William L. Shelton

Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) were tagged on West Point Reservoir, Alabama-Georgia in 1976-1978 to estimate rates offishing. During the 3 years, several factors affecting these estimates were evaluated. Non-response by anglers who recovered non-reward tags was calculated to be 0.66; tag loss was estimated to occur at an average rate of 4% per week; tagging mortality and displacement offish while tagging did not appear to affect estimates of fishing mortality.

The level of natural hybridization in Lake Texoma between Dorosoma cepedianum and D. petenense for the years 1962-63 and 1968-69 was determined to be 2.5 and 1.7% respectively. The two species have been sympatric in that reservoir since 1957. Male and female hybrids with well developed gonads were collected. Eggs from a hybrid were fertilized experimentally with milt of D. petenense and produced viable larvae. Hybrid fry were produced in the laboratory by crosses between D. cepedianum males and D. petenense females but not the reciprocal. Spawning of the two species is discussed in...