Throughout tne summer ajid early autunui these bass were very fat and plump. On 

 August 10, stomachs of three bass were examined. A 4-1/4 Inch bass contained two 

 crayfishes and several midge larvae; a 3-1/2 Inch bass, a 1-lnch blueglll and 20 or 30 

 midge larvae; and a 3-lnch bass, two bluegllls and several midge larvae. It seems 

 likely that the larger bass were feeding on the smaller tadpoles before the latter 

 metamorphosed. The bass taken on October 21 were noticeably slender and in poorer 

 condition than were those taken earlier In the month. 



RECOMMENDATIONS 



Heavy hook-and-llne fishing for both bass and bluegllls should be carried on. No 

 fish planting of any sort Is recommended. Minnows or other fish should not be used for 

 bait since they may escape and contaminate the pond. The water of Fork Lake Is fertile, 

 and no special feeding of the fish or fertilizing of the water seems necessary. In 

 fact, there Is danger that such practices may cause, during certain periods, serious 

 oxygen deficiencies In the water. 



The dam, the gullies leading Into the lake and the shores should be planted to 

 reduce erosion. This will help keep the lake clear, protect the dam and furnish a 

 certain amount of food and cover for game. Plantings of sutaerged aquatic plants 

 (Potamogeton) and of marginal plants ( Saglttarla, etc.) will furnish food for waterfowl 

 and support a variety of aquatic animal life useful as fish food. 



Fish husbandry practices, which should be designed to fit the Individual body of 

 water, require an accumulation of pertinent Infonnatlon. A gage board should be set up 

 and a record kept of fluctuations of the water level. Gage records should be kept In 

 a bound book along with records of the fish removed, notes on fish predators, notes on 

 waterfowl, occurrences of dead fish, etc. A written record of the catch of fish Is 

 particularly Important since It Is the only reliable measure of the success or failure 

 of various management practices. The record book should be kept In a locked box 

 (perhaps In the present duck blind) with keys carried by all persons permitted to use 

 the lake. This box may also contain a spring scale and measuring board for recording 

 the lengths and weights of the fish removed; a supply of scale envelopes to hold scales 

 for age determination; a supply of labels, small cloth bags and a Jar of formaldehyde 

 (diluted with seven parts of water) to preserve stomachs for food analysis; and a 

 Secchl disc for measuring the transparency of the water, A rough table near the duck 

 blind would be a convenient place to clean fish and make these observations, 



SUMMARY 



1. There was good largemouth bass fishing for a few years after Fork Lake was built 

 and stocked with fish. 



2. Fishing became poorer year by year In spite of heavy stocking with bass and 

 other kinds of hook-and-llne fishes. 



3. Accidental contamination with carp and buffalo, and by other kinds of fishes 

 brought In as forage for bass. Interfered with the growth and multiplication of the 

 more desirable kinds, 



4. Fork Lake was poisoned on June 7, 1938, and all of the fishes died within two 

 hours. Some of the fish floated, but many sank. The latter bloated and rose to the 

 surface during the next four days, 



5. Frog tadpoles were unaffected by the poison, as well as Insect larvae and most 

 other aquatic Invertebrates. 



6. A complete fish census was made. A total of 5,350 fish weighed 744 pounds, the 

 equivalent of 3,877 fish weighing 539 pounds per acre. About 5 per cent of the total, 

 36.7 pounds, were hook-and-llne fish of edible sizes, 



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