The buffalo fry which died a few mlhutes after the pond was poisoned had almost 

 disappeared by the next morning. They were eaten by the larger fishes, which were 

 affected somewhat later. A large water snake (Natrlx slpedon) was caught. Although 

 unaffected by the poison, this snake was sluggish because it had swallowed about two 

 pounds of fish. A pectoral spine of one of the bullheads had punctured Its stomach 

 and body wall, and yet it survived. A few small fish were eaten by birds, principally 

 by the little green heron. No turtles were seen. 



Dip nets were used from two boats to pick up fish. Other nets were used by men 

 who walked along the shore or waded in the shallow water. The fish were sorted by 

 species into tubs, buckets and baskets. Each kind was counted and then weighed In 

 convenient lots on a Chatlllon spring balance. This balance weighs to 60 pounds by 

 1-ounce Intervals. It was suspended on a heavy tripod. The fish were weighed prcmptly 

 after collection to avoid losses by drying. The standard length of almost every fish 

 was taken on measuring boards to the nearest 0.1 inch. Lengths of all the numerous 

 small black bullheads and golden shiners were not taken, but large representative 

 samples were measured. The total numbers, total weights and average individual weights 

 of the different kinds of fishes found In Fork Lake are shown In table 4. Length 

 measurements of the more Important species are grouped In i-lnch classes In table 5. 



TABLE 4.— CENSUS OF ALL FISHES IN FORK LAKE, JUNE, 1938 



Total number of fish 

 Total weight of fish 



= 5,350 



= 744 lbs. 



Number of fish per acre = 3,877 

 Weight of fish per acre = 539 lbs. 



