New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-22
TYPHOID GERMS IN OYSTERS.
THE FISH COMMISSION UNJUsTLY CRITICISED fo"
IT'S WORK IN LONG ISLAND SOUND.

THE FISH COMMISSION UNJUSTLf CRIIl'lsf'p r'''
IT'S WORK IN LONG ISLAND SOUND.
Washington. Dec 81 (speciaD-The recent cases
of tvpho,d fever caused by eating oysters taken
from the Quinnipac River at New-HaVen' 'oi"'
have furnished the occasion for certain criticisms
directed against the United States FISH 'oinms-
sion for IFS failure to detect the presence OF ds-
ease germs upon the oyster-beds in Lond lsianu
Sound in it's Investigations in that resio" o'e'
three wears ago. An inquiry into the iac's vi Tue
case proves that these criticisms are UNJUST III
1850 reports were put IN circulation 10 the ehec'
that the waters OF Long Island Sound were De-
coming seriously contaminated from the inflow Oh
sewage at different places along its shores, the
assumption also being made that the tidai c'rcu-
latIon through the Sound was insuihcient 10 re-
move these impurities. which must therefore, DE
rapidly Increasing. to the great detr!men OF tne
ovster-beds As these stories calculated 10
niure the extensive oyster interests OF Connecticut
the United States Fish Commission felt called
upon to investigate the matter In connection with
the study Of the star-hsh depredations. which was
then in progress.
For this purpose the services of one OF the most
proficient physical photographers In the country
and of competent organic chemist were EN-
Moved both OF whom were attached to the steamer
Fish Hawk commanded by Lieutenant Robert
Plat United States Navy. during the summer OF,
1890 The Inquiries and experiments OF these en-
perts conducted with much thorouShhess ana
In accordance with the most approved methods IN
their respective departments. and by those duahed
to Judge their results must be regarded as con-
elusive for the region examincd-nameiy. the open
waters of the Sound and some OF the larger pays
which open into ii. The conclusions reached were
10 the effect that the general conditions oil Long
Island Sound and OF the other waters referred to
are far from inlmical TO the healthy growth OF
oysters. and that danger Is TO be apprehendch
I'm respect TO those raised in the area so defined
TIL fact has long been known and repeatedly
brought to notice that not only sedentary aquatic
animals like the oyster and clam, but even the
free-swimmng fishes. may be seriously affected as
food by their immediate surroundings. This prin-
chile being once established 1t would seem as
though such subjects the one in question De
longed more properly to body specially consti-
tu;ed and empowered to enforce such regulations
as the public health requires. Tho special case OF
typhoid poisoning which started this inquiry orgi-
mated in certain oysters planted for fattening In
small river within about 300 feet Of the mouth Of
sewer along the course OF which several cases OF
,vphoid fever were under treatment the eXcretd
from the patients passing into this sewer. The
United States Fish commission mas neither inc
functions nor the powers Of board OF health
and IL is. moreover. hardly TO be expected that IL
would b, justified In examining every little stream
and sewer mouth along the seaco1st IN order 10
determine whether this or that spot might b" safely
used for the final process OF preparing oysters Tor
the market