Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Eighteen O.l-acre ponds at the Auburn University Fisheries Research Unit, Auburn, Alabama, were used from April 5 through November 20, 1967. Both species of fishes were stocked together randomly at a rate of 4,000 fingerlings per acre. The experimental design consisted of three control ponds without fertilization or hyacinths; three control ponds without fertilization, but with hyacincths; three ponds with 0-8-0 (N,P,K) fertilization, but no hyacinths; three ponds with 0-8-0 fertilization, but with hyacinths; three ponds with 8-8-0 fertilization, but no hyacinths; and three ponds with 8-8-0 fertilization, but with hyacinths. The fertilizers were applied to stimulate the growth of hyacinths and fish-pond organisms. Greater numbers and dry weights of fish-food organisms were associated with roots of water hyacinths in control ponds than in fertilized ponds. Snails and odonate numphs were dominant in control ponds but were not important in fertilized ponds.

Intensive agricultural endeavor and accompanying environmental degradation have virtually eliminated the native fishery of eastern Arkansas' delta regions. Unsatisfied public demands for outdoor recreation have, of course, increased as corresponding opportunities have been reduced. The fisheries management biologist in eastern Arkansas is faced with a multitude of perplexing management problems which in many respects are unique to the heavily farmed regions of southeastern United States. Managed lakes and impoundments in northeast Arkansas will fall, generally, into one of three categories or classifications: I. Ridge or foothill impoundment which receive surface runoff from a primarily timbered or pastured watershed (little or no row crop farming in the watershed). The soils of the watersheds of these lakes fall within the Loessial Hills Association and, to a lesser extent, the Ozark Highlands Association. II.

Adult threadfin shad, Dorosoma petenense (Gunther), were stocked alone in ponds at rates from 100 to 1,600 per acre to determine the most efficient rate of stocking for maximum production. Total production varied from 84.5 to 290.0 pounds per acre while net production ranged from 36.4 to 169.0 pounds per acre. The number of young per surviving parent varied from 1,392 at a stocking rate of 100 adults per acre to 82 young at a stocking rate of 1,600 adults per acre. Threadfin shad stocked in April spawned from May (76°F) through August. The net production of threadfin and gizzard shad, Dorosoma cepedianum (LeSueur) stocked at 200 per acre was 70.0 and 85.5 pounds per acre, respectively. Gizzard shad spawned 2 months before the threadfin and both species grew at the same rate. Threadfin shad stocked together with other species gave varying results.

Stream fluctuations strongly influenced the biotic populations of three Colorado trout streams during a three year water quality study conducted on the streams. Extreme water fluctuations (94% variation in surface area), combined with stream bedload accumulations, reduced a productive trout water to a non-productive series of intermittent pools during the course of the study. One study station produced the highest consistent production of benthos and the largest standing crops of trout in numbers. According to weight, however, the same station produced the fourth largest standing crops of trout. The discrepancy was attributed primarily to adverse feeding conditions for trout; a result of stream flow reductions during summer months. Rapid reductions in stream flow produced an abnormal concentration of benthos at another station, followed by a rapid decline in the benthos population within a two week period.

The first phase of a study to determine the potential of otter trawls as commercial fishing gear in the warmwater reservoir was investigated. The research was conducted on Wheeler Reservoir, Alabama, during September, October and December, 1967. Two 37-foot and two 45-foot otter trawls constructed from three designs were investigated utilizing a systematic sampling schedule in which direction, speed and duration of tow, and length of warp were randomly selected. Two areas of Wheeler Reservoir, an expanse of open water in the main body and two smaller areas in the Elk River arm, were designated as study sites and were sampled at all hours of the day. A total of 232 tows which harvested 5259 pounds of fish were made with the research vessel DAKWA. Of this catch, 237 pounds or 4.5 percent were classified as game fish. The commercial catch was comprised primarily of gizzard and threadfin shad. The 37-foot, semi-balloon trawl was the most efficient during the investigation.

A study was undertaken during the period of 1962-65 to determine the minimum acreage of water which can produce and sustain a balanced largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede), Bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque, and redear sunfish, Lepomis microlophus (Gunther), population. Thirty-three ponds ranging from 0.17 to 0.25 acre and which contained no fish were selected in North Alabama during 1962-63. The ponds were stocked by the State Fish Hatchery during the 1962-63 season. Suggestions that would aid in the management of a pond to obtain the maximum production of fish were offered to each pond owner. Balance checks were conducted on these ponds during the first and second year of fishing. These checks on 30 usable ponds the first year indicated that 16 ponds contained a balanced fish population. Seven ponds contained a crowded bluegill population, and 7 ponds were crowded by competitive species.

Channel and white catfish fingerlings, stocked in ponds with largemouth bass at densities of 2,000 to 3,000 catfish per acre separately or in combination and given daily feeding have continued to provide excellent sport fishing. Four-inch fingerling catfish stocked by February and given supplemental feeding at rates of 2 to 3 percent body weight daily reached harvestable size of 0.7 lb. by October at which time the ponds were opened to fishing. Harvest by fishermen in ponds stocked with 2,000 catfish per acre ranged up to 1,292 pounds catfish per acre during a 12-month period following initial opening. When 7-11 inch channel catfish fingerlings were stock by February at the rate of 3,000 per acre, along with largemouth bass, the catfish reached 0.7 pound average weight by August. During the periods August 1 to October 25 and March 15 to September 7, 1,096 fishermen caught 2,655 pounds catfish per acre.

The Roanoke bass, Ambloplites cavifrons, was described by Cope in 1867 seemingly from a single three-inch specimen recovered from the Roanoke River in Montgomery County, Virginia. Subsequent literature indicates the species remained unrecognized in North Carolna until 1963 when encountered in Fishing Creek during a survey and inventory of the Tar River Basin. Inquiry among local anglers and Wildlife Protectors has revealed this fish apparently is taken by rod-and-reel fishing in small-to-moderate numbers from several diverse streams of both the Tar River Basin and the Neuse River Basin. The Roanoke bass-known locally in North Carolina as "Red-eye Bass", "Red-eye chub", or "Red perch"-is very popular and, seasonally, is much sought by anglers who know where, and how, to fish for it. Sixty-nine wild, adult Roanoke bass have been captured since field work was initiated July 1, 1967-47 in wire traps (catfish baskets), 18 by angling, 3 in fyke nets, and 1 with cresol.

The history of the "nursery' area concept in fisheries management dates back several years and includes varying techniques including fencing of a shallow bay of a reservoir to protect fish on their spawning grounds, utilizing sloughs adjacent to reservoirs for spawning grounds and making use of sloughs, old river lakes and small ponds as nursery areas for young fishes which during high water migrate into the river. One of the most recent modifications which has been put into effect on five of the major reservoirs in Arkansas includes a separate structure nursery pond which is built adjacent to the receiving reservoir and connected only by a manually operated gate and drainage canal system. This type nursery pond has a sizeable watershed to permit annual refilling but one that is not too extensive to cause frequent flushing of fertility from the pond.

This study completes a segment of a project to evaluate the use of anhydrous ammonia as a fisheries management technique in small impoundments. Objectives were to determine the feasibility of using anhydrous ammonia for fish eradication, for pond fertilization, and for vegetation control. Treatments in 15 pounds in Central Texas indicate that anhydrous ammonia fulfills these objectives. Anhydrous ammonia was selected because of known toxicity to fishes and because ammonia is a naturally occurring compound. Thus, the use of anhydrous ammonia as a total or selective population control agent will not leave a persistent nondegradable residue in a pond. Treatment rates varied from 13 to 40 ppm of anhydrous ammonia. Higher treatment rates caused total kills while lower treatment rates appeared selective for certain species. Phytoplankton and zooplankton populations were decimated and recovered slowly.

The commercial fishery on four Oklahoma lakes (Eufaula, Gibson, Grand and Texoma) from which approximately 85 percent of the total state commercial harvest is landed was studied from July 1967 through June 1968. Thirty to forty-eight fishermen fished gill and trammel nets throughout the study period. Legal restrictions limited gear to 3 inch and larger bar mesh. The amount of fishing effort expended by mesh size and lakes was studied. Approximately 70 percent of the total effort was fished with 3 and 3% inch bar-mesh nets. On the lakes studied, approximately 50 percent of the effort was fished on Lake Texoma. Monthly and yearly percent catch composition was determined and the average lengths, weights and condition factors for the fish harvested were computed. The catch was primarily composed of buffalo, flathead catfish, and carp with average weights of individual fish landed being 5.3, 5.0, and 7.5 pounds, respectively.

Bluegill and redbreast populations were sampled by electric shocking techniques from two normal areas and an area affected by the heated discharge of a power generation plant at Lake Sinclair, Georgia. Growth of the fish was derived by the Lea method from measurements of the distance between the last formed annulus to the edge of the scale. By comparison of the study areas, temperature was found not to be the controlling factor of bluegill and redbreast growth in the discharge area.

Each spring and early summer the Corps of Engineers and the associated conservation agencies of the various states work together to program and operate the Corps' reservoir levels so that a minimal alteration of environment will occur during the spawning period of game fish in these reservoirs. The demands of flood control, navigation, hydro-electric power and fisheries resources must be coordinated to produce a condition in which these varied interests are working together to produce the required results to the benefit of all. Communications between all involved agencies during the time of gamefish spawning, and notification of operational procedures is the major contributor to failure or success at this time. Public awareness of the problems involved as well as the action being taken by all agencies decreases the usual rash of complaints against both the conservation agencies and the Corps of Engineers.

A total of 8525 striped bass, Morone saxatilis (Walbaum), were tagged and released in Virginia during 1968 and 1969. Releases were grouped in three periods: (1) 3195 in winter 1968, (2) 2439 during summer-fall 1968; and (3) 2891 in winter 1969. Streamer disc tags, employed in winter 1968, were subsequently replaced by internal anchor tags (Floy Tag No. FD-67). This substitution shortened application time and eliminated a source of bias intrOduced by the entanglement of disc tags in gill nets. Releases were made in the James, York, and Rappahannock rivers in all three periods. Rewards of one dollar have been paid for return of tags. Percentages of returns within tagged year-classes increased with age, indicating change in fishing mortality rates of striped bass during their initial 3 to 4-year residence in the lower Chesapeake Bay system. The older the pre-migrating tagged fish, the more likely its recapture.

Experimental culture of striped bass in Oklahoma State Fish Hatcheries was initiated in 1965. This work has resulted in several procedural guidelines which will enable the successful production of striped bass. The application of these guidelines to production on Oklahoma's antiquated State Fish Hatchery System is discussed. Factors which have influenced the application of desired methods on three State fish hatcheries are: Availability of sufficient water; fertility of ponds; aquatic vegetation; availability of equipment and supplies; quality of hatchery personnel; climate; amount and suitability of harvest equipment. These factors are discussed in relation to the 1969 rearing season.

Hidden Valley Lake is an acid water, shallow trout impoundment located in southwest Virginia at an elevation of approximately 3,600 feet above sea level. Renovation of the dam and outlet structures and fish management procedures are discussed. Subsurface water temperatures and dissolved oxygen values were obtained during the summers of 1965 and 1966. These are discussed in relation to an aeration system installed during the fall of 1965. No definite conclusions concerning beneficial effects on the fishery were arrived at; although dissolved oxygen in bottom waters was higher during the summer in which the aeration system was in operation. The aeration did appear to be effective in removing ice from around the outlet tower. Rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri, brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis brown trout, Salmo trutta were introduced into the lake. Brook trout appeared to achieve a better growth rate than either of the other two species.

A detailed description of the procedure used in taking stream bottom samples follows a description of the stream square foot bottom sampler, which, although pictured in a publication by the author in 1937, was not described in detail in any publication. One of the principal problems in retrieving bottom animals from samples is getting them quickly from the gravel without damaging them. Large stones in the sample area are removed first and placed in a pail half-filled with water. The contents of the net are also emptied carefully into the same pail. Upon reaching the shore, the pail is filled with water. After washing and removal of the large stones which are placed where animals crawling from hiding places on them can be retrieved, a series of decantations are made into a U. S. Series No. 30 soil sieve 8 inches in diameter and 2 inches deep held in water above the screen surface.

Brackish water pond studies were conducted in coastal Southwest Louisiana with blue, lctalurus furcatus, channel, lctalurus punctatus, and white catfish, lctalurus catus, to determine if these freshwater species could be cultured in saline ponds. The channel and white catfish proved to be the most rapid growing and the most hardy, averaging 0.80 and 0.70 pounds. The blue catfish averaged 0.6 pound. The channel catfish had the lowest S-value of 2.3, the white catfish had a S-value of 2.9 and the blue catfish had as-value of 4.0. Survival was highest for channel catfish, 91 per cent, and lowest for the blue catfish, 69.6 per cent. The condition indexes, using standard length, calculated for the white, channel and blue catfish were 2.15, 1.70 and 1.49, respectively. Blue and channel catfish collected from surrounding waters had K values slightly less.

Bottom soil samples were taken after each draining during a five-year period from a series of 12 small earthen ponds ranging in size from 0.70 to 1.39 acres. Except in one pond, drainings occurred one or more times annually. The ponds were used to produce one or more crops of fingerling fish each year. Species cultured were largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish and redeal' sunfish. Chemical analyses for pH, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, carbon and nitrogen were done on each sample. All ponds except one were fertilized and supplemental feeding was done on a limited scale in some of the ponds. The quality of the water supply was a significant influence for modification of the parameters included, with artificial enrichment also appearing to exert an important effect. Generally, the soils became more alkaline and richer in calcium.