Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Following the recommendations of a three-year comparative fishery study of Lakes Ouachita, Hamilton and Catherine near Hot Springs, Arkansas, a rough fish removal project was carried out on 3,OOO-acre Lake Catherine, October 25, 1958. The chemical (Pro-Noxfish) was applied at varying concentrations over approximately three-fourths of the drawn-down area of the lake. The water level was manipulated so that the treated water infiltrated the untreated portions. As a result, a selective shad and drum kill was obtained over the entire area of the lake. Bank counts failed to give an acceptable quantitative estimate of numbers and weights of fish killed. A more satisfactory estimate was obtained by the use of data obtained from previous rotenone population samples. As part of the management plan, the lake will be restocked with large numbers of yearling and fingerling game fishes. Evaluation of the management work will be carried out by continuing Dingell-Johnson Project F-5-R.

The reservoir has a surface acreage of 160,500 and contains two rather dissimilar lakes, Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion. Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) are virtually unknown in Lake Marion, exist in relatively small numbers in Lake Moultrie, and are abundant in the tailrace sanctuary. White catfish (Ictalurus cattts) are present in large numbers in both lakes and the tailrace sanctuary. The channel catfish of Lake Moultrie and the tailrace sanctuary grow larger and faster, live longer and are in better condition than any channel catfish described in the literature. They, also, differ slightly in morphology.

Beginning with a stocking of 600 four- to six-inch rainbow trout in 1948 in the Norfork Dam tailwater located in North Central Arkansas, a fishery soon developed which was entirely new to the area. With the completion of Bull Shoals Dam in 1952, investigations began which soon showed that the native fishery was destroyed for many miles below the high dams. A trout stocking program carried on in conjunction with an investigational project produced such excellent trout fishing that the area became nationally famous within a few years, and a modern trout hatchery was constructed just below Norfork Dam by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the purpose of producing trout for stocking the White River and its tributaries. By 1957 trout were being stocked in 91 miles of tailwater streams which supported 47,792 man days of fishing, generating $684,732.00 worth of business to the fishing service operators alone.

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.