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kill), and to request permission for access to the property. This action gives plant personnel the op- portunity to stop or correct the discharge if there has been an in-plant accident. Transportation accidents should be handled in the same general way, starting with contacting the hauler, shipper, or consignee to determine what chemicals may be involved and any potential hazards associated with them. The county sheriff or highway department should then also be notified. Kills due to chemicals used in agriculture or forestry are often difficult to diagnose. Runoff from fields and aerial applications of chemicals may reach bodies of water through ditches or other water con- INTERPRETING THE SCENE 15 duits. This type of kill is rarely associated with ob- viously polluted discharges. Checks of information regarding agricultural and forestry practices in the area may suggest toxicants to be included in re- quested sample analyses. Water samples taken from the area must include both natural and man-made drainage systems that feed water into the area of the kill. Observations and sampling should not be limited to fish and water. Many fish toxicants also affect other forms of life. Algae, zooplankton, benthic organisms, other aquatic vertebrates, and even rooted vegetation should be examined for signs of toxic or lethal effects. I Highly toxic substances or high concentrations of less toxic contaminants commonly kill fish of all species and sizes.