
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, May 27, 1990                   TAG: 9005270179
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: FORT BELVOIR                                LENGTH: Short

SPORT FISHING DEAD SINCE POTOMAC KILL

People who make their living on the Potomac River say the fishing near Fort Belvoir is as good as ever, but since a mysterious fish kill three weeks ago sport fishermen aren't taking the bait.

"It hurt a number of businesses, including mine," said Ken Penrod, owner of Outdoor Life Unlimited, which has provided professional fishing guides about the Potomac since 1982.

Penrod said he got about 15 calls each day for a week from people planning fishing trips who were concerned about the fish kill. The dead fish appeared in Virginia and Maryland.

The Maryland Department of the Environment estimates that 25,000 to 33,000 fish died over several days, said department spokesman John Goheen.

They were all large fish, including carp, white perch, gizzard shad, brown bullhead and channel catfish.

"It's still a mystery" what caused the kill, said Goheen. "There isn't any one thing that we can go after."

He said neither a reduction in oxygen nor any of the dramatic natural causes usually responsible for fish kills, such as a sudden freeze or other radical changes in weather, seem to be responsible in this case.

"We also have no evidence of a toxic spill," Goheen said.

But news reports that a toxic spill may have occurred apparently had a significant effect on some businesses.

by CNB