Transactions of the American Fisheries Society · 1941 · 15 citations · 0 references
Natural ResourcesFisheriesMarine EngineeringAquacultureFish BiologyFish PhysiologyAquaculture InstrumentationDiving PhysiologyFish HealthRiver EngineeringRiver FisheriesSwimming PhysiologyCirculatory StabilityFish Passage FacilitiesFish Passage FlowsHydrodynamics Of Fish SwimmingNegative Pressure EnvironmentsSiphon StructuresSwim Bladder FunctionVacuum Systems
A set of three large siphon tubes has been installed on the lower St. Francis River in Arkansas, which pass the normal flow of the river. They operate with a negative pressure equivalent to from 18 to 26 inches of mercury. Experiments with fish held under negative pressure in aquaria for the length of time required to pass through the tubes have been conducted and some species of fish show serious injury. Those that are physostomous are more able to make the sudden change or adjustment in the swim bladder necessary when passing through the tubes, while physoclistous fish are unable to make the sudden adjustment and suffer hemorrhage in the circulatory system and many die. There is need for close cooperation between engineers and fishery administrators in designing and constructing devices that are apt to affect fish life in public waters.