THEY FISH FOR SCIENCE
Scientists cast a fine mesh net to collect fish
and small organisms in pollution control study
conducted on the Guadalupe River in Texas. |
Algae and diatoms are collected by spoonfuls from stumps and
stones along Guadalupe River. They provide food for fish and other
organisms and are an Important means of oxygenating the water.
Fishermen with gear that Izaak Walton would never rec
ognize appear from time to time on streams through- , ,
out the country.
They're scientists who are using an array of tweezers,
test tubes, microscopes, scrapers, diatometers, chemicals
and butterfly nets to make biological studies of rivers on
which industrial plants are located.
The studies are designed to insure that proper protective
measures are being taken to dispose of the plants' trade
waste without destroying the delicate natural balance of the
plant and animal life of the river. They also work to pre
vent pollution from the outset in new plant construction.
Pictured here are the scientists from the Academy of
Natural Sciences of Philadelphia who are carrying out this
anti-pollution program for the Du Pont plants across the
country.
The team spends about two weeks at the site collecting
data and samples of fish, clams, oysters, mussels, snails,
bugs, insects, plants and microscopic organisms that dwell
in and along the river. The "catch" is then shipped to the
academy's Philadelphia laboratories for evaluation. Ana
lyzed and correlated, it establishes a permanent yardstick
and a guide for future operations of the plant.
Hoop net handled here by Gordon Chaplin, field asalatant, and'Selwyn Roback,
Is uaed for obtaining various forms of aquatic life for laboratory teat*.
Mud li collected In dredge, then washed In trays so scien
tists can study worms and snails living In the bed of the
stream. They are Important In showing effects of pollution.
Scientist* use aet of graduated acreens to catch worms,
clams. Insects and other marine species brought (
up from wsters of Wateree River at Camden, 8. C.
Water is collected wlthuieofbl(bruicylln
dar. tt'a than anlyiad for lta oxygon content.
Soma of laboratory work la done at alt* of survey. Chemlit-bacterl
ologlat Nancy Heaa teats water samples taken from Wateree River.
II
Anatomy and health of fish are checked by protozoologist In Philadelphia labora
tory. Fish, while Important, represent oaly about one -tenth of the entire field study.
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