The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1955-09-08
Fish Personnel
Making Study
Of Lake Area
Suffocution Program Yes
terduy Attracted Large
Number Of People

Over 100 Maryland fish au-
thoritics and field personnel met
yesterday at Deep Creek Lake in
one of the largest frcshwater
probes in the states history.
Several hundred local citizens
and personnel of the departments
of the Board of Natural Resources
were on hand to assist in making
biological study of fish condi-
tions in this 3,8OO-acre mountain
reservoir.
A 4O-aore arm Of Hoop Pole
run, near the Glendale bridge was
chemically treated with rotenone,
a fish sufficient, to kill all fish for
the purpose of examining size,
length, weight and condition of
fish. A team of Is biologists from
the Department of Research and
Education, 10 law enforcement Of
ficers and State Police, and 20 re-
gional fish management personnel
were at the sample area around s
o'clock yesterday morning IN the
all-day effort to spray and re-
cover the fish from the sample
area and to examine all fish re-
covered to determine best man
agemcnt practices for improving
fisherman success on the lake.
Estimates of the harvest ranged
around 40 pounds of fish per sur
face acre and the first day actually
produced So pounds per surface
acre
A complete report of the study
was not available, but count of
all the fish showed that 3080
pounds had been turned in, with a
large percentage of the catch be-
ing perch. The listings included
small mouth bass, large mouth
bass. crappies, bluegills, pumpkin
seeds, rock bass. yellow perch.
brown bullheads, white suckers.
golden sinners, yellow bullheads,
pickerel. mad toms and carp. There
were no white bass, no rainbow,
brook or brown trout. The largest
orc brought in was bass 1876
inches long and weighing pounds,
? ounces
The rotenonc used in the pro-
gram does not effect humans,
live stock or other forms of life,
but it suffocated the fish by con-
stricting the tiny blood vessels Of
the gills.
The project went according to
plan, except that the group was
a little late in starting After the
chemical was applied the affected
fish began to rise to the surface
or sink to the bottom. Those
sinking to the bottom were re-
covered by aqua lung divers.
The overall object of the prof
ect is to shed light on why fishing
since 1850 has been so poor. Small
scale Investigations in the past
have failed to prove reliable clues
to the solution Of the problem. The
present study was planned to give
a definite approach to the charac-
terisitics Of the population, the
standing crop Gin pounds of fish
per acre), and the general feeding
habits of the fish.
Altogether ten major biological
studies are being made. In addi-
ton to those mentioned they in
clude growth rate of most species
based on the study Of scales;
general health of fish; forage fish
types; relative abundance of vari-
Gus size-groups in the present
population.
Planning on the project was be
gun as early as December, 1854.
The bottom of Hoop Pole cove was
contourod with the aid of faith
ometer in June by the U. S. Coast
and Gcodetic Survey and a pre-
liminary chemical analysis of Lake
water was made during mid-July
by the Water Pollution Control
commission.
Two or more days will be dc
voted to the collection of the data.
The Maryland Game and Inland
Fish commission officials will
carry on their aspect Of the work
for about a week.