Tiny Computer Found In Fish's Belly

DULUTH, Minn. -- A small fish is behind a whopper of a tale. When Larry Mattson opened up a freshly caught trout, he found a tiny computer in the creature's belly -- and one scientist's dream.

The computer and the fish were part of an extensive research project for several American Indian tribes trying to preserve natural resources.

A year and a half ago, biologists put the data recorders inside 124 fish and released them back into the wild with a phone number tagged onto their backs. So far only eight people have caught the fish and dialed the number.


The data is extensive -- recording depths, temperatures and distances the trout like to travel.

Most stayed within five miles of their original habitat. But Mattson's fish was an exception -- it swam more than 150 miles away from home and to depths of 400 feet.