by trees on the east and south sides, It seems likely that north and northwest winds may 

 occasionally cause complete circulation of the water. 



At the time the lake was poisoned (June 7) objects were visible at depths of only 

 5 or 6 Inches beneath the surface. About a week later the lake had cleared until 

 objects could be seen at depths of about 3 feet. However, on August 10 the water was 

 again turbid and gave a Secchl disc reading of 13 Inches. This Increase In turbidity 

 was due, for the most part, to the activity of an enoimous tadpole population, which 

 siorvlved the poisoning. During the two months following the poisoning these tadpoles 

 had grown to unusually large sizes and rolled the lake by their repeated trips to the 

 surface for air. Their numbers were In the thousands, perhaps even tens of thousands, 

 and their total weight must have been several hundred pounds. By the end of September 

 most of these tadpoles had metamorphosed Into frogs and left the pond. Large numbers 

 of young frogs were noticed below the spillway, hopping down the ravine toward Flnley 

 Creek and Lake Decatur. Tadpoles remaining In the pond were less active, and again the 

 water became clear. Objects were visible In several feet of water early In November, 

 1938. 



Although no chemical analyses of the water are available. It seems likely that 

 droppings from the large numbers of ducks visiting the lake have materially Increased 

 the fertility of Its water. 



RESTOCKING WITH LARGEMOUTH BLACK BASS AND BLUEGILLS 



Restocking of Fork Lake was begun as soon as the census was completed, four days 

 after the poisoning. Between June 11 and 18, 270 adult bluegllls between 5 and 7 Inches 

 long were brought from Homewood Fishing Club Lake at Decatur. Many of these bluegllls 

 were almost ready to spawn when they were planted. On June 22, 27 blueglll nests were 

 covmted along the north side of Fork Lake, 12 on the south side and 3 at the east end. 

 A few newly-hatched fry were seen along the shore at this time. The bluegllls continued 

 to spawn throughout the summer. As a result, the 1938 broods of bluegllls vary widely 

 In size. On September 15 some were 3-3/4 Inches long, while others were less than 

 3/4 Inch. 



i 



On June 23, largemouth bass fry, estimated to be two or three weeks old, were 

 seined from Homewood Lake and 1,440 of them were put Into Fork Lake. They were coimted, 

 a dozen or two at a time. In a shallow white pan and examined to make sure no other 

 kinds were present. These fry were of uniform size, averaging about 7/8 Inch total 

 length. 



In Fork Lake they have grown at a rate which must be near the maximum for this 

 latitude. Several times during the summer, samples of them were collected with a minnow 

 seine and preserved. Their average lengths are shown In table 8. On August 25 one or 

 two fish slightly over 6 Inches In length were taken by Mr. Smith on a fly rod. The 

 largest bass taken September 15 was 7.4 Inches. On September 17, Mr. Smith took on a 

 fly one that was 8.2 Inches and another on September 24 a trifle over 9 inches. 



TABLE 8.— GROWTH OF LARGEMOUTH BLACK BASS 



* Taken on fly rod, measured and returned to water. 



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