OIL ON WATER, ON BEACH AND ROCKS; SAWDUST LOADED INTO SHIP.




Initials RGH/V/JH/ES



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Background: OIL FROM THE TANKER TORREY CANYON SWEPT ALONG FRANCE'S NORTH-WEST COAST YESTERDAY (TUESDAY) AND FOULED A 90-MILE (144 KM) STRETCH OF THE BRITTANY COASTLINE.

FRENCH AUTHORITIES BELIEVED THERE WAS ONLY ONE CHANCE IN A HUNDRED OF THE OIL FROM THE TORREY CANYON, WRECKED ON THE SEVEN STONES REEF OFF THE BRITISH WEST COAST, REACHING THE FRENCH COAST.

HOWEVER, LAST WEEKEND THE WIND SWUNG FROM WEST TO THE NORTH-EAST AND PUSHED LARGE PATCHES OF OIL ON TO THE BRITANNY SHORELINE.

AN EMERGENCY PLAN WAS PUT INTO FORCE, MOBILISING THE NAVY, POLICE, ARMY AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL BUT BY LATE YESTERDAY MORNING MANY BEACHES WERE FOULED BY OIL DEPOSITS UP TO 10 INCHES (25 CMS) THICK, OVER 90 MILES (144 KMS) FROM TREGASTEL TO ERQUY.

THE FRENCH NAVY HAS REDOUBLED ITS EFFORTS TO NEUTRALISE THE EFFECTS OF THE OIL BY TREATING IT WITH A MIXTURE OF SAWDUST AND SAND, BUT THIS METHOD HAS BEEN ONLY PARTIALLY SUCCESSFUL.

FISHERMEN HAVE OBJECTED TO THE USE OF DETERGENTS WHICH, THEY SAY, COULD KILL OFF THEIR MEANS OF LIVELIHOOD.