Problems of River Pollution

Abstract

THE letter of Dr. Orton and Prof. Lewis in NATURE of February 16, p. 236, on the necessary development of means for the study and recording of river pollution, opens anew a subject of great economic and biological interest. The letter dealt chiefly with this subject from the point of view of marine workers, but its authors would not be likely to lose sight of the great importance of the study of river pollution to the problems both of freshwater fisheries and of limnology in general. In a country such as Great Britain, which is very dependent upon ocean-borne food supplies, it might be anticipated that every effort would be made to develop the freshwater fisheries. It is well known that little has been done in this connexion in spite of the enormous areas of fresh water we possess. Indeed, little or no effort is made, even to preserve these fresh waters from pollution.