The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-24
POLLUTED WATERS
CAUSE OF DISEASE
Valuable Report on Relation of
Shellhsh Industry to Public
Health.
Lspeclal to The TImes-plspatcll.l

lSpeCiHl TO Inc I1fneS- DlSputCn. .l...
Washington, ID. c.. April 23-De-
claring that the entire shcllnsh In
dnstry of the country, including both
clnms and oysters. is threatened with
destruction. and that there Is needless
suffering from disease due to polluted
waters. George Whitfield stiles. in
charge OF meteorological investiga-
lions in the Department OF Agricul-
ture. to-day made n valuable report ia
Secretary Wilson on the subject.
The shelllsh interests says MIR.
Stiles. which are engaged III the So
luton Of this problem. rank among
the most important industries of tho
country. 1t Is estimated that in 1901
there were more than 25.000.000 bushels
of oysters marketed In this country.
valued at nearly S20.000.000. The OPP
crations of the various shellnsh indus
tries extend from Maine to the Gulf
OF Mexico OH the Atlantic, and over a
considerable territory along the Pa
cific coast. Vast areas of sea bottoms
arc utilized for the purpose OF grow
ing oysters. and many men are en-
gagged In the various branches OF the
industry. An extensive business is
also being developed in maturing seed
oysters taken from the Atlantic coast
and transplanted in the colder waters
of the Pacific, notably in the region
of Puget Sound. where the conditions
are unfavorable for starving and de-
veloping.
IT Is apparent that n grave danger
threatens valuable industry, as we'll
rs the public health. and from this
point Of view tho Investigation wac
undertaken to determine tho nature
and extent OF the danger, and to sug-
gest, IL possible, methods of meeting
and overcoming 1t.
This investigation is concerned pri-
marily with the possibility of oysters
and CLAIMS becoming contaminated
when grown or 'fioated' In waters pol
luted from sewerage. SIMILAR exam
paratively free from sewerage are
considered as standards in connection
with those examined from suspicious
sources. Particularly all the samples,
including oysters. CLAIMS and water
We're collected from their original
sources. At the time of dredging or
longing the shellish from their nat
uTal or artificial beds. samples of wa
ter were collected in steriled bottles
for meteorological examination When
oysters are allowed to drink 'fatten'
or float In brackish regions, samples
OF the water from the floats We're also
collected to compare with the oysters
thus treated. These Investigations
were carried on at different points
along the Atlantic coast and the Gulf
of Mexico curing the oyster seasons
of 1908, 1909 and 1910.
The New York City Board OF Health
has demonstrated that the beds from
which oysters are taken for consump.
ton in that city often lie in grossly
polluted waters. II is not the depreda.
lions of the starfish. borers, drumfish,
etc. that threaten the life OF tho she'll
fish industry, but the contamination
by wastes. These practical facts should
stimulate every oSsterman to see thar
his grounds are in a ft sanitary con-
dition, and that they are kept fully.
protected from subsequent contamina-
ton. Oystermcn should not deceive
themselves by believing that their
grounds are free from pollution, in
the absence of definite evidence to the
contrary If oyster growers cannot
themselves determine the sanitary con-
ditions of their layings they should
appeal to their national oreaniza lions
or enlist aid and cooperation OF their
State Shcllfsh Commissions and boards
of health a thorough sanitary survey
Of every oyster bed should be made,
and this should be supplemented by re-
peated bacteriolog' cal examinations Of
both the water and shell stock taken
at regular intervals under varying
coholtions- y. H. Meg