Evening star., 1931-10-09
HEAVY OIL BLAMED
FOR DEATH OF FISH
|NANACOST|A RIVER
Refuse From Plant of Gas
Light Company Held Re-
sponsibIe After Probe.
NUISANCE CASE GIVEN
D. C. POLICE FOR ACTION
Bureau Of. Fisheries Investigates
Matter Following Report of In
jury to Paint on Boats.

Heavy oil or sludge which apparently
emanated from the Southeast plant of
the Washington Gas Light Co. is be-
lieved to have caused the pollution In
the Anacostia River about 10 days ago,
which resulted in the death of many
fish and the serious injury to paint on
boats anchored in the river, according
to a statement issued today by Henry
O'Malley, commissioner of the United
States Bureau of Fisheries.
Mr.. OMalley's opinion was based on
the findings of an investigation, made
at his request, when reports were re-
ceived at his Office of the destruction
OF fish in the river. He said. however,
the pollution was a violation OF the
District law, and referred the case to
the police department.
SIudge Covered Water.
reau of Fisheries September 30" Com
missioner OMalley declared, that a
few days previous heavy oil was being
discharged into the Anacostia River
in the vicinity of the foot of Eleventh
street, which was seriously injuring the
paint on boats in that vicinity and de-
stroying numbers of fish. An investi-
CATION showed that oil or sludge of
some kind covered a large portion of
Tie SuLLd Vi bAlC hdICL anu dpJdI-
emily emanated from the Washington
Gas plant located at that point. A
photograph showing numbers of dead
fish was submitted to bureau officials
with the statement that the fish shown
therein, were killed by the alleged pol
luton in sufficient quantities to be a
nuisance to shore occupants.
Unfortunately. the Bureau of Fish
cries has no authority to enforce laws
r0bihifinu rNn1lntinVa ht,f ~ ic itota ca11r
interested in the suppression of any
form Of pollution which is destructive of
fish life. In this case there appeared to
be a violation of the District law, so the
matter was reported to the District
police for investigation and appropriate
action. They have investigated the
complaint, and, I am informed. found
evidences of the destruction of fish life.
Samples of the oil or sludge were OBJ
for chemical analysis.
Oil Does Damage.
"a representative of the Bureau of
Fisheries visited the river In the vicinity
Of the gas works on October 6. While
he did not observe any evidences of de-
struction of fish life at that particular
time. there was an accumulation of oil
or Sludge on the water at various points
There did not appear to be any oil
coming from the two visible pipes which
discharge water and other liquids from
the gas plant into the river which would
seem to indicate that the action COM
planned of is not continuous. However
discharge of oil at any time can do an
immeasurable amount of damage and
is wholly unnecessary and should be
discontinued.
The Bureau Of Fisheries Is carrying
out an extensive program of propaga
ton and restocking of the waters of
the United States. 1t is, of course. a
waste of time and money to plant fish
in waters which are polluted. If the
work OF the bureau is to be Of any
service to the country its fish must be
planted in waters suitable for fish life
and free from pollution. The Bureau
Of Fisheries intends to aid in the fight
for the non-pollution of the waters
throughout the country with all its re-
sources, for. If food fish and game fish
are to be conserved for future genera
tions the purity of our waters must be
assured"