A study was undertaken to determi ne the value of a small otter trawl as a collection tool in 11 reservoirs in Northeast Texas. The collection unit consisted of four sets of 150-foot experimental gill nets, two drags with a 26-foot bag seine and two runs with a la-foot trawl. The seine and trawl collections were made both during the day and at night. Seining accounted for most of the 44 species of fish taken, while trawling produced the greatest number of specimens. Four species were taken only from gill nets, six only by seining and trawling added two exclusive species of fish to the collection list. Trawling has certain limitations and does not replace either gill nets or seines, but serves as a supplement to these two standard methods of collection.
