Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

The Wegener Ring was designed to sample fish populations of shallow, vegetated habitats in Lake Tohopekaliga, Florida. The sampler is portable and simple to use. Ten transects in water 0-18 inches deep were sampled within consecutive 3 inch contours. As depth of water increased, non-centrarchid forage fish decreased while numbers of centrarchids increased. Total numbers of fish decreased from an average of 216,042 per acre in 0-3 inches to 20,326 per acre in 15-18 inches of water. Standing crop was relatively constant, averaging 91 pounds per acre for all water depths. The monetary values per acre based on the fishery ranged from $6,511 in 0-3 inches to $2,524 in 15-18 inches of water. The average value per acre for water 0-18 inches deep was $3,788.

Jobos and Guayanilla Bays are semi-enclosed bays on the south coast of Puerto Rico. J obos Bay receives some small amounts of raw sewage from two small villages and some wastes from a sugar central. Guayanilla Bay receives some sewage from a town on one shore, hydrocarbon, heavy metals, and carbohydrate addition from a petrochemical complex, and heat from an electrical power generating plant. Species diversity as indicated by the Shannon- Weaver index is higher in Jobos but the lowest values found in either bay are higher than these reported for normal temperate aquatic systems. Numbers of fish species are high (198 for Jobos and 93 for Guayanilla). The greatest similarity between the two bays is between Jobos Inner Bay which is turbid and receives some raw sewage and Guayanilla Thermal Cove which receives heated effluents up to 40°C (s=.526).

A study of the physicochemical and biological conditions of the Brazos River in Hood and Somervell Counties, Texas to determine the effects of a gravel dredging operation on river fauna was made in 1971-73. Physical damages resulting from dredging caused a change in the river course, depth, and substrate. Turbidity and settleable solids were increased. Alkalinity varied significantly (0.05 level) at the dredting site when gravel was taken from the river and processed. Dredging was responsible for major changes in benthic macroinvertebrate populations and fish populations in the immediate area of activity as well as in areas further downstream.

Hydrological and biological parameters are presented for Sabine Lake, Louisiana, before and after the completion of Toledo Bend Reservoir. Salinity and temperature regiments, species composition, and abundance are presented for June 1967 through May 1969. Selected species are compared to decreasing and increasing reservoir discharges. Occurrence and abundance of marine animals are related to altered salinity levels demonstrating possible effects on the total marine animal community. Commercial Penaeid shrimp landings from Sabine Lake for 1962 through 1971 are presented and discussed

A heavy infestation of a new species of Acanthocephala is recorded in red crawfish, Procamharus clarki, harvested from two Louisiana ponds. Occurrence of 44 to 46 percent in harvested crawfish was noticeable enough to warrant public rejection of the affected crawfish as food. Management recommendations are given to reduce occurrence of the parasite.

A study to determine changes in pond bottom soil composition has been in progress on the Marion, Alabama National Fish Fatchery for more than ten years. This report gives the findings of analyses for calcium, phosphorus, potassium, pH, nitrogen and organic carbon. Samples were taken periodically from the same locations with the last ones taken ten years after the initial flooding. During the period, pH changed from acid to neutral levels generally. Phosphorus increased in some ponds and decreased in others. One pond which unfertilized supported a luxuriant growth of Najas sp. and Chara sp. even though no available phosphorus was measured in the soil sample. Organic nitrogen and carbon increased appreciably with nitrogen increasing at a greater rate. The carboni nitrogen (C/N) ratio became narrower in 11 of 12 ponds.

An indoor recirculating system was designed to evaluate the effects of a high flow rate and a high filter to tank ratio on the carrying capacity of a closed system for channel catfish culture. Updraft and trickling filters with various filter media were evaluated. A net gain of 319 pounds, with a standing crop of 405 pounds at a density of 7.2 pounds per cubic foot, was obtained over a 142 day growing period.

Fish farming in Arkansas continues to be a major industry with 1972 returns exceeding $21 million. This indicates an overall increase in value of23.5 percent since 1969. Acreage of intensively-farmed waters increased 15.7 percent since 1969. Data collected during this survey indicates that a peak in the industry was reached between 1969 and 1972 and that during the past year acreages devoted to fish production declined slightly. Personal interviews of fish farmers provided the most useful data in determining the total production. Acreage, production and dollar values are presented in categories of food fish, bait fish, fingerlings, and fee fishing. Specialized fish-rearing facilities and the production of uncommon types of fishes are discussed.

New information concerning spawning and reproduction of the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas Rafinesque) from observations in Colorado, and a review of important findings of previous works is presented in this paper. Potential for egg production by mature. Age I females is between 1,000 and 10,000 eggs per breeding season. On the basis of this information and the known polygynous mating behavior, we estimate that 19,200 adult fathead minnows in a ratio of five females per male should be stocked per surface acre to yield a theoretical maximum production of 1.5 million fingerlings per surface acre under intensive-culture conditions. Spawning usually starts in May with exact timing of initial spawning apparently controlled by day length but influenced by many factors. In one fathead minnow population in Colorado water temperature at the time of the first observed spawns was 1.6 C lower than had been reported by previous investigators.

Variations in annual increments of growth of white crappie. Pomoxis annularis Rafinesque, and channel catlish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), are examined in relation to mean annual water level of Lake Carl Blackwell, 1962-1967, when lake level was declining. The occurrence of lee's phenomenon precluded a correlative comparison of white crappie growth with water level, but decrease in growth at age I and the increase at older ages is attributed to the decline in water level. The crappie body-scale relationship changed from curvilinear to linear as growth improved during the drawdown period. Correlations of channel catfish growth with lake level were significant for age 1 (r= -0.84, P 0.05), age 2 (1'= -0.92, P 0.0 I) and age 6 (1'= -0.81, P 0.05). We hypothesized that the declining water level increaded the growth of channel catfish through reduced intraspecific and interspecific competion.

The increasing antihunting controversy and a lack of understanding of nature may some day curtail effective management programs, even in "nonurbanized" states. Law Enforcement Officers should play an ever-increasing educators role as citizens show increased interest in wildlife. My purpose is to present ideas, statements and action programs concerning antihunting which the Officer can use in his day-to-day tasks. Specific attention will be given to ideas for use by an individual Officer when meeting with either groups or individuals; both hunters and nonhunters.

A 675-acre Arkansas Ozark enclosure had a carrying capacity of about one deer per 50 to 70 acres. When available, mast provided most of the deer's winter diet, but when mast yields were low winter food supplies became critical. The lungs of all deer examined were heavily infested by protostrongylid larvae. The poor quality of winter range plus the high level of parasitism appeared to be regulating deer numbers.