This was the headline of a New York Times article (May 19, 2003) about the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, which had become infamous for its contamination from sewage and industrial waste. Scientists and Army Corps of Engineers technicians used augurs, drills, and a split-spoon, which sucks up the muck of the canal bottom, to analyze what is “living” in the canal.
a. Describe the population under study.
b. Explain why a census is not practical for this study. What advantages does sampling offer?