Larry W. Dorman

Three thousand pair of hand selected, 3-year-old channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were stocked in 4 ponds used for brood production in Humphreys County, Mississippi. From 1 May to 13 July 1981, data were obtained on spawning in the ponds. As the water temperature increased, so did the number of spawns up to a maximum of 498 on 30 May. Total spawns and spawning rate were 603 (86% )-pond 9; 523 (75%) -pond 10; 440 (55% )-pond 11; 550 (69% )-pond 12.

Physiochemical characteristics of Lake Frierson were monitored biweekly from 15 May to 14 September 1979. Lake Frierson revealed intense thermal stratification in late May. Stratification continued until fall turnover in mid-September. The anoxic hypolimnion started at the 3.0 to 3.5 m sampling depth and continued to the bottom. During this time, evaporation accounted for the loss of 1.0 m of water. Data from the shallow stations revealed anoxia and oxygen values of 2.0 mgll or less on 2 dates, 10 July and 8 August 1979.