The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-25
WILL INDICATE
POTOMAC OYSTER
Report of Joint Commissions Goes
to Governors of Two
States Shortly.
BLUE MAKING WATER TESTS
No, Pollution Found in Oyster
Beds NtyThree Miles
Below Washington.

The character of Potomac River
oysters will he fully indicated In a
report OF joint commission to be
submitted to Governor Mann shortly.
The report has been agreed upon
though ks full text will not be made
public until it is submitted to the Gov
ernoJ of Virginia ana the Governor CT
Maryland. The report will give in de-
tail the results of three inspections of
the oyster beds at different seasons of
the year In order to make assurance
doubly sure. Governor Mann has re-
0uested SurScon-General Blue, of the
United states Public Health and Ma
rine Hospital Service to have care
full examination made OF the water of
the Potomac River. and this is now in
progress. When completed. II win
form n valua ole basis on which the
States OF Virginia aud Maryland can
go before Congress and ask that
proper equipment he Installed to puri-
fy or stcrilizc III" sewerage of Wash
inGton city before Il cnpties Into the
river
Industry Greatly Injured.
Meanwhile the oyster industry on
the Potomac kiver has been greatly
injured by the agitation. Some months
ago IN cmploye Of tho United states
Department of Agriculture, after only
partial or superficial examination OF
the Potomac River oyster beds. made
report which seriously questioned
their healthfGlness. Alarmed by the
possibly danger 10 human health on
the one h md. should the report be
correct. and by the damagc to a large
Industry on which many people were
dependent for living should it be
incorrect. Governor Mann proposed a
thorough investigation by experts rep
rescnting Virginia, Maryland and the
United states government Governor
Goldsbcrouch. Of Maryland. agreed,
and the commission was made up OF
one bacteriologist and one chemist
from each state and two officers from
III" United states Department of Arri-
culture. Somewhat TO the disgust Of
tho local authorities. former Secretary
"f Agriculture Wilson appointed as
one of the government agents the man
VINO had made the superficial eXamina-
ton and report which caused tho
trouble. thas putting him in position
OF Judging his own work.
SiNty-Thrcc Miles From Washington.
Ihree times this commission has gone
over the oyster beds on boats furnished
by the Fish Commissioners of Vir
Einia and Maryland. y great deal of
laboratory work has been done and
many samples examined OF course.
1t required no technical skin to know
mat there was pollution In tho Potomac
River Immediately below the mouth Of
the Washington city sewers But IN.
nearest oyster beds are sixty-threc
miles down the Potomac from Wash
inGton, the river for the greater part
of that way being a wide stretch of
water. almost an arm of Chesapeake
Bay
While tho test of the report is not
yet available for publication. II is un-
derstood that in tho main IL will he an
entire vindicat ton of tho Potomac River
oyster beds; that il will recommend a
line across the river above which no
oysters he taken. and that il will
recommend that no oysters be planted
near the mouth of certain creeks.
The tests of Potomac River water
now being made under direction of
Surgeon General Blue, at the request
of Governor Mann, are without special
reference to the location OF the oyster
beds and form I'M entirely different
kind OF examination from that just
completed by the oyster commission.