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Page 13 · column 3 of 5 · from the scan, no model involved
A program of studies on the fishery resources of .Shenandoah National Park has been in progress since October of 1952. Personnel of the Branch of Fishery Biology, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the. Interior are engaged in the program to determine the potential of the Park waters and the means by which a maximum, sustained yield of native trout can be insured. Observations made on the fish populations in representatives Park waters during the past month have led these trained biologists to recommend closing the streams to, fishing this year in order tp enable the native stock to recuperate from the serious damages inflicted by Mother Nature. These observations and recommendations by the biologists which led to the decision, of the Park authorities to close the Park to fishing during the 1954 season are given below. ~
Drought conditions in October and November of 1953 reduced the amount of natural spawning in most streams. This was followed by the severe drought of late summer and fall of 1953 causing sections of many streams to dry up completely. Natural spawning was again greatly curtailed and the supply of fish food organizations was drastically reduced. Climaxing these unfavorable happenings was the sudden flood of March 1, 1954, which resulted from over 4 inches of rain in a twelve* hour period in which streams rose as high as 10 feet above their normal level. This flash flood literally secured the stream beds, destroyed much of the remaining—trout -food— and killed,' washed away and left stranded many fish, especially newlyhatched trout fry. Tiny living trout were observed and collected in flood pools offside and away from the mainstream beds.
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