The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-28
FISH UNFIT FOR THE Table
Poisoned by the Gnrbagc that the scow,
Unload into fhc Lower Hay.

The trichina in shad. which is just now
creating some excitement. results according to
the opinion Of Dr. A. Clcndincn of Coytcs vile
from some schools of the fish having fed on
offn or sewer matter at points opposite the city.
If this opinion is correct all the fish in New
York bay will soon become UNI. for food. At
present. cvcn without the aid Of the microscope.
an examination Of the gills Of several varieties.
especially the striped bass. which. except the
eel is the most unclcan feeder that swms will
prove that they are full Of parasites. and 1t has
frequently been shown that j, is only in foul
water that the fish are troubled with them.
Most Of the fishermen attribute the unhealthy
condition of the shad to the dumping OF garbage
in the hay. They say that they arc not affected
by the foul water Of the North river because
shad like most other fish. never feed while run
ming in shoals up fresh water streams to spawn.
Thctroublc lies in the condition " the bottom of
the bay and when II is sconsidcrUd that during thc
pus four years the entire gHriinge OF the city,
including the drcdgingS Ht the mouth or sewers.
is dumped over the fishing grounds at the rate
of nboul one thousand tons day, II Is no wond r
that the few fish that stii swim Ia our waters
should br discussed and unit Tor the table.
When the nuisance hrcume unhrnrahle 70 the
inhabitants Of the south shore OF staten leland,
MIR Brick. who represented Richmond county
in the Legislature, went 20 the late HHrbpr Mas
ter Blunt and usked him 10 have II stopped.
Mr.. Blunt said he wns powercss; that il rested
they had prom sed him that the stun would b.
taken oui 10 sea. beyond Sandy Hook. ana TINT
they would place an officer on board cvery tug
boat 10 see that this order WIS carried out: but
IL turned ont that no officers were put on board
the boats and that the dumping was done. not
beyond sandy Hook. as WINS promised. but right
in the hay. Just outside the Narrows. close To
Concy Island: that in fact. to savetimc and the
expense of towage, the scows were taken out
only very short distince,
Mr. Brick now says that many persons are
making money out Of the existing means of
street cleaning. Otherwise there would not be SO
much ohstnacy in sticking 10 it, Much of the
street garbage ~ towrd across the upper buy
anl used for filing In waste ground along the
New Jersey beach. and the dredgngs of the
mouths of sewers areTupposed to he tnken be-
| yOnd Sandy Hook; but rs the scows 20 out lato
| in the evening IL Is safe TO say Judging from
! pnst experience. that they are unloaded not far
| beyond the Narrows.
Shore Inspector Ferguson stopped the nui-
| sance last wear tor a short time hut he finally
| compromised with the New York Police Com
mission"rs. the latter promising Ia discharge
| the Slows NJ high water, SO that the refuse
might be taken out to sea by the cbb tide: hut
| the worl; has been done at all stages of the tide
| Just IA of old.
| II has beon clearly proved that this dumping
! In the bay is filling up the channels: tina, II is
! making the wat, ring places positively filthy
| that II H. driving away the fish. and. AS now II
! appears. Is rendering the few fish that remain
| unfit for use.