2010-04-15 - Conneautville, PA - Unknown

I have, what may be, the fiRst reported mutilated fish not done by any known predator.

On or about the spring morning of April 15, 2010, I was taking a walk in my yard around my 3.5 acre lake. About 20 feet from the shoreline I found a decomposing fish. I didn't really give it any thought and I certainly did not want my dogs to find it, start eating it and get sick so I picked it up and tossed it into the woods.

Several days passed. Again I took an early morning stroll around the lake checking on the spawn. Odd as it may be, I came upon another fish (a largemouth bass) in much the same condition as the one I found earlier that week and only a few feet away from the first. Having NEVER seen such an incident in the 42 years since building that lake, I was compelled to take a better look at this fish.

Upon closer inspection I saw that there were several parts of the fish missing. The area behind the anal fin was gone and looking closer it appeared the entrails were also missing. Some bones could be seen in that open area but it seemed the spine was no longer there. There was also a hole to the right of the spiny dorsal fin that also allowed viewing the area that was missing behind the anal fin since it was now "gutless." The bony plate around both eyes which meets the operculum was gone as well as both eyes were cleanly missing. The tissue that separates the pelvic fins and running to the underside of the mouth was there, However, the tissue from the pelvic fins up to the pectoral fins was gone allowing a straight-through view to the other side of the fish as well as a view through to the hole above the anal fin.

None of this seemed to be the work of a predator - of any kind. I've seen the work of predators and this certainly was not. Since 1972, when the lakes were built, I have seen only two fish "belly up" in this lake; two largemouth bass. One had tried to eat the other. Being both the same size, both fish perished, one stuck firmly in the mouth of the other. But I have never seen any fish twenty feet off shore, especially not in this condition.

But what struck me as being truly odd was the hole next to the spiny dorsal fin. It was perfectly round. A 5/8" (15.95mm) perfectly round hole! Fascinating! No predator can make that hole. Not with that kind of precision. I researched the possibilities everywhere. Even my local Pennsylvania Fish Commission and Game Commission could not attest to any predator being capable of making such a perfectly round hole like this one. But somehow, somewhere I recalled some literature that mentioned a hole of this size (also perfectly round) being common on many cattle and other animal mutilations.

So I contacted Linda Moulton Howe, told her my story and she was more than taken in with this tale. She never heard of a fish mutilation in thirty years of research. This was news to her and she was interested in taking this further. I sent her the pictures I had taken from various angles which peaked her interest further. What she needed to know was there any evidence of thermal damage around the edge of the hole, such as would be made by a laser or something that would produce a high degree of heat. I was now on a quest to find someone (with credentials) who would be willing to perform such tests and provide an affidavit with the results. I tried dozens upon dozens of colleges, universities, fisheries and independent laboratories to take my case of the mutilated fish. Not a single person was willing to join me in the search for this critical evidence.

So, Mr. Davenport, there you have it. This can possibly be the first case of a mutilated fish in the realm of "high strangeness" as Linda would say. Then I learned you obtained a degree in fish biology and genetics. Why hadn't I known that before? I've followed your career for many years. I've listened to you on Coast for years, first with Art, now with George. I wrestled with the thought of asking you for your help in this matter for months. Everyone else turned me down for two reasons I've learned; 1) When they learned it might have something (or anything) to do with an extraterrestrial presence and 2) Because their salaries came from the universities, laboratories or wherever, they did not want their name on an affidavit stating the results they would find fearing a loss of their job.

Now I ask the same of you. Would you be willing to become involved in this matter or even discuss it with me? As much as I hate to admit failure, I may have to tell Linda I've come to the end of the road, so to speak. The long road I have traveled no longer has a fork, instead a large red stop sign may be staring back at me.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, I greatly appreciate it.

Kind Regards, ((name deleted))
((deleted)) Road Conneautville, PA 16406-2031 814-((deleted)) Home 814-((deleted)) Cell Amateur Radio call sign ((deleted))

((NUFORC Note: We have looked at the photos provided by the witness, and are unable to certify that the wound to the fish's body is necessarily unusual. The witness dismisses the possibility of predation of the fish, but we are unable to make that claim. PD))

((NUFORC Note: Witness elects to remain totally anonymous; provides no contact information. PD))

((NUFORC Note: Witness indicates that the date is approximate. PD))