Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-04-17
State Health Board Submits Extend.
Cd Report 10 Fisheries Commlss
ion Covering Investigation.
VERY SMALL POLLUTED AREA FOUND.
Documents Treats Of Every Bed In
the State Waters-Preeautionary
Steps Taken In Polluted Localities
James, York and Rappshannoek
Product Among the Purest.

RICHMOND, VA. April 16.-Drs.
Allen W. Freeman. assistant health
commissioner. and Meade Ferguson,
bacterIologist OF the department Of
health, today fled with the state CON-
mission Of fisheries their report Of
the oyster conditions in Virginia.
The report Is IN exhaustive paper,
covering every oyster bed in the
State, and dealing with each tnde-
pendently. The report Is one that
will prove gratifying to the people
engaged in dredging for oysters. to
the consumers and to the people OF
the State in every walk Of life. ut
shows that considerably less than one
half of one per cent. Of the beds are
contaminated in the least.
Not only does the report show that
a small area in contaminated, but the
health authorities OF the sections In
which the polluted beds are located
were appraised Of the conditions ut
once when the report was finished,
and steps were at once taken to sup
press the taking Of oysters from the
beds. their sale In the STATE or their
shipment to any point out Of the
State. E.
The members Of the board today
heard the paper read by Dr.. Freeman,
Who explained in detail the many
techinal terms which were neces-
saryily employed in dealing with the
subject The members piled Dr..
Freeman with questions, anxious to
understand everything in connection
with the matter.
To Stop "FIoatino."
DR.. Freeman suggested that the
floating" of oysters for shipment be
ended by legislative enactment. The
practice not only destroys the flavor
Of the oyster but makes them poor
and worthless. Oysters from the
James. York, Potomac, Rappahan-
mock and other streams and the es-
tauries OF the Chesapeake bay are
declared to be the peer Of any to be
found In the world.
Following are the more important
points emphasized In the text Of the
report, which 10 to be printed in fun
sand made q part Of the bulletin Of
the state board Of health soon TO -
issued:
Hampton Roads.
This Is o small tidal estuary, prac-
tically all salt, the shores Of which
are thickly populated. It - not IN
important oyster ground, as the In
habitants of the surrounding districts
are unwilling to use the oysters coming
from its waters. A few. however, are
taken and sold locally.
Pollution.
The waters Of the creek are gross
" polluted. In addition to the sew
age from the town Of Hampton, which
enters II, II receives the drainage
from large institutions on its banks.
Evidences Ct local and gross pollution
are numerous.
Samples Of the water OF the creek
and Of oysters taken from It show the
PRESENCE Of the colon bacillus with
regularity.
In the opinion I the investigators.
oysters from Hampton creek are N
mt for human cOGeumPuOu-
Pagan Creek.
This In another small tidal estuary,
emptying into James river, with the
town OF Smithfield at its head. TIE
oyster culture Is small In extent nHd
the product used locally.
Pollution.
The only source Ct pollution IN the
town Of Smithac,d. This In not large
IN amount as the inhabitants dcpeuA
largely on earth closets. There are.
however. evidences Of gross poaIatsoa
of the water front of the town snd
meteorological examination u the vst
ct and Of oysters elbows the prcsenee
Of the colon in most eases.
pOssUsSoN.
The pollution Of the Nansemoad -
incoas,derahlc In amoant. The town
Of Suffolk depends for the most pafe
on primitive means Of dispossl. 81
the surface wsshiags of che snnN
streams are not large enough -
amount 10 eject the Isrge tcdy 4
salt writer Into which 4 aovs. Aloo9
the banks a the estuary there = -