| In Good Hands |
 |
| left to right; Jerry Staggs & Gerald Lewis |
| The South Branch of the Potomac has taken a negative turn in recent months. On or around the first week of June, 2002 a substantial fish kill was witnessed. Everyone in this part of the State is buzzing as to what might have happened. No one actually knows. One thing is for sure - the smallmouth aren't there; at least in the numbers and sizes preceding the kill. Let me assure those that are concerned that our State and Federal fisheries personnel are diligently working to solve the puzzel. These people have my deepest respect and I submit to you that we should let them work and wait for the results. I've known DNR District II Fisheries biologist Gerald Lewis for over thirty years and no one loves the South Branch more that Gerald. I recently had the opportunity to spend some time on the "Branch" with Gerald and his assistant Jerry Staggs. Also a team of scientists from our Federal Fish Health Labratory, Vicky Blazer and Frank Pank along with WV DNR Research Fisheries biologist Chris Obara visited Romney to assist in gathering fish for diagnosis. |
| It was an extremely hot morning when we launched the "shocking boat" into the South Branch six miles north of Romney. The water temperature was 82 degrees. The boat was prepared by Jerry Staggs. Vicky, a Federal Fish Pathologist, Frank, a Federal Fisheries Biologist, Gerald Lewis, Jerry Staggs and myself hopped on board. The goal was to obtain fish that appeared unhealthy so that they could be further inspected as to their health. |
 |
| left to right: Vicky Blazer, Gerald Lewis and Frank Pank |
| The boat is equipped with outriggers on which are attached tentacles that hang down into the water. These tentacles can be charged with electricity which stuns the fish to a depth of six feet. The fish come to the surface and netted by individules in the front of the boat. Within an hours time approximately 50 fish were netted and only those that appeared in poor health or having sores or lesions were put into a live well to be brought to shore. |
 |
| left to right: Frank Pank and Jerry Staggs |
| Many fish came to the surface. Two of the largest were a carp and crappie. The large majority were suckers and red breast sunfish with a few largemouth bass and very few smallmouth. Gerald commented that during normal times, more smallmouth would have been seen. |
 |
 |
| 10 lb.Carp |
| 15 in. crappie |
| A shocking team has been on the river throughout the summer. Their purpose has been far different than the outing that I participated in. Throughout the summer structured samplings from Petersburg to the Potomac near Green Springs have gathered |
| smallmouth which were tagged so that migration patterns could be better understood. Population density and other statistical values were also sought. The fish kill however, has biased this information. Getting back to my day with the team. Once enough fish were gathered that showed |
| signs of poor health, the boat returned to shore. Once on shore, the Pathologists broke out their surgical kits, put on rubber gloves and went to work. The procedure was to first document the general appearance of the fish. Sores and lesions and where they occurred on the fish were noted. Vicky Blazer took the lead in this part of the diagnosis. |
 |
 |
| Once the general appearance was documented, Vicky took blood from the fish with a syringe. She worked much like a surgeon. I was most impressed with her thoroughness and professionalism. While working, Vicky dictated her procedure to Frank who was writing everything down. The blood was placed in a sterile vial and labled. Once back in the Laboratory, it would be tested for many things. |
| Once all needed blood was taken, Vicky picked up the scalpel. She carefully disected the fish. Stomach content was noted, Samples of the liver and spleen were removed and placed into sterile containers. Again this tissue will be fully studied in the lab. Note the discolored head of this largemouth bass. Many of the fish had sores in the same place on their belly. Vicky pointed out to me the white spots on the spleen of |
| this fish. I commented, "Is that normal ?" and Vicky replied, "Oh no." This same procedure was performed on a dozen fish. It will take awhile before the results are known, but I'm confident that this team of scientists will get to the bottom of the South Branch trouble. Jerry and I talked in private and he expressed that rumors are flying as to the reduction of smallmouth in the South Branch. He said that at present there is no answer. He smiled though and said " With these people helping out and everyone involved from Water Quality personel to the landowners and sportsman, we will find answers based on fact not guesses." You know that is the way it should be and from what I witnessed there is no doubt in my mind that the South Branch of old will return. |
 |
| II would like to express my thanks to these people for letting me tag along on a very interesting day and granting me permission to write this article. From left to right: Chris Obara, Vicky Blazer and Frank Pank. I would also like to thank Gerald Lewis and Jerry Staggs for all the effort that they put into caring for the rivers and lakes in the beautiful Eastern Panhandle mountains of West Virginia. |
| Photographs by: Carl D. DeFazio |
| Results The results of the above study showed that the fish died from bacteria which is caused by "pollution". The type pollution is still unknown, but the best guess is a combination of many factors within the South Branch watershed. An aggressive program is in place to monitor the South Branch particularly during high flow. |