The Washington times., 1912-09-30
OYSTERMEN PLAN
DEFENSE AND RAP
CHEMISTRY BURERU
Meet and Demand Hearing
|. Before Irreparable Damage
Is Done Industry.

Demanding a hearing before irrepar-
able damage Is done the oyster industry
of Chesapeake bay through the publica-
ton Of reports relating to sewage pol
luton OF the bivalve. a delegation of
oysterrnen from Maryland and Virginia
met at the New Willard today and liz
formally outlined plan to protect
their interests.
At their invitation, DR.. Doolttle. Of
the Bureau of Chemistry; J. a. Hay
ward and J. w. Sale. psychologists
of the bureau, were present and We're
subject to a vigorous ton
by the visiting delegation, which In
cluded Attorney General Edgar Allen
Poe. Of Maryland; Joseph Dent. Of st.
Arundel county: Z. J. Powder and Me-
jRmin Green. Of the board OF shell fish
commissioners of Maryland: Prof. w.
D. Saunders, Of the dairy and food
commissioners com, ss Of Virginia. Dr. D., ": =:
county; Senator s. s. Lancaster, of
Charles county; f. b. Abel, Of st.
Mary's county: g. c. b. Howard, Of
Cambridge, Nd: s. Sarie and + Stone,
OF Charles county. and A. w. Posey, OF
Charles county.
Declare Typhoid Not Prevalent.
The fact was brought out that no
typhoid germs have yet been discov-
cred in oysters in any OF the tribu-
taries Of the Potomac, although tests
taken Of the bivalves both at the Wash
ington wharves and at points along the
river. showed pollution with sewage.
from which the colon germ has already
been isolated. The report, declared DIR.
Doolittie, relates TO the water In which
the oyster Is found and not to the
oyster itself, He drew the inference
found within the oyster shell that the
bivalve itself had absorbed. the poison
Gus water and had become contami-
mated. ..
Dent. In questioning the representatives
of the Bureau of Chemistry. declared
that neither typhoid fever nor. dysen-
terry were prevalent IN the sections OF
Maryland and Virginia from which the
"Yorf gentlemen have the power of
dana ging and even of destroying a
great industry" said Attorney General
Poe, land the most thorough and pro-
found investigation should be made be-
fore you take this momentous step.
There are millions OF dollars invested
In the oyster Industry. and the liveli-
hood of entire sections of two great
states depend upon It. II behooves You,
therefore, W the poiutith VI tHe
sewage from this city to, actual cases
of typhoid contracted from eating the
so-cailed polluted oysters"
.Criticise Chemistry Bureau.
pr, DOo!ittle. with his assistants, re
Piled Iha. this bad been done In Jamai
ca bay, New York. and that 1t had beer
demonstrated that the typhoid germ IL
conveyed through the bivalve. He said
| however, that the isolation Of the ty-
phoid germ In sewage IL one of the
most difficult OF scientific achieve.
ments. The colon germ has been found
I'm the Potomac river oyster. due plain.
ly to sewage pollution from this city.
c. G. Lancaster criticised the Bureau
OF Chemistry representatives severely
for making public report entailing a
great loss to the oyster industry be-
fore It had been printed. He said theiI
investigation was an ex-parte statement
of the condition Of affairs, and that the
oyster men of Maryland and Virginia
demanded an extended hearing before
the Department OF Agriculture before
further action was taken on the basis
| OF the report -.
Congressman Thomas Psrran OF
Maryland presided at the meeting. and
| a committee was appointed TO make
plans of the defense to be pursued by
the oyster interests. - '.s~'''-.' -.