Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

The fall-winter foods of otters living along the coast are largely fishprincipally carp, catfish, suckers, and sunfish. The otters' diet at other seasons of the year is largely comprised of fish, blue crab, and crayfish. Other foods, all taken in small quantities, are shrimp, clam, water beetles, decapod, muskrat, rails, and waterfowl. An examination of 53 female otters from northeastern counties over a 12winter period (1947-48-1958-59) showed that breeding starts during January and continues into February and possibly into March. Of eight gravid otters in a study sample of 53, five contained three embryos, two contained two, and one contained four embryos. This is an average of 2.88 embryos per female. Sex data obtained on 273 otters showed 149 (55%) males and 124 (45%) females. This is 120 males for every 100 females. Weights were obtained on a total of 238 otters.

Length and weight data were gathered during a short time-period on several species of fish from a large lake and a connecting marsh canal. The marsh had recently gone dry, forcing the fish to crowd into the canal. Analysis of covariance was used to compare the length-weight relationship of largemouth black bass (Micropterus salmoides) , redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) and bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) from both habitat types. The bass from the canal were found to be significantly heavier for their length than those from the lake. Various possible explanations for this phenomenon are discussed. The author's conclusion is that the most logical explanation for the phenomenon is increased feeding by the bass under these crowded conditions. No detectable difference was found in the length-weight relationship of redear sunfish and bluegill from the two habitats. No chain pickerel (Esox niger) were captured in the lake but several hundred were taken in the canal.

Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the toxicity of Noxfish (an emulsifiable formulation containing 5 percent rotenone) and Pro-Noxfish (an emulsifiable formulation containing 2.5 percent rotenone plus 2.5 percent Sulfoxide as a synergist) to eggs of common carp (CyprinMs carpio) and fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). Spawning devices were added to brood ponds and examined daily to obtain eggs of known age for testing. The 325 carp eggs were 24 to 48 hours old when treated. Ninety percent of the carp eggs in control containers hatched. The LD.o's obtained for carp eggs at approximately 75° F. were: Noxfish, 0.091 p.p.m., Pro-Noxfish, 0.178 p.p.m. Fathead minnow eggs less than 31 hours old or 101 to 120 hours old were equally susceptible to the poisons. Ninety percent of the fathead minnow eggs in control containers hatched. The LD50's obtained for fathead minnow eggs at 70° to 76° F. were: Noxfish, 0.142 p.p.m.; Pro-Noxfish, 0.233 p.p.m.

The channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) has proved to be a very promising sport fish in ponds. Fingerlings stocked in February 1958 in a 12.4-acre pond at the rate of 2,000 per acre in combination with fathead minnows and largemouth bass, and given supplemental feeding daily except Sunday, averaged 0.7 pounds by September. During the following periods, September 24 to December 8, and March 14 to October 6, fishermen caught per acre 1,292.5 pounds of channel catfish, 36.9 pounds of largemouth bass, and 27.0 pounds of miscellaneous sunfish. The number of fishing trips per acre averaged 579 with a catch of 2.3 pounds per trip. Fishermen harvested 62 percent of the catfish stocked. The pond was drained November 17, 1959 and 180 channel catfish weighing 391.2 pounds, 51 largemouth bass weighing 34.5 pounds, 907 fatheads weighing 2.4 pounds, and 80.2 pounds of “wild” fish were recovered per acre.

Aquatic weed control has in recent years developed into one of the most important phases of farm pond management in Georgia. Properly constructed ponds with adequate fertilization which were chemically treated four years ago show no reinfestation at this time. On the other hand, in experimental ponds which were not properly fertilized the results of chemical weed control were of extremely short duration. The more frequently used herbicides, Sodium arsenite, 2,4-D (ester and amines), 2,4-D-2,4,5-T combinations, and Copper sulphate are considered with regard to methods of application, cost of treatments, effectiveness on different plant species and duration of successful weed elimination. Sodium arsenite was found universally effective in the control of most submerged aquatic plant species. However, its toxicity to warm blooded animals and the caution necessary in its application and handling restrict its use to experienced technicians.

In June, 1956, albino channel catfish (Ictalurus Lacustris) were observed to occur in possibly two spawns from wild colored parents. These albino channel catfish have been named "Golden Channel Catfish." By stocking the golden channel catfish fingerlings in large water areas, sufficient growth was obtained so that several of the fish became sexually mature at the age of two years and a weight of about two pounds. Three spawns were obtained from these two-year-old golden channel catfish in the spring of 1958, and all the young were golden (albino) in color. The golden channel catfish seems to be equal in ruggedness to the wild colored individuals and possesses superior eye appeal both alive and dressed. The strain of fish envolved has a domesticated history exceeding ten years.

This study revealed that walleye, Stizostedion vitreum vitreum (Mitchell), can be jar-hatched, stocked, and a portion raised to fingerling size, for an annual outlay of $1,000.00 or less. Early returns indicate that walleye can be inexpensively established by stocking fry in either old or new lakes. The method used was to stock the fish in intermittent rows from a boat. Both openwater stocking and shoreline stocking were practiced successfully. Two ponds were utilized for experimental walleye production in 1958. Walleye were produced at the rate of 21,255 fingerling walleye 1 1/2 to 2 inches in length per acre in one experimental pond and 10,333 in another pond, without re-sorting to feeding with minnows. This seemed to indicate that walleye lend themselves to pond culture as far south as Kentucky. The experimental evidence concurred with the findings of Dobie (1956) in Minnesota and indicated that production was augmented by the use of organic fertilizers.

In order to test the relative success of various stocking rates of largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede)-bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque, combinations and largemouth bass-shellcracker, Lepomis microlophus (Gunther), in farm ponds in Kentucky, 574 ponds. were stocked with these fishes in the following combinations and rates: fry bass: fingerling bluegill 30 :400, 50 :500, 80 :500 and 100 :500 per acre; fry bass: adult bluegill 100 :30, 100 :50 and 100: 70 per acre; fry bass: fingerling shellcracker 50 :300 and 50 :600 per acre; fry bass; fingerling shellcracker + mosquito fish, Gambusia affinis (Baird and Girard), 50 :300 + 400 and 50 :600 + 400 per acre. In each year from 1952 through 1956, a series of ponds was stocked. No pond was stocked more than once nor with more than one rate. Bass-bluegill combinations were stocked in each of the first four years, the shel1cracker combinations in 1953, 1955 and 1956.

Norris Reservoir, the first TVA tributary reservoir, completed in 1936, has a spillway surface area of 34,200 acres. Earliest fish inventory records in the basin indicate 17 indigenous families of fishes represented by 40 genera and 65 species. Four families, Petromyzonidae, Anguillidae, Cyprinodontidae, and Cottidae, were unable to cope with the reservoir environment. Several genera and species of Cyprinidae and Percidae likewise did not survive. Game and commercial species generally have prospered in the reservoir. A 14-year creel census on Norris shows considerable annual variation in catch but no trend to support the historical idea that reservoirs become "biological deserts." Harvesting or fishing mortality studies over a 14-year period show an average tag return ratio of 17.2 percent. Year to year variation from the mean indicates that the obvious increase in fishing pressure since 1940 has not increased the relative rate of harvest.

A fisheries management plan for reservoirs is proposed which is dependent upon having a fish management pool and provision for drainage incorporated into the basic design. Justification is given to support the cost of having a cleared management pool in the bottom of the reservoir as well as drainage facilities. A plan is also proposed for selective clearing of reservoir basins. The management program described is based on a philosophy of drastic manipulations of fish populations through fall and winter drawdowns, selective kills, partial kills, intensive sport and commercial fishing and other management practices designed to favor the carnivorous fishes and reduce the total number and pounds of all fish so as to bring about a balance of the predator fishes with their food supply and maintain expanding fish populations.

Management of some form is mandatory for the continuance or restoration of successful fishing in the majority of reservoirs in the Southern States. The selective killing of gizzard shad and some species of rough fish with rotenone shows promise as a management tool for some reservoirs. The use of rotenone as a selective toxicant in four Kentucky reservoirs is discussed. The total poundage of gizzard shad was drastically reduced in three reservoirs and this species was eliminated from a fourth reservoir. A definite improvement in fishing success was noted as a result of this chemical reduction of shad, buffalo, and carp. Also, an increase in the spawning success and apparently better survival of bass occurred following the selective kill.