Earl T. Humphries

Spawning of striped bass in the Tar River was studied in 1975 and results were compared with a similar study done in 1965. Egg samples indicated a significant increase in spawning activity probably due in part to an increased population established by stocking. More favorable temperatures in 1975 also resulted in an extended period of peak spawning. The location of major spawning grounds based on egg samples was found to cover a 25 mile span of river between River Mile 60 and 85.

Stomach content analyses were performed on 213 striped bass (11.480.0 mm TL) collected from culture ponds at the Front Royal Fish Cultural Station, Virginia, during the 1969 and 1970 rearing seasons. Cladocerans (families Sididae, Daphnidae and Bosminidae) constituted the major portion of the diet of these fish with copepods (family Cyclopidae) and insects (family Chironomidae) also being important food organisms. Cladoceran abundance in the stomachs increased after the bass were 30-40 mm long, while copepod abundance decreased and insect abundance remained relatively stable. The fish...