Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

In April, 1958, creel censuses on the White River Arm of Bull Shoals Reservoir, Missouri, were altered to permit separate tabulations of data from anglers who fished exclusively in three areas of flooded standing timber. The combined acreage of the timbered areas is 6.3 acres, or 0.26 per cent of the entire creel census area (2,380 acres). During 1959, nearly 15 per cent of all anglers counted were timber fishermen. Fishing pressure in that year amounted to 5,138 hours per acre in timbered areas, as compared to 97 hours per acre in the remainder of the census area. The hook-and-line harvest in timbered areas was 3,054 pounds per acre, and in the remainder of the area was about 113 pounds per acre. In 29 months, 821 timber fishermen were interviewed, of whom 94.8 per cent were successful. Their rate of catch amounted to 1.25 fish per hour.

Flathead catfish fry were reared to fingerling size in troughs by starting them to feed on shrimp, and marine fish. Other foods that were subsequently eaten by fry and fingerlings included beef liver, spleen, eggyolk, cheese, canned dog food, canned salmon, and some dry cereal feed. The food was prepared by placing the meats in a blende, adding a small amount of water, and stirring until the food was “creamy” in texture. After approximately three weeks, the fish had increased in size so that they could consume the food passed through a food chopper. No feeding was attempted until the yolk sac had been absorbed and the fish exhibited feeding behavior. After two or three days, if not fed, the fry will not feed even though food is offered. The food was placed (with a pipette or by rubbing between fingers) in the water above the fish.

Albino (golden) and normal channel catfish were compared in feeding experiments during a 346-day period. There was no difference in rate of growth, but the percentage of survival was 94.2 for the normal catfish and 81.1 for the albinos. Fishing success was similar for the two.

Experiments to determine the forage species preference of largemouth black bass fingerlings and a few larger bass are described. Data on the amount of food consumed, rate of growth and food conversion are presented. Forage minnows included were goldfish, Carassius auratus (Linnaeus), fathead, Pimephales promelas (Rafinesque) and bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus (Rafinesque). While there was' evidence of considerable individual variation in the species of forage minnow preferred, the bass in the experiments preferred fatheads more frequently than the other species, goldfish were second choice and bluegills were last. The degree of preference between bluegills and goldfish did not appear to be great for the limited number of bass included. Food conversion was best on a fathead or bluegill diet.

In order to determine the efficiency and selectivity of flag gill nets in catching game fish, experimental flag gill nets were fished in Lake Bistineau during the period March through August, 1956. Flag gill nets contain no lead line and are hung on a top line which contains no floats. The experimental nets used consisted of the following mesh sizes: 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 and 4.5 inch square mesh. For summary purposes the various species of fish were grouped into 3 types: (1) commercial fish (2) game fish and (3) other fish. The more valuable commercial fishes were caught at higher rates in the larger mesh sizes. Game fish were caught at higher rates in the smaller mesh sizes. Data are presented on the frequency distributions of the catches per net day which should give a somewhat better idea of the potential of the various mesh sizes of flag gill nets when fished under commercial conditions than the mean catches.

n order to determine the efficiency and selectivity of flag gill nets in catching game fish, experimental flag gill nets were fished in Lake Bistineau during the period March through August, 1956. Flag gill nets contain no lead line and are hung on a top line which contains no floats. The experimental nets used consisted of the following mesh sizes: 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 and 4.5 inch square mesh. For summary purposes the various species of fish were grouped into 3 types: (1) commercial fish (2) game fish and (3) other fish. The more valuable commercial fishes were caught at higher rates in the larger mesh sizes. Game fish were caught at higher rates in the smaller mesh sizes. Data are presented on the frequency distributions of the catches per net day which should give a somewhat better idea of the potential of the various mesh sizes of flag gill nets when fished under commercial conditions than the mean catches.

A study of bait and snag lines was conducted in the TVA lakes of Alabama from December, 1958, through December, 1'959, to determine species composition of the catch, the effectiveness of bait and snag lines for taking fish and the effectiveness of various types of bait used on baited lines. Data were obtained by accompanying the fisherman as he removed the fish from his lines. Bait line catches were, by weight, 92 percent catfish and 4 percent buffalo and carp. Grasshoppers were the most effective bait used while threadfin shad were used on 47 percent of the baited hooks. Snag line catches were, by weight, 77 percent catfish and 21 percent buffalo and carp. Both bait and snag lines were selected for the taking of catfish; but they were considered ineffective for the taking of carp, buffalo and other non-game forage fish.

Appropriations for the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, beginning July 1, 1961, include two items of interest to southeastern fishery managers and administrators. One is the sum of $85,000 for research or reservoir fish productivity in the White River Interstate Reservoir Complex in northern Arkansas and southern Missouri. The other is the sum of $105,000 for studies of methods of eliminating undesirable fish from streams and lakes in the southeastern United States. 379 Three reservoirs proposed for the first study are Beaver, Bull Shoals, and Norfork. A contract is being negotiated with the University of Arkansas for certain pre-impoundment studies on Beaver Reservoir. Headquarters of the project are expected to be at Fayetteville because of the obvious advantages of the University library facilities and faculty consultation. A mobile laboratory will serve as field work headquarters.

A census of sport and commercial fishermen was conducted on Guntersville Lake from March 15 through June 13, 1960. The objectives were to determine species composition of the catches, the types and extent of sport and commercial fishing, the interrelationship of sport and commercial fishing and the problems of each. The census included data on incomplete fishing trips of sport fishermen and complete fishing trips of commercial fishermen. Crappie were the fishing choice of 58 percent of the 1,654 sport fishermen and made up 69 percent of the catch by weight. An average of 0.4 pounds of fish per hour were caught by 1,315 boat fishermen while 339 bank fishermen caught an average of 0.2 pounds of fish per hour. Natural bait was used by 75 percent of the fishing parties, artificial bait was used by 10 percent of the fishing parties and both types of bait were used by 15 percent of the fishing parties. Only an average of 42 sport fishermen per day fished Guntersville Lake.