Report on fish from Crawford Lake, Kalkaska County, Michigan. (Fisheries research report: 56)

Re: Fish Mortality

INSTITUTE FOR FISHERIES RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY MUSEUMS,.
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN:
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN -
Report No. 56
REPORT ON FISH FROM CRAWFORD LAKE, KALKASKA COUNTY,
MICHI GAN.
The fish were sent to us by Conservation Officer Hicking of Kalkaska,
Michigan. The shipment consisted of a perch (7 in.), bullhead (11 in.), and
two pike (13 in. and 22 in..).
Perch, bullhead, and small pike were not in a state of preservation to
permit autopsy. The large pike showed signs of being dead for a long time. Color
in the organs had disappeared and the liver was in a semi-liquid condition. Tapeworms were abundant in the intestine but these do not account for the death of the
fish. No cause for death was apparent.
The death of these fish is, no doubt, the result of "winter freezing", the fish
having been freed and blown ashore soon after the ice went out.
Lake and stream survey cards show that this lake is very shallow (2 meters)
with vegetation growing in all parts. The bottom is pulpy neat. The lake was
acid when examined and the water turbid. From these findings ideal winter conditions
cannot be expected.
INSTITUTE FOR FISHERIES RESEARCH
Wendell H. Krull
Fiai Pathologist
CC to Conservation Officer Hicking

Kalkaska, Michigan