The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-06-07
THOUSANDS OF FISH DYING.
VA TIERS or THE PIssdTC POLLUTED
BY THEIR CtRCISSES.
Me,-nuty that Puzzle. and Alarm. Those
Mho Live Near the River nter-"n's
Health Board on u Tour OF Investigation.

Mho Live Near the River Pntcr-on's
Health Board ON Tour OF Investigation.
Tho residents In the beautiful valley of
the Passaic river are much troubled. as well
they may be, bv the epidemic that il spreading
death among the fish with which their river is
50 well stocked. Thousands die daily. and
yet no sufficient cause hos been assigned for
the Unprecedented mortality among them. Not
all the fish ia tho river ure attacked by the
plague. but only certain species viz: the suck
o.s. roach. sunnsh. and yellow bass. A few
dead catfish and ecls have been noticed. but not
many. Tho fish unaffected are pickcrcl. pike.
and black bass, Of which tho latter have been
placed ia the river recently.
The effects Of tho epidemic were first noticed
on Decoration Day. Fishermen suddenly found
dead FISH floating In tho river. and the banks
lined with thcm. Tho trouble was ut first
thought To be- caused hy the gas works Of pat'r-
son. or 10y tho numerous dive houses ON the
river hut IL has been found to extend from tide
water a. the sources or the PasSaic, ana far up
its numerous branches on which there are no
manufactures.
Fora week past the air. for some distance back
rom the river banks. has been on nslve with
the odor arising from the dead ilsh and farm
ers. whose property adioins the river have been
husily removing the purifying carrHssos. either
throw NJ them into the water or using them for
manure. The disease seems to nttack its We
tins very suddenly, and they seek the surface
where, after dartiug rapidly through the water
IN CIRCLES for n few minutes, they turn their bel
los upward and are dead.
ride was taken yesterday along tie river
banks for y few miiea either way from Paterson
The heavy rains had caused q rise in the water
$50 tnn ,n' desd msh ne Longer s,rsWe ih9
weeds. they lay IN masses Here and there
along the river bnnhs. under the leafy clms.
stand pretty little summer houses; but they are
40 longer tenaul" on account Of the odOr rising
from the dead fish.
The dend fish are eaten with avidtv by tur-
tbs and cells. They also AFFORD food for millions
of iolywogs. or pollvwohhll- " ms the natives
call them. In many instances. boys going tn the
river tor lsh have Carried home long strings OF
thos" that they found already dead; but there
ar" no cases known IN which they hay" been
used for food. The plague seems io be- increasing
and To he sprendlng tO other streams. In the
ponds OF Bloomfield the fish are dying in vuAt
numbers In Onkcs's miliponl ut this plnc,,
the surface OF the water II covered and the
banks are lined with their hodies. Old Usher
men SO that numbers of suckers die every year
when the water Is low and the weather warm,
an that mortality among them WIS especially
noticeable last July and August, l.ut that they
have not before known anything like the pres
Residents Of Jersey CITY Newark. and Pater-
son. who are dependent upon passaig water for
domestic purposes. are mu'h alarmed lest the
water may become unfit Tor u.s.. and already
many residents OF Pat rson are boiling 1t h.'ior'
drink ing; Yesterday the Pot rson Board
Of Health. accompanied 10y Mayor nurklry.
took trip up the river. above the city to invcs-
tgate tho caus'. and probable Effects Of the
INK, they hud come Ia NO d"cis on. They are to
continue their Investigations to-dnv They
| tainted water on their trip.
| MIR. J. +. Bell. agent Of tho Murphy temper
! anee movement IN Paterson. declares that the
| disease IN tn" water IL a terrible drawback to
| the temperance cause. Tor that people in that
| city would rather drink almost auythln. than
| water Just now.
| FISH Warden Roo Of Paterson onars GU
| rious ant rather plausible solution OF tho nys-
! tory. He SAYS lllt all fresh water streams and
| ponds undergo at certain Seasons Of the year "A
! pro- 'rss Of uurti alton thut he calls purgi ng
| THIS taxes pluo" IN warm " ithcr. gen rally IN
july or August. when the Wat"r II lnw and the
! accumulated niaS- OF d"cayHd vegetable matter
/ Al the bottom "mlf- gas that SIS To- the sur
fac" IN buhhlcs. This gas IN quantities. rs fatal
! a. animal lie ana until II thus passes III th"
water Is very unhealthy. During this season Of
! slckly. ami great mortality Is noticed among
| them. tn" purging. however. generally does
! not take place until late IN the summer. when
the fish are In excellent condition and able 10
bear II. During II they refuse TO bite and
| from tho ordeal thin and hungry. Mr..
! ko" thinks that on account of the long
continued drought. and the very warm
went irr II the last few weeks. the purein: OF
ue winter has begun much earlier tinn usual.
| anu l.uni IN" nSh inprrpar'i nni MT r""v-
lie ridl'ul"~ IN" notion Tint tI" trouble ~rtu-''i
~ any "Ntrlncous matter from ..a~. powder, or
ds" worAs, Tor Il a. felt as much above As below
these.
Lust evening tho Newark Board Of Health
! appointed "A committee. - inv -tigntn and re-
/ port NJ tho earliest possible moment. Old r'-l b.
dents ot VI IRIS tn4 Sussex counties SAY that
I hundreds 90 nr'~ ot sWHfuIS ara oNtriin lowed
/ Pow the spring nu! in'I fr-Sh"ts. and r-ius. is
th'n carried INTO IN" ponds uni lakes an 4 shall
low tuuuiarir~ Il the passiic When the
fr-Sh"ts ~uh~ii" 10 Is d"comuos"d hy Tho sun,
inn re- nntlng IN" " tor and poisoning the fish.
! tn authorizes are a. have the river thorough
iy'Nmn'i AMI tA"conditiou OF the water fully
luNt~tl.rt4f