The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-09
THE DEAD FINNY UNS.
RccKLASD LAKE GIVES CP IT'S DEAD-THE
EIsa DYING BIZ NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

RccKLASD LAKE GIVES oP IRIS DEAD--THE
tIsa DYING BIZ THOUSANDS
WITH THE NATIVES or THE SUBJECT.
Tho song OF tho locust heard on the hills as tho
HERALD reporter made h pleasant journey yesterday
afternoon from Nyack through tho mountains that
line the Hudson TO tho shores ofRockand Lake which,
like tho Passaic RIVER has lately had lsh plague
the reporter proceeded around the lake. which
about three hlndrci ana sixty acres, ne found the
shores IN places nod with dead hsh while here and
there on tho bosom Of The waters might DO seen
shosl OF putrd 6sh drifting 10 the shore rhey were
thicker on tho southern slde Of the lake toward
which the wind was blowing Taking y boat al that
side, the reporter vcnurca upon the lake fnc gentle
zephyrs that played the Matters brought with
them tunicd smell OF dccaying fish.
THE MORBID MARX.
The fish that could be observed we're mostly small
perch or minnowa Each OF them was marked with
curious scar ahou, tho body head, as though they
had boon scaded The tails OF some OF the fishes APP
peared 70 have bcen partly eaten away but this might
have been caused by tho bites OF other lshos. The
water appeared 10 DO as pure and clear or, stall In
some parts tho bottom OF tho lake appeared slightly
colored. The lake was stocked about three years
ago by tho Knickcroorkc Ice Company who have
several large c, houses there largo number OF black
bass wcro then put into the pond. strange to saw
ease The mullet, catfish, yellow perch and goldfish
or sinners arc the principal kinds OF fish that suffer.
WHEN n.aAx
Mr. Walter Ackcrson, whose house IL at the north.
ern end OF tho lake, said that ho had no idea OF the
cause OF tho unusual phenomenon. Great numbers or
the ish had been dying Tor timo back bat this
mortality had considerably decreased during the
present week on account OF tho rains The water had
been no hotter than usual In ssme places
slightly red colorcd. The epidemic was FIRST note,
about two weeks ago. The death rate for Tho first
three days was much greater than ucrwnrd ut pres.
ont very lew, u any were dying. At ono place lie
knew OF their being picked mp by the barrcu. they
were taken away and buried rs fast as possible. There
had been no snins OF any account since the epidemic
began. Now that IL was cnced however, the lshlng
season would be more lively than ever.
AGONY.
Questioned as 10 the appearance OF tho 0sh when
about TO die, Mr. Ackcson continued his narrative US
follows :-.'fhcy 90 right along az nice as min and
the hrst thing you know thcy up to tho top fan
over, die and 60 to the bottom. Such thing has
never boon know before There nre men ere eshtv.
seven years old VINO say they never heard OF such a
thing IN all thor lives Each fish seems have little
soro about tho szs Of your Anger nail their sides
or Lcais Sooa alter dying they turn blackis!l Tho
water OF tho pond was formerly used drinking water
but now no ono drinks It, ana 1t Is longer given TO
the cattle
WHAT FISH ESCAPED
Returning along the pretty shore tho reporter met
Daniel Tremper, lsnerinan, who has lived on tho
border Of the lake Tor over thirty years.
'.rhc tsh that die" said he, .all seem TO DO
marked with Ii,tlo sore like scald have caught
some cels, anu on opening them found their tnroais
swcllcd and tho color WAS bot naturakc The cat
s sucr worse than the rest but tho ltto black bass
aud pickcrel were not aiccedo
the "woRkiyG' OF LAKE.
Al the southern end OF tho pond was situated tho
boating house Of Mr.. Charles Smith He told tho HlR.
reporter thut for the last three days Ihcro had
been no fish dying IN that part OF the pond lie could
not account Tor the death of SO many nsh. He had
noticed however, that lew weeks ago and before the
fish began TO die, the lake worked" purifying Itself
a. Il does IN summer sir. smith hero explained that
every summer, IRON about the middle oil August TO
tho 10th OF september, the waters OF Ruckianu
Lake purify themselves by SORT OF ermentnlIon The
green and decaycd vegetable at the bottom be-
comes dccomposcd and nilod with guscs This Causes
tho green substance TO rise bubbng to the surface
preventing The appearance OF fermentation. Tho
gaseous matter escapes aud the harmless residue sin
again 10 Tho bottom thus purifying the lake. The
smaller fish not being In condon at this time OF tho
year 10 endure such commotion oil wutors posi-
bly, become diseased.
OPINIONS AZ ARE OPINIONS
Wishing 10 assure himself OF the cause he had
written to Mr.. seth Green Of the Fishery Com
mission, and received tho following reply -
Nhw York STATE FlsnEaY CORNERSTONE
OFFICE oc, o. ,,la SeyrhnM,s sv \, NJ
DKAn SiE-Yours received There arc several causes
that the cause q the DISH dying mint DO st.bu.sd
Possibly there may hc some emptying aka
msy " 'a' ss an "ns s1a'
Of the lake caused BY have known af dying In
Of hon IN the sometimes whom the frorsn
over and also along IN A@sasi when The water becomes
''' : ''''''' - '' NV wv 80 sErIi GREEN
giant powder lad bccn used anywhere the lake,
and no akalics had boon thrown into II 10 his
knowledge. The irrupton OF gases from the bottom
OF the lukc might account tor the sh dying there bat
tins theory would not account Tor tho prevalence OF
the epidemic elsewhere The cause, therefore, stilI
remains ystcry.