The evening times., 1896-04-22
THOUSANDS OF DEAD FISH
IntoIerabIe Nuisance Caused by
Careless Fishermen.
DUMPED INTO THE RIVER
Market Glutted by the Product of the
Seines, and the Surplus stock Has
Been Cast Overboard-Incom
Tides Have Brought Them Back
to the City.

There are fish to burn along the Potomac
| River. The fish are dead and have thereby
brought themselves to the attention of
| many residents of South Washington, who,
] because OF the aIomst unbea 70 bic oder, have
| nearly deluged the health office with their
| complaints.
IL is alleged that the fish dealers being
| unable to dispose or their supply dumped
| them overheard. The incoming tide has
| washed them upon the shores and the hot
| rays of the sun have done the rest.
Health officer Woodward and Harbor
Master Sutton are exerting themselves to
The utmost to prevent Il repetition of what
they say is one of the worst offenses per-
petratcd against the reside uts Of WASH
ingtou for some time.
Last night and again toda Health Officer
Woodward visited the wharvcs upon a
tour of nvestigation. 1t is not at all M
likely that warrants may be issued for
some of the offenders. Commodore Sutton
is OF the opinion that it will not occur
again, but he is using every means 10 catch
someone in the act of dumping any objec-
tionabIe substance into the waters along
the river front.
ceived shows that not only have fish been
thrown into the river by the wholesale,
but also dead eats. dogs, and some dead
rats. All OF these have added to the nui-
sance.
II has been about a week ago since II
first became manifest that there was a
very unhealthful odor pervading. the atmo-
sphere In the vicinity of the river front.
THEY SAW DEAD FISH.
When the wharfmen went TO work one
day last week they were surprised to see
the water swarming with dead fish. The
incoming tide washed the finny tribe upon
the shore, and the midsummer heat soon
converted them into a mass of decompGsud
matter.
The next day il was noticed that the
river was again full OF the fish. There were
thousands OF Potomac herring. aud hun
ircds of shad. rock, perch and catfish.
The intense heat caused them to puff up
as they lay on the dried mud on the shore.
Then it was that they became so obnoxious.
Complaints began TO Eour into the health
office and yesterday Dr. Woodward went
personally along the wharf and was greeted
with the same odors that have forced them
selves upon every other person who has
been compelled to be in the vicinity Of
The river front. Around the fish wharves
the stencil Is. indeed unhearable.
Tie fish inspector told Harbornaster
sutton that within the last few days he
had condemned hundeds of thousands OF
fish. II has been the custom for the fish
ermen 10 sail down tie river and deliver to
Patsy Mann their cargo Of spoiled fish.
each one had conf"rmed to this custom, but
it is not believed that many OF = fishermen
merely sailed a little way down the river
aud under cover OF the darkness OF the
night dumped their cargo into the river.
II was evidently done with the belief that
the outgoing tide would wash them a way
frem the city. but there was no thought
given to the incoming tide, which. during
the night, brought them back to the shores
OF Washington.
The appearance of other dead animals be-
sides the fish has not yet been accounted
FOR. At one OF the wharves one man told
The Times representative this morning that
there were abort thirty dead dogs and cats
10 the river.
Commodore Sutton differed from this
statement. and said that as far as he knew
there were not but about two or three.
he said. however, that there was no doubt
that the river had been filled with hun
dreds OF thOusan nds of dead fish.
THE VERY BAD ODOR.
Passengers on TIE ferry boats between
Washington and Alexandria report dead
fist floating on the water all the way be-
tween Alexandria and this city. Around
a.
very noticeable.
AT many OF the wharves men have been
put to work clearing them away. At the
wha RI of the harbor boat this has been ac-
cOmplshed by the use of the hose attached
to the wharf. a strong stream of water
TUNED upon the shore has washed all the
fish way for many yards around.
DIR. Woodward and Harbor Master Sutton
both said this morning that everything
would be done to prevent a repetition OF
the nuisance. The only drawback to their
efforts is a lack of a law to uphold them.
The law prohibits the dumping of refuse
matter and offal into the waters along the
river front, but does not prevent the dump.
ing Of anything into the river further
dOwnstrea m.
1t is next to impossible to catch any
one in the act, because under the cover of
darkenss, the dumping can be accomplished
without detection. The police boat was
out late last night in its cndeavors to catch
the miscreants, but returned without having
made any capture. The appearance of the
shore this morning showed, however, that
no dumping had been done last night.
DR.. Woodward suggested a plan 10 rid
the water of its present supply of dead
fish. He proposed that from the emer-
gency fund of the District enough money
be drawn to employ men with scoop nets
to go along the river front ana gather in
the fish floating ON the water Efforts
will then be made to prevent any further
dumping.
Unless there is some law" said Har-
Dor Master Sutton, by which these peo- .
pie can be convicted. the nuisance win
become intolerablc this summer Par
will this be true when the melon
season comes to hand. Decaying matter
will be thrown overheard and washed on |
shore, the same as the fish have been |
will arrest any one l catch, anyway" he |
said, land then let the District convict |
them"
GOy. Turney Ill.