Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-27
OF SEWAGE
Alleged Pollution of Potomac
River Being Investigated.
AFFECTING OYSTER SUPPLY
Information Gathered by Bureau of
Chemistry for Submission to
Secretary of Agriculture.

How much the sewage pollution report
on the Potomac will restrict the Wash
lnston oyster market the Department of
Agriculture is not yet willing to say but
the facts gathered on the subject of the
water, a work started just before Dr.
Wiley retired. are now being arranged
Tor transmission to Secretary Wilson,
The jealousy with which these facts are
being guarded by the department indicate
that the situation was found to be even
more serious than when the work of in
vestigation was first started.
1t Is said that after the report is made
to Secretary Wilson 1t may be considered
advisable to keep the whole matter quiet
till supplemental investigation can be
made of the state of the water in the
autumn. Meantime the oystermen and
the retail dealers are anxious to get at
the facts supposed to be outlined in the
report. They are not being given out,
however, and the only inference that can
be drawn az to their nature is from the
vigilance of the pure food inspectors who
are sampling and examining all the ship
ments of oysters brought into Washing
ton.
Complete Survey in View.
1t had been intended for long time to
make complete survey of the rivers of
the United States as to the effects of
sewage and other pollution on fish.
oysters and other water food. The work
on the Potomac was started from Wash
ingtOn about a fortnight ago. A tug
was loaned to the Agricultural Depart
ment from the Navy Department and DR..
Stiles of the bureau of chemistry and
several assistants went down the river to
the mouth of Chesapeake bay. Samples
OF water were taken at intervals on the
way down and in some of the creeks and
small streams entering the Potomac. Part
of these samples We're examined on the
boat so that the facts as to the gross pol
luton of the water were ready by the
time the vessel returned. 1t was stated
at the time that the preliminary report
would be ready when the boat reached
Washington. " Instead of that it was de-
cided to carry, on further experiments
with the water samples. and these will
involve making cultures and breeding
colonies of germs, so that it VIII be some
time before even the report on the bacte-
biological condition of the water is ready.
Extent of Gross Pollution.
1t was found that the gross pollution
of the water continued for a considerable
distance below Washington. but how far
this condition continued the scientists of
the department were unwilling to say.
They said, however, that they had found
germs and it would be necessary.to make
further cultures and cultivate the plates
taken before the harmful germs could be
isolated.
All this takes time, ayd meanwhile the
oystermen and oyster dealers are angry
at the handicap under which tne Wash
ington oyster trade Is suffering. They
claim that they are not being given a
square deal. An instance is cited by the
dealers today of two oyster boats loaded
side by side from the same bed. When
they arrived in Washington samples were
taken by the department inspectors and
one boat load was condemned and the
other passed.
Bureaus Ideal.
1t was stated at the bureau of chemis-
try today that the ideal toward which the
bureau was working was to declare the
water unfit for raising oysters that was
not fit for drinking. 1t was admitted,
however, that probably such a stand
would not be supported by the authorities.
The work on the Potomac is preliminary
| to similar surveys of other rivers.
Chesapeake bay will be investigated and
an examination made of the waters
around New York and Long Island. Just
how far the plans have progressed is not
stated.