Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

This study contained 12 treatments consisting of 6 different trap designs; 6 were baited and 6 were not. A total of 2,770 catfish, blue (lctalurusfurcatus) and channel (l. punctatus) combined, weighing 984.9 kg was captured. Slat traps were highly selective for channel catfish. The highest individual catch was 40 kg by trap type E, a trap with 3.2 cm slat spacings on the rear portion of the sides and end. The sides around the front throats were solid. Highest total catch per trap day was in trap type F (2.5 cm spacing, closed sides around throats). Type F yielded 1.7 kg of channel catfish and 0.7 kg blue catfish per trap day. No statistical difference for total weight harvested was found when the 2 trap types B and E were compared to trap types C and F (P > .05). A highly significant difference existed between the catch of these traps for both species ofcatfish combined that were ofa commercial size (P < .0 I).

Abundance of larval sport fishes in the New River, at Glen Lyn, VA, was calculated from catch, volume of water sampled through drift nets, and daily river discharge for the period June through August 1976. The estimates of larval sport fish drift included 2,410,000 channel catfish (lctalurus punctatus), 162,000 flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris), 106,000 rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris), 46,900 smallmouth bss (Micropterus do10mieu), and 125,000 spotted bass (M. punctulatus). The seasonal distribution and occurrence of larvae were comparable to literature reports. Drift sampling may be an effective technique for estimating the absolute abundance of fish at an early developmental stage. These estimates may give fisheries managers the lead time necessary for implementation of effective management strategies in large river systems where it is difficult to sample later life stages quantitatively.

Indices of relative importance and forage ratios are presented for food items of channel (/cta!urus punctatus) and blue catfishes (I. furcatus) collected from two large impoundments in western Kentucky. Data reported include samples collected from September 1977 to April 1978. Young of the year catfishes from both lakes relied heavily on zooplankton and aquatic insects. Other food items which were seasonally important included debris, trichopterans, bryozoans, and fish. Teleosts were the most important food items of intermediate sized (150-300 mm TL) catfishes in both lakes. Hexageniid mayflies were important to Kentucky Lake catfishes, but not to Barkley Lake catfishes; the converse was true of bryozoans. Omnivorous feeding habits characterized large harvestable (> 300 mm TL) catfishes. Food items of harvestable catfishes included fish, insect larvae, debris, and one deermouse (Peromyscus sp.); pelecypods occurred consistently in the diet of Barkley Lake catfishes.

Striped bass (Marone saxatilis) were tagged in Virginia beginning in 1968. The 1970 yearclass of striped bass was tagged both in Virginia and New York in 1972. Fish tagged in Virginia were returned from New York to Maine while fish tagged in New York were returned from the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River. These data indicated that fish migrate from rivers in which they were spawned at different ages and that fish that migrate as 2 year olds remain together as a group until they are 3+ years. Therefore, within the Chesapeake Bay area there are distinct river populations at least until these populations are 3+ years old.

Striped bass (Marone saxatilis) introduced into Lake E. V. Spence, a west Texas reservoir, showed reduced growth rates as shad (Dorosomasp.) declined. To study the relationship between these pehenomena, scales and stomach samples were collected from striped bass caught in gill nets, and the standing crop of shad was estimated from rotenone samples in August, 1972-1978. Declines in both striped bass growth and occurrence of food items in their stomachs coincided with the depletion of 76 and 178 mm shad after 1972. Surviving gizzard shad (D. cepedianum) grew rapidly, but threadfin shad (D. petenense) virtually disappeared as brood fish were decimated. Reducing the annual stocking rate from 24.7 to 12.4 striped bass fingerlingsjha in 1976 may have allowed gizzard shad to establish sufficient reproductive capacity to provide adequate forage.

Endangered native freshwater fishes are catalogued for 16 southeastern states. The status of each of the 356 species is included at the nationaL regionaL or state levels. A standardized list of categories (endangered; threatened; special concern - national; special concern - state; extirpated) and definitions are suggested for use in state programs. Further recommendations are made to base programs on the state level on sound and manageable endangered species checklists.

Experiments comparing growth and survival of striped bass (Morvne saxatilis) and striped bass4? X white perch (M. americana) chybrids indicated the hybrids were hardier than striped bass under the same experimental conditions. Striped bass exhibited health problems and resulting mortality which were not evident in the hybrids. Overall survival of striped bass in 2 replicate experiments was 42.5% after II months. whereas that of the hybrids was 84.2%. Striped bass and hybrid growth patterns were similar, but striped bass grew somewhat more rapidly than the latter. Mean specific (instantaneous) growth rates were roughly similar throughout the study. with the major differences occurring during the first 4 months. At 17 months of age the mean hybrid fork length was 227.50101 (range. 167 to 282 0101).

A 1975-76 resident fishing license holder survey was conducted to obtain data on the characteristics of Georgia anglers. Sixty-four percent of all anglers were men. The average number offishing trips per person per year was 17. More anglers fished in ponds at least once (51 %) than in any other type of water. Mountain streams supported the heaviest fishing pressure (182 trips! hal. Nearly half of all anglers (45%) supported an increase in license fees if the funds were used solely for fisheries management purposes.

A readership preference survey was conducted among subscribers to Virginia Wildlife. The survey was designed to determine the relative preference of subscribers for major types of articles and more specific articles within major types. Based on median responses, hunting articles were most preferred by subscribers, followed by fishing, wildlife management, natural history, outdoor equipment, wilderness adventure, environmental issues, history-nostalgia, wildlife arts and crafts, and boating articles. A Kruskal-Wallis I-way analysis of variance on ranks procedure was employed to determine if there were significant differences among responses to specific-article questions within each of 8 article classifications and within a question containing rankings of preference of major topics. A significant (P< 0.05) Kruskal-Wallis test was followed by a multiple comparisons test to determine the responses to specific-article questions which were significantly different.

Two identical hunting satisfaction questionnaires were published in Virginia Wildlife (VW) and Colorado Outdoors (CO), both state wildlife agency conservation magazines. State resident hunter-subscribers responded to each of II dimensions of hunting satisfaction (identified by Potter et al. 1973) on a 5-point Likert-type category rating scale. The means of responses of VW and CO hunter-subscribers on each dimension of hunting satisfaction were compared statistically using 2-tailed t-tests. The means of responses of the 2 hunter-subscriber samples differed significantly (P <0.05) on the dimensions of nature, escapism, shooting, harvest, equipment, outgroup verbal contact, and outgroup visual contact.

This study examined attitudes of southern industrial foresters toward the public, media and information and education (I&E) programs. Questionnaires consisting of demographic data, I&E attitude statements and ranking of I&E tasks were mailed to 896 industrial foresters in 6 southern states. Respondents were found to hold discernible attitudes on the need for I&E programs, implementation of such programs and their public image. Field foresters tended to be more favorable toward I&E implementation than staff/ administrative foresters. Both groups perceived a need for I&E as a result of public ignorance about forestry. Foresters felt their public image was incorrect but disagreed as to whether the image itself was good or bad. Those with I&E training appeared to be more media conscious, sympathetic to the public and knowledgeable of I&E than non-I&E trained foresters.

As part of a mail survey of Mississippi deer hunters, specific questions were addressed to participants concerning their exposure to various I & E media of the Mississippi Game and Fish Commission and their attitudes toward hunting antlerless deer. Fifty-five percent of the respondents had read the agency magazine, 83.1% had viewed the agency TV series, 78.1% had heard or seen radio or TV spots, 11.7% had attended a public hearing and 51.3% had read agency newspaper releases. Associations between exposure to the magazine, TV series and public hearings and attitude toward hunting antlerless deer were significant (p<0.06). Exposure to the magazine and pUblic hearings had positive associations with attitudes, but as exposure to the TV series increased, the proportion of those favoring antierless hunting decreased.

A cooperative program involving sportsmen and Mississippi Game and Fish personnel was developed to monitor herd health of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) on private lands in Mississippi. Organized hunting clubs and private landowners collected biological data which were analyzed by wildlife biologists. Based on this information, antlerless harvest strategies were developed to accomplish specified management objectives. The system was tested in Kemper and Noxubee Counties, Mississippi, during the 1977-78 season and was evaluated by participants and agency personnel. The program not only provides a means of gathering extensive biological data but also affords opportunities to educate sportsmen through direct observation and by working with professional biologists.

While teaching a course entitled Vertebrate Pest Control, I scanned local newspapers for articles relevant to the course. A wide range of news items dealing with animals in nuisance and pest situations was found as were articles, photographs, and cartoons which were useful in demonstrating principles of vertebrate pest control and in providing discussions of means to deal with animals in pest situations.

In 1977, a 5 page questionnaire was developed and sent to hatchery managers in I I southeastern states to characterize the status of current hatchery education programs. The survey indicated that approximately 1.4 million people visited the 55 hatcheries providing a unique opportunity to communicate directly with a large segment of the general public. A majority of the managers (98%) recognized the importance of public education and most (7 I%) felt that their current programs were in need of improvement. The programs relied heavily on self-guided tours, guided tours, an array of audiovisual aids, and publications. Although most managers (72%) felt they could justify increased budgetary allotments for educational program improvement, they did not expect increased funding.

Marketing of resource management programs to the general public often poses problems to information officers. Too often the public is uncaring and apathetic about resource programs unless the programs involve controversial problems. To better educate the public about resource management and to spur int,erest and participation in such programs, the information staff at Land Between The Lakes has developed a series of guidelines by which activities hav,e been marketed. Staff has been successful in marketing resource programs and in generating interest to attract satisfactory attendance.

Collective bargaining rights were granted by law to public employees of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by the General Assembly, Act No. 195, effective October 17, 1970. The Act established rights to public employees to organize and bargain collectively through selected representatives; defining public employees to include employees of non'profit organizations and institutions; providing compulsory mediation and factfinding, for collective bargaining impasses; defining the scope of collective bargaining; establishing unfair employee and employer practices; prohibiting strikes for certain public employees, permitting strikes under limited conditions; providing penalties for violations; and establishing procedures for implementing.

America's heritage is borne not only on the genius of its people, but on its creatures of the forest and streams. All too often these wildlife species will disappear unnoticed and we are then the losers. "A New Horizon" reminds us that now, and not tomorrow, is the time to take notice of the needs of wildlife.

The present federal wildlife import/export control program consists of designated ports of entry for imports, import declarations, package marking requirements, inspection and clearance of imported animals, parts, products, documentation, and records. Future control over imports and exports will be strengthened if new regulations designating ports for export, a licensing provision for wildlife importers and exporters, and a new export declaration requirement is instituted. Adequate enforcement of wildlife importing and exporting is dependent on state, federal, and international cooperation.

A 2-phase procedure for scaling the importance of enforcement objectives and developing seriousness scores for violations of wildlife and natural resource laws is presented. During the first phase, 6 first-order wildlife law enforcement objectives were developed by the authors anil submitted to enforcement personnel of the Virginia Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries for pair,ed comparisons scaling. An interval scale of importance was established for the 6 objectives. Responses from a sample of 10 individuals indicated that enforcement personnel were consistent when making paired comparison judgments. A significant (P

Virginia adopted regulations governing falconry October 1, 1976. The procedure for obtaining a joint Federal/State falconry permit for Virginia is outlined. To date 23 falconers hold permits in the State.

As wildlife law enforcement practitioners, situations are frequently encountered in which identification of blood and tissue is required or otherwise desirable. A simplified technique has been developed for determining the species composing a blood or tissue sample through the use of immunological techniques. Using proper procedures and a minimum of equipment, positive identification of blood and tissue can be obtained within at 24 hour period. Testing procedures are straightforward and uncompleted. However, a thorough understanding of the basic principles of blood and tissue examination is necessary especially for courtroom application.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission responded to a need by instigating a program of hunter participation in the enforcement of game laws. The program named S P 0 R T (stands for "Sportsmen Policing Our Ranks Together"), has encouraged clubs and individuals to report game law infractions. Some game protectors report that as much as 30% of their reported violations have resulted from their promotion of SPORT.