The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-08-13
WHY ARE MISSOURI
RIVER FISH DYING?
OFFICIALS PUZZLED BY MYSTE-
RIOUS EPIDEMIC THAT HAS
KILLED THOUSANDS
Carp, Suckers and Bullheads Are the
Worst Sufferers from Strange Mall
ady That Has Attacked the Finny
Tribe for Distance of so Miles
Along the River.
Why are fish dying in the Missouri

Why are fish dying in the Missouri
river?
This is a question to be solved by
the state game department, anG
State Warden j. L. De Hart, County
Warden w. d. Delphy and Deputy
Harry Morgan of Ovando spent last
week investigating the conditions in
the vicinity of the Giant spring just
below Great Falls, where hundreds
of dead fish line the bank of the
river. The fish are mostly carp,
suckers and bullheads, and there is
no sign of what causes their death.
Those examined appear all right, and
except for fungus growth on their
bodies seem healthy, according to
Warden DeHart. The fish can be
seen to rise in the water, turn over
and die, any time by those watching,
and conditions are most peculiar.
Mr.. DeHart is having a number
of dead fish shipped to the state
chemist here for investigation, and
the work will go on until It is learn
ed what the trouble may be.
Just how long the fish have been
dying is not known. but as long ago
as July 4, parties at the Cold Sulphur
Springs below the big falls, as we'll as
several miles above, found hundreds
. Of fish lying on the bank or in the
shallow waters, dead and dying. At
that time none of the fish seemed to
have been dead more than a day or
SO, and it is believed that the trouble
started about that time. Among the
fish found dead then we're carp,
some weighing as much as couple
of pounds, small bullheads, suckers
and one steel head trout weighing
half a pound. The trout was not
dead and was picked up in the shall
lows without struggle and when
placed in the water sank to the bot
tom, to rise feebly to the surface and
swim to shallow and turn over.
Sman lingering fish of various kinds
we're seen to rise to the surface a
number of times and dash away as
If loco, several times swimming in
circles at top speed. A number OF
moon eye, or fresh water herring,
were caught and did not seem to be
affected, and none was seen dead, nor
were any pike, perch or bass, there
being many of each in that section.
1t was suggested that perhaps
some chemical from the smelter |
might be the cause of the trouble,
tut that would seem to be knocked |
by reports OF similar conditions In |
the river between Ulm and Cascade,
where thousands OF fish OF the same |
variety are said tc line the banks,
many local fishermen having wit
messed conditions there and called at
tention to 1t. AIso, while something
of the sort might affect fish at Giant
spring and vicinity, 1t would hardly
extend 80 miles down the river be-
low the smelter, the trouble being
known to extend that far, as well as
80 miles above.
From the facts developed to date
DeHart Is OF the opinion that some
sort of epidemic, sort Of fish FLU
II hot amoug certain var
ieties Of fish and u cleaning them up.
II such be tho case and the carp and
suckers were the only ones affected,
The fishermen OF Thu section would
suggest that It be pushed to the Limit.