Three experimental ponds were stocked with a polyculture of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). silver carp (Hypopthalmichthyes molit rix) , and bighead carp (Aristichthes nobilis). Three control ponds were stocked with catfish alone. In 2 of the 3 sets of ponds, there was little difference in catfish production (less than I and 10% by weight) while total production in the polyculture ponds far exceeded the controls with catfish alone. In the remaining set. catfish production was less in the polyculture pond but total production remained higher as a result of the additional growth of the silver and bighead carp. Lesser objectives were to refine artificial spawning methods and describe the difference in water quality resulting from the presence of the filter feeding Chinese carps. Successful hormone induced spawning techniques were developed and an improvement in pond water quality was noted.
