Subject; Tests to Determine the Time Factor in the Floating of Dead 

 Salmonoid Fishes, Bonneville Dairij 1945 (Continued) 



(*) This specimen was almost floating at 2:00 pm 21 July. 

 CircximstRnces made observations impossible on 22 July, 

 and it is probable this fish floated up on that date or 

 the evening of the day before. 



(**) Specimen 7 only partially floated to the surface, head 

 up, body down. Was never olserved floating flat on the 

 surface. 



^>ic:t>:ti) Specimen 7 sank to bottom in a short time. Pulled to 



surface and examined, and wbs found to have one side of 

 abdomen partly burst or eaten out. 



On 19 July observations were made on the physical appearance of speci- 

 mens 1, 2 and 3 at the end of 2 4 hours. These fish looked as if they were 

 freshly killed; their color was only slightly faded and the gills were still 

 slightly pink. The body had become rigid and the flesh remained firm. 

 There was no external sign of bloat in the abdominal region. The paired 

 fins were not frayed and still lay close to the sides of the body. On 20 

 July specimen 8, which had been dead for 26 hours, was examined, and in 

 general the appearance was similar to that observed with the first 3 speci- 

 mens examined, the only noticeable difference being that there was slight 

 evidence of bloat around the posterior part of the abdominal cavity. All 

 specimens sank readily when returned to the water. 



At the end of 48 hours, specimens 1, 2, end 3 were jre-examined. The 

 color was f nding badly, becoming mottled in appearance, and the gills were 

 entirely bleached out, but not deteriorated^ 1^8 paired fins lay normally 

 along the sides of the body, and were not frayed or torn. The skin was 

 not broken and still clear of any coating of slime. The flesh was moder- 

 ately soft to the touch, and the body had become slightly flexible. A 

 slight bloat was evident in the abdominal region, and the abdominal walls 

 were firm and hard, but not greatly distended. A slight but definite odor 

 of putrification was evident. When returned to the water, they sank readily 

 to the bottom. 



38 • 



