MARINE LIFE IN THAMES

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21319, 12 November 1934, Page 17

MARINE LIFE IN THAMES

A STEADY INCREASE EFFECT OF CLEANLINESS REGULATIONS LONDON, October 5. All manner of marine creatures, long since banished from London river by its pollution, are gradually creeping once more up the Thames. Modern improvements in sewerage disposal, coupled with stringent regulations, may eventually bring back to the London reaches fish which have not been seen above the estuary for generations, writes a special correspondent of the "Morning Post." Whitebait are now taken regularly 10 miles further upstream than three or four years ago. There i» every indication that they are endeavouring to find their way towards their haunts of 40 years ago near Greenwich. It was the increasing pollution, due to the growing population of London, which drove them away. Salmon were found last year considerably further up the estuary than for some years past. Shrimps, frequently the precursors of other more distinguished sea creatures, have recently been caught as far upstream as Greenhithe. The gradual return of sea fish to the higher reaches of the tideway has for some time, it is believed, been held in check by the consistent pollution of the area about the mouth of Barking Creek.

Polluted Beach It is here that the sewage outfall works which deal with the entire sewage of the London area, send their effluents into the Thames. The works on the north shore, at Beckton, deal with the efflux from the north bank of the Thames, and those at Cross Ness, on the Kent shore, with that from the south. Serious concern has repeatedly been expressed at the polluted state of the river in this reach. The foul state of the water, accentuated by the drought lasting throughout this summer, has led to strong representations by the authorities .concerned. A sum of more than £500,000 is now to be spent by the London County Council in modernising and perfecting the outfall works. The works were constructed in 1866, when the amount of refuse carried by the main sewers was only » small fraction of what it is to-day.

New Works The effluents from the sewerfl ar« now to be taken further downstream and more effectively dispersed, with the result that further pollution will be avoided. • One of the blackest spots on the Thames will thus be cleared and purified. .„ The completion of the work will mark the culmination of a long series of processes which have contributed to the purification of the waters of the Thames. Law after law, regulation after regulation has been passed in order to cope with the defilement of the river, which h£s been accentuated by the rapid growth of the population and the development of industry along the shores. London river to-day is, perhaps, purer than it has ever been before in proportion to the activity about its banks. •<.<*„ Continued perfection of scientific methods of disposal of refuse may in time bring back the days whW» salmon may be fished above Umdon Bridge. *