ten eet. fbs
furnishes supply OF u.s. 900 200 gallons daiiy; or
rather, that is The quantity let uto the aqucduc tor
very considerable portion leaks before the winter
reaches the consumer. some OF percoates Through
cracks IN the masonry, and the rest Of the missing
hud escapes through the NY connected mains IN New
YORK. To give idea Of the waste, IL may be
stated that while there depth OF ten ec OF water
nj the mouth OF the aqueduct ~ sing sing, distance
OF six miles. there Is only seven feet three inches
Commissioner Campbell, who Is opposed To building
new aqucduct at the present time, believes that no
close the assures the old and thus render II
moro servccabe. To this end he now has gangs OF
men at work removing some OF The superintendent
earth, which, he claims has been The direct cause Of
many vi the cracks the work. They are also
strengthening the stone walls which faux the aqueduct
wherever it rises above the surface oil the ground All
This may be done at moderate expense but by what
means the leaks in the city mains can be reached Is
question for the fut ure.