Blood Levels of Hemoglobin and Lactic Acid in some Freshwater Fishes Following Exercise

Abstract

During the summers of 1953 and 1954 the effects of forced activity on two blood constituents were investigated in seven species of fresh-water fishes, representing six families. The fish were hatchery-raised or captured from lakes in the southern Okanagan Valley, and the experiments were carried out in the Summerland Trout Hatchery, Summerland, B.C. Following forced exercise for 15 minutes in water at 11.5 °C. the hemoglobin level increased significantly in only one species and the lactic acid increased significantly in all species. There appears to be a correlation between the average value of lactic acid following exercise and the activity of the fish, and also with the position of the species with respect to summer water temperature.