Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Phytoplankton communities of commercial catfish ponds in westcentral Alabama were usually dominated by green algae (Chlorophyta). Blue-green algae, which were usually the dominant forms of algae in channel catfish ponds at the Auburn University Research Unit (east-central Alabama), were seldom present in great abundance in the commercial fish ponds. The pond waters in west-central Alabama had total alkalinity values of 69-148 mg/liter as CaC03 while total alkalinity values were much lower (lO to 15 mg/ liter) in pond waters on the Fisheries Research Unit. Difference in total alkalinity likely resulted in the difference in proportions of blue-green algae in ponds of the 2 vicinities.

Although mitigation is now required on excavation lakes resulting from limestone mining in South Florida, little baseline information exists on which to base mitigation recommendations. For this study, 8 representative limestone excavation lakes in Dade County, Florida, were sampled during 1981-82 to measure selected limnological parameters. There was little within-lake variation in water quality but substantial differences in means and ranges among lakes. Depths ranged from 3.2 to 15.2 m and surface areas, 8 to 44 ha. Maximum water temperature observed was 33° C and the minimum 19° C. Surface dissolved oxygen was 7.5-8.3 mglliter and 2.0- 7.5 mglliter at lake bottoms. Other ranges measured included alkalinity 72-170 mg/liter, conductivity 221 to 1,058 p,mhos, pH 7.2 to 8.2, and transparency 1.4 to 5.6 m. Mean values for total phosphorus (7.1 to 12.3 mg/m3 ) varied greatly by lake.

Age, growth, and sex ratio were determined from 484 yellow-phase American eels (Anguilla rostrata) collected from brackish waters (16.4 g/liter; mean salinity) in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. Eels averaged 4.4 years, 437.6 mm total length, and 189.9 g live wet weight. Length-weight relationship was: log W = -5.7156 + 3.0067 log L. Length and weight increases were greatest in the third and fifth year of age, respectively. The population consisted of 85.5% mature females, 7.9% advanced females, and 6.6% males. Mature and advanced females averaged 1.6 and 3.1 years older than males (2.7 years), respectively. Males were consistently smaller than females for each age class.

Twenty-two larval fish taxa were collected from Wee Tee Lake, a backwater tributary of Santee River, South Carolina, and 2 adjacent main river sites during the spring of 1981 and 1982. Pomoxis spp., Alosa aestivalis, Dorosoma petenense, D. cepedianum, and Perca flavescens were the most abundant species collected in both Wee Tee Lake and Santee River during both years. These species were significantly (P < 0.05) more abundant in the lake than in the river, indicating a better spawning habitat in the lake. A. aestivalis and D. cepedianum appeared to spawn concurrently and exhibited similar patterns of diel periodicity. D. petenense spawned later and exhibited a different diel pattern. Flood control operations in the Santee River prior to the detection of larvae in 1982 appeared to alter time and duration of spawning and reduce species diversity and abundance of larval fish.

Suppression of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides floridanus) fingerling production in 0.01 ha ponds with high blue tilapia (Tilapia aurea) densities (760-1,900 kg/ha; 1,300-2,500 fish/ha) was studied to determine if the suppression is caused by direct competition for spawning sites. Bass spawned successfully in 8 of 9 ponds with tilapia but mean (x = 340) production of bass fingerlings was 84% less than in ponds without tilapia (x = 2183; N = 3). Difference in young-of-year bass production between ponds with and without tilapia was statistically significant; however, differences between young-of-year bass production in ponds with only male and only female tilapia were non-significant (P ≥ 0.05). Since only male blue tilapia construct spawning depressions, reduced bass fingerling production was attributed primarily to interactions independent of direct competition for spawning sites or tilapia sex.

Triploid hybrid grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella x Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) were provided known weights of hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) in 300 liter aquaria, to determine consumption rates for age I hybrids from 6 size groups, 21 to 37 cm total length (TL). Mean consumption rates for these groups at 26° C ranged from 25% to 52% of their body weight/day (% BW/D) or 1.7 to 8.6 g dry weight of hydrilla/day (g DW/ D). Smaller hybrids generally ate less hydrilla than larger fish, but expressed as a percentage of their body weight, small hybrids consumed more than large hybrids. The exception was the intermediate size hybrids (31 cm TL group), which consumed significantly (P < 0.05, Tukey's range test) more both in dry weight of hydrilla and in percent body weight than other groups. Regression of dry weight consumed/ day on total hybrid length produced the following equation: g DW/D =-6.1 + 0.039(TL); with a correlation coefficient of 0.82.

A minimum size limit of 305 mm for smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieui) in the Shenandoah River was evaluated by creel surveys to determine the limit's effect on the sport fishery. Smallmouth bass harvest decreased from 24/ha prior to the limit to an average of 6/ha after the limit. The catch and release fishery increased from 19/ha to 1111ha. Despite the restricted harvest, the number of legal bass (≥305 mm) harvested remained unchanged and average size decreased from 348 mm to 330 mm. Channel catfish (lctalurus punctatus) harvest decreased 91 %, but sunfish harvest increased more than 57%. Smallmouth bass growth rates were unchanged by the size limit, but annual mortality for ages III-V bass increased from 0.51 to 0.65. Increased mortality rate is thought to be the reason that bass harvest (≥305 mm) did not increase.

Analysis of catch records at state- owned and managed public fishing lakes indicated that significant increases in permit sales and harvest of fish occurred the year after treatment with rotenone to thin or eliminate threadfin shad and/ or gizzard shad. No significant change in the harvest of trophy largemouth bass was observed following treatment.

During March, April, and May 1979, a nonuniform probability creel survey of snag fishermen was conducted in the tailwaters of Logan Martin and H. Neely Henry reservoirs located on the Coosa River in Alabama. Fishermen harvested an estimated 5,278 and 4,640 fish in the 2 reservoirs, respectively. Daily catch was 57 fish/ day at Logan Martin tailwater and 50 fish/ day at Neely Henry tailwater. White bass (Marone chrysops) were the predominant fish in the creel. Catch/unit effort (CPE) was 0.75 fish/hour at Logan Martin tailwater and 0.89 fish/hour at Neely Henry tailwater. The typical fisherman traveled less than 47 km, was not species specific, had less than 5 years snagging experience, spent an average of $6.68 per trip, and fished for food and sport.

From December 1981 through March 1983, 71 observations of pound nets were conducted. In 407 net days, commercially important species comprised 93.5% of the total pound net catch while game fish species comprised 4.4%. An average of 1.8 game fish were caught per net day. Harvestable-size game fish (that size retained by sport fishermen) represented 3.6% of the total catch and comprised 81.5% of all sizes of game fish caught. Initial mortality was 3.3% for game fish or 0.06 game fish deaths/ net day. An estimated 68 game fish/km of shoreline/year were caught by the entire pound net fishery in 1981 and 1982, all of which were returned as required by law. Considering their limited use in extensive river area and the small number of game fish caught, it was determined that pound nets had no significant impact on game fish populations in the 8t. Johns River, Florida.

A I-year sport fishing creel census, designed by North Carolina State University statisticians, was conducted on the Santee and Cooper rivers, South Carolina, from 26 February 1981 through 25 February 1982. Estimates of fishing effort, harvest, and success were obtained. The Santee River received more effort per unit area (81.0 hours/ha) but less total hours (96,215) than the Cooper River (50.9 hours/ha, 173,005 hours). Santee River fishermen expended most fishing effort (37.1 %) seeking black crappie, while largemouth bass was the species most sought (29.4%) by Cooper River fishermen. Fishermen creeled 65.6 fish/ha weighing 33.7 kg/ha from Cooper River and 103.1 fish/ha weighing 29.3 kg/ha from the Santee. Fishing success was nearly equal for the 2 rivers. Cooper and Santee River fishermen caught 1.29 and 1.26 fish/hour, respectively. Most fishermen were local residents, and still fishing (which included cane pole fishing) was the preferred fishing method on both rivers.

Largemouth bass catch data and other information were compiled from records generated from a Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission tournament permitting system implemented in 1975. Popular tournament waters were determined and ranked according to success rates, average weights, and weights of "big bass" reported by tournament sponsors. Commission records indicate 645 bass tournaments were permitted from 1975-1982 with more than 57% staged in the St. Johns River/Rodman Reservoir area, Lake Okeechobee, and the Kissimmee chain of lakes. Between 1978 and 1982, mean tournament success rates statewide were computed at 0.27 bass/hour, while Lake Okeechobee ranked highest at 0.40 bass/hour. Highest average bass weights were reported from the Clermont Chain at 1.18 kg, and statewide weights averaged 0.86 kg. Orange/Lochloosa lakes produced the largest "big bass" reported with a mean weight of 4.26 kg.

A depressed economic situation, coupled with an ever-increasing population, has resulted in a severe financial strain being placed on many state agencies in recent years. Because of a lack of funds, public service agencies have not expanded at the same pace as the population they serve. This problem is even more evident in southern states that have had to contend with a migration of northern industry to these less energy-sensitive areas. Employees accompanying this industry, added to the population expansion, have placed an additional burden on these so-called sun belt states. Wildlife agencies of the South are especially hard pressed because many state legislators consider them as only indirectly responsible for public safety. Wildlife enforcement and management compete for these less than adequate funds within the wildlife agencies. This combination of factors has resulted in many wildlife enforcement divisions waging a constant battle for adequate manpower and equipment.

To evaluate the incidence of road hunting during the dog and no-dog portions of the Mississippi deer season, the numbers of road hunting citations from the 1980-1981 and 1982-1983 hunting seasons were determined. Road hunting violations were significantly more common during the dog seasons than during the no-dog seasons. Although road hunting problems during the dog season were caused by unethical behavior of some deer hunters and not due to the use of dogs for deer hunting, the public impact may result in an unfavorable image of dog hunting. Deer hunters (especially during the dog season) must promote ethical behavior to ensure the future of their sport

Included as an introduction to the open fields doctrine and a closely related concept, the plain view doctrine, are a brief historic overview, a review of some cases in which open fields law played an important role, and a statement about the importance of this legal concept in wildlife law enforcement.

One of the most difficult yet important challenges facing the wildlife law enforcement officer today lies in his ability to develop confidence and a cooperative spirit in his court. There are a variety of means by which to achieve this goal and in overcoming common prejudices often surrounding the law enforcement officer and his profession. It is critical that the officer learn to communicate, in both deeds and words, his professionalism and the public desire for firm decisions involving wildlife violations.

As the computer age dawns on wildlife law enforcement divisions across Southeastern United States, it has become all too clear that you will get your data computerized eventually. If you are slow to respond, you will be victim of another agency's idea of what your informational needs are. Green-lined paper will flow with little control and you will drown in a sea of information. The key element to taming the computer is to have control of the source document, the problem, and the report. Large portions of wildlife agency budgets are devoted to this pursuit and law enforcement departmental heads are obligated to use the funds in the most efficient and economical manner. In this computerized age, we can do no less than utilize to the maximum extent possible these machines that are designed to provide useful information.

Stockings of striped bass, (Morone saxatilis), hybrid striped bass, (Marone saxatilis x Marone chrysops), and reciprocal hybrid striped bass (Morone chrysops x Morone saxatilis), at Alabama's public fishing lakes were evaluated. Age and growth data are presented for each of the 3 groups. The length-weight relationship developed for hybrid striped bass from Alabama's public fishing lakes is LoglO weight =-4.9549 + 3.033 (loglO length). The condition factor Kn for hybrid striped bass from these lakes was very low, relative to hybrid striped bass from West Point Reservoir. Survival of hybrid striped bass at one lake from age I to age 2 was over 30%. A cost-benefit ratio from the cost of stocking these fish divided by the benefit to fishermen from harvesting them produced a value near 1.

Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and Morone hybrids were studied in the Tallapoosa River downstream of Thurlow Dam from March through November 1980. Age and growth analysis revealed that over 80% of the striped bass scales had numerous false annuli, while none were observed on Morone hybrid scales. The presence of false annuli indicated interruptions in normal growth during the mid- to late-summer period. These interruptions were attributed to striped bass preferential selection of cooler water temperatures in mid-summer. The striped bass are believed to spatially separate themselves from much of their food, resulting in a reduced growth rate until water temperatures subside in the fall.

Gulf Coast striped bass (Marone saxatilis) represent a race of striped bass that differ phenotypically and probably genotypically, behave as a cohesive unit and were once spatially separated from other stocks. The significance of discrete spawning stocks of striped bass is discussed. Evidence for the stock concept is reviewed and discussed in relation to maintenance of genetic diversity in fish populations. Caution is urged that stocks, designated for release into foreign waters, be carefully evaluated with respect to their potential genetic impact on native populations.