http://www.doh.wa.gov/Publicat/2003_News/03-108.htm

Sad state of affairs but maybe now there will be more catch & release in our small lakes.

wheres all the mercury coming from?

Seems like every fish they test these days is ful of mercury???

paraphrasing a front-page article in the june 21, 2003 SPOKESMAN-REVIEW newspaper , gaseous mercury is circulating in the atmosphere. about half of it comes from industrial sources and half from natural sources including volcanoes and forest fires. it falls out either dry or with rain. the mercury that lands in water becomes methyl mercury, which can accumulate in fish in muscle tissue.

although bass from only 20 lakes/rivers were tested, researchers believe they would have found high mercury levels in bass from any washington lake or river.

mercury is toxic and can cause neurological problems ranging from declining IQ scores to convulsions or an inability to walk. extreme exposure is fatal.

john