Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-04-04
OIL WASTE THREATENS
V|RC|N|A's FISH SUPPLY
Steamers Arriving in Hampton
Roads Deposit Damaging Sub
stance Into Water.
ny HAROLD II. uAIL.1..

NEWPORT NEWS VA. April 8
Sportsmen, fishermen and lovers OF
outdoor life: Attention, take warn
ing.
Unless something drastic is done
shortly to stop the pumping OF crude
OIL from the steamers into Hampton
Roads, James and Elizabeth Rivers
and Chesapeake Bay. there soon will
be no waterfowl for the gunner game
fish for the sport.vc fisherman, nor
seafood of other kinds. for the pub
lie in general. \ broad statement
but nevertheless true.
Fully SO per cent OF the steamers
entering the Virginia CaDes today.
are, oil burning vessels. Many OF
them arc oil tank steamers. and come
hero. for overhauling and repairs:
of all description. During this time
they steam and clean out their cargo
oil tanks, or fuel oil tanks, as the
case may be. and discharge this
crude oil and sediment overheard
Notwithstanding there Is "A law pro-
hfbit!ng same.
Thic :ir:y black, mucky oil floats
on top of the water. being carried
here and there by the wind. waves
and tides, and to everything it
touches il sticks, nor can you wash
ii on. Our bathing beaches. and all
the drift wood and sea weed cast up
by the tides, are covered with this
crude oil, while the row boats,
launches. and other pleasure craft
have their sides smearcd with It,.
and sand bath on the beautiful
beaches Of Chesapeake Bay Is now a
thing of the past on account of this
oil.
Oil Kills Fowl.
get their food from the water. are
killed by eating food containinate ed
by crude oil. have picked up dead,
| along the shores of James River,
several varieties Of ducks and sea
| gulis. all Of which had their breast
| feathers covered with crude oil. l also
killed during last winter. sea coots
| B-oadwatcr Bays, outside OF the
| Capes, which had crude oil on their
| breasts So this Should give one L
! good idea as TO the extent OF this
| menace.
There is no doubt that this crude
! oil settling on all fats at low tide
| where oysters spawn, grow and are
| planted. will Kill them and render
nearby beds in deeper water unfit for
| food.
Millions of Fish Killed.
Fish also coming into swallow water
arc Killed by millions, and IL was a
| common sight last summer to see
| the surface of the channel of James
| River from the Middls Ground Light
House TO Brown Shoals literally COW
| cred with dead fish. Crabs are be-
| ing killed already in great numbers
and as the season advances and they
/ come into shallow water to shed
/ those that survive this awful slnGSh
ter will taste of oil and be unfit for
| food. Last summer ! brought these
/ conditions to the notice of the State
| Fish and Game Department, and this
/ winter spoke on this subject be-
, fore the joint meeting in Richmond
OF tho State Game Protection Asso-
/ citation and game wardens.
AS yet can see no abatement OF
.this deadly menace. Will the people
! OF this State, as we'll as Maryland
! sit idle and see their wild fowl. crab,
/ oyster and fish industries annihilated
| by this illegal practice of crude oil
/ Gumpagc into her State waters? II
| is up TO the people II they would
| save them--and action must be quick.
! Automobile associations should be
! glad 10 get this crude oil for a binder
! on sand and clay roadS.