The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-08
THE PASsAlC WATERS.
DECREASE OF TEE STRANGE EPIDEMIC AMONG
THE FISH.

DECREASE OF TEE STRANGE EPIDEMIC AMONG
THE FISH,
The epidemic affecting tho ash OF the Passaic River
for fow days past seems nearing end The recent
rains ane the lower temperature have evidently cx-
crted strong remedial Influence Dead fish pre- still
found here aud hcre along the Shore but the most OF
these show their death took place days ago. Some OF
them are SO decomposcd that they havc sunk 10 tho
bottom and DO seen along the shallow shorc, ~
was stated few days ago that the mortality seemed
confined 10 the roach yellow bass aud sucker,
and that among o,hcrs the catfish had mostly escaped
Yesterdays examination showed, however that these
had suffered with tho rest TO a considerable extent
The cells seem have escaped and siso most OF the
p,ckcreL Tho members OF the nnny tribe which APP
pear 10 have had the greatest losses the roach and
the suckers
Letter writer's are busy giving COMMUNICATIONS to
tho effect that the reports about the mortality
among tho fsh are cxaggcrat,ons. Some OF these
even date from New York CITY, Some
are full OF sentiment about the ''besutiiul Passnc
There is room for this sentiment tor tho river Is really
beautiful, and indeed almost the only poem which
Washington Irving over published was addressed ''ro
the Pnssacn But the most picturesque river has It's
p.osac side, and look at this is important whom
such a stream NAV be callcd upon 10 minis
ter 10 the hourly wants of half dozen
cities. When tho mortality among the fish OF the
Passac is so great that committees from several cities
whose water supply comes from It arc making formal
examinations iacts AS we'll as sentiment should DO
gwen the public
CITY Physician Kent, of Paterson, expressed the
opinion that there is strange, unprecedented mortal
iy among tho ish OF the passaic River He said that
he did not think that epidemic could be traced to
tho dycs used In tho various factories along banks
as there is ns great mortality among tue
nsh above these fac'orie: az below here arc
AtaA 6Qh tnot
tho Passaic Falls, they arc drawn through
tho raceway which leeds the mills and which Joins tho
river below the city. Below this junction many dead
lsh are yet found Most OF them along this section Of
the river nrc very much decomposcd showing thas
there are comparatively few recent deaths me cpl
demc has evidently spent It's force He says tho dis
ensc showed its presence In q marked way about two
weeks ago. The "purgiug" or publication
OF the water which comes every year through vegc
table position about the time of the scverest
heats ana lowest In tho river has como cnrer
this year than usual owing TO the heat ana consequent
warden Of Passaic county that the nsh Of
been bee s Similarly Affected Dr. Ken. says that
although tho reports from various places along the
river may have been exagserased, a. was natural
That epidemic he thought was about over, the recent
rams having helped to remedy tho trouble. He said
that the health Of the people using the water Of tho
Passaic daily had not been affected in any
apprec,ablc way, tho health Of Paterson belpy
season. Of TIE year. In conclusion he his
declaration that, In his OPINION, the wholesale
sauy hcr Of the fish caused by tho decomposition Of
vegetable matter pointing out the fact that at present
the factories Paterson and vicinity are doing tte
while no such mortality ever known when the fac-
torres were at their busiest.
The question is held 70 be Of such Importance In
Paterson that on Wednesday the Aldormanic Commit.
too on Health, accompanied by the city phys'cun and
the assistant city physician, made ar examination Of
tho waters above the city, aud to-day will investigate
the condition OF tho stream below II, toward Dundee
Dam.
Alderman Rycrson, who Is az expert, fisherman.
Cbicl OF Police tirpul, and nUmDer OF others oil
Paterson, say that Fish Warden Roc is right in hts
statement about tho river "prrging' itself every
year. They say that they have known this Tor years,
aud almost everybody who has hud much experienced
ut fishing knows about Il. IL generally comes In the
months OF July and August, during which there is no
line, Tor they will not bite.