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The Michigan Shark Experiment
Date: April Fool's Day, 1981
Categories: Animals, Science, Newspapers, United States, 1981, Fake Warnings
Categories: Animals, Science, Newspapers, United States, 1981, Fake Warnings
The Herald-News in Roscommon, Michigan reported that 3 lakes in northern Michigan had been selected to host "an in-depth study into the breeding and habits of several species of fresh-water sharks." Two thousand sharks were to be released into the lakes including blue sharks, hammerheads, and a few great whites. The experiment was designed to determine whether the sharks could survive in the cold climate of Michigan, and apparently the federal government was spending $1.3 million to determine this. A representative from the National Biological Foundation was quoted as saying that there would probably be a noticeable decline in the populations of other fish in the lake because "the sharks will eat about 20 pounds of fish each per day, more as they get older." County officials were said to have protested the experiment, afraid of the hazard it would pose to fishermen and swimmers, but their complaints had been ignored by the federal government. Furthermore, fishermen had been forbidden from catching the sharks. The report concluded by again quoting the National Biological Foundation representative, who said that "We can't be responsible for people if they are attacked. Besides, anyone foolish enough to believe all this deserves to be eaten."
I heard that one when I lived in Kingsford,MI back then. It wasn't that believable.
Posted by Roger in Cudahy,Wi on Mon May 03, 2004 at 07:51 AM
Great whites and hammerheads aren't freshwater sharks - there's the clue it's a fake right there!
Posted by Michelleb in London on Mon Feb 19, 2007 at 05:43 AM
"Great whites and hammerheads aren't freshwater sharks - there's the clue it's a fake right there!"
Thank you, didnt know that until you came along
Posted by Seth in Detroit on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Thank you, didnt know that until you came along
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