Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Croaker, Micropogon undulatus, were stocked in 6 ponds in 1966 and again in 6 ponds in 1968 to determine general desirability for pond culture in brackish water. Growth and survival was low both years. In the fall, when ponds were drained, fish were about one year old; both males and females were ripe. Stomach analyses revealed that croaker preferred grass shrimp, Palaemonetes sp. (78.4 per cent occurrence) to fish (13.3 per cent occurrence). The condition index, using total length, was 1.36, while the length-weight relationship was log W =-5.2498 + (3.1652) (log L).

The river redhorse, Moxostoma carinatum (Cope), is a Catostomid fish of east-central North America. In rivers where it is common, the river redhorse frequently affords a sport fishery, especially during its spawning period. During the period July, 1966, to July, 1968, 339 river redhorse were collected from the Cahaba River, Alabama. Scales from 183 of these specimens were aged and back calculated. An additional 52 pondreared specimens were utilized for scalation and length-weight studies. Length-weight equations were computed. Female river redhorse were significantly heavier than males throughout the data ranges studied. Male river redhorse from the Cahaba River were greater in length at age groups I, II, III, and IV than were females. Specimens from the Duck River, Tennessee, grew more slowly than those from the Cahaba River although larger sizes were reached in Duck River.

A comparison study was made to determine the effects of temperature upon the percent hatch of striped bass eggs and upon fry survival. No significant difference for percent hatch was found at incubation temperatures between 60°F. and 75°F. at 5° increments. Temperature shock between 65°F. and higher temperatures appears to have a more deleterious effect on freshly fertilized eggs than eggs incubated for 16 or 44 hours at 65°F. before transfer to the same higher test temperatures. Fry produced at 65°F. and transferred to the various test temperatures two days after hatching showed an apparent difference in survival as temperatures exceeded 65°F. A significant difference in fry survival was observed only for those eggs hatched at the various test temperatures and then exposed to 80°F. temperature.

Monthly insecticide tests on waters from two Yazoo-Mississippi Delta Oxbow Lakes show DDT levels to be highest in winter and spring months. Comparison of insecticide levels in Wolf Lake and Mossy Lake waters, muds, and fish flesh show consistantly higher levels in Wolf Lake. Thirty-six hour bluegill bioassays in endrin show TLm value of Wolf Lake fish twenty fold greater than Mossy Lake fish. Two hundred thousand largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) fingerlings placed in Wolf Lake May 16-25, 1968 showed no survival upon repeated checks with :14" mesh seine, electrical fish shocker, and two one-acre population studies. Monthly comparisons of pH, D.O., Free CO2 , total hardness, methyl orange alkalinity, nitrate nitrogen, ortho-phosphate, plankton counts, and benthic samples failed to account for the decline in carnivorous fish species in Wolf Lake and the inability to re-establish a largemouth bass population.

The results of a 1965-66 study of the physico-chemical factors, benthic macroinvertebrates, plankton, and fishes of three cold tailwaters (Bull Shoals, Norfork and Beaver) were published in the Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Southeastern Association of Game and Fish Commissioners by Brown, Liston, and Dennie (1967). The data presented here are an extension of this work and compare the macroinvertebrates of two natural streams (Buffalo and Kings rivers), two old tailwaters (Bull Shoals and Norfork), and a new tailwater (Beaver, impounded in 1963). The dominant groups of benthic macroinvertebrates in the older tailwaters, Bull Shoals and Norfolk, were Isopoda, Chironomidae, Amphipoda, and Oligochaeta. The 1967-68 data show that the Beaver Tailwater just below the dam had fewer organisms per square foot than comparable stations below the older Bull Shoals and Norfork tailwaters and the same stations on the Beaver tailwater during the 1965-66 study.

This paper reports upon brackish water impoundment studies conducted in the coastal marshes of Southwest Louisiana with a valued Louisiana delicacy, the red swamp crawfish, Procambarus clarki. Survival, growth and reproduction were recorded in an attempt to better evaluate the potential of Louisiana's brackish coastal areas for crawfish culture. The initial field experiments were begun in 1967, with the stocking and management of an experimental 5.6 acre pond at the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge using the commonly accepted management techniques. Crawfish samples were taken and recorded from the study area throughout the season. Records were maintained of water pH, temperature and salinity. Soil and water analyses were made prior to draining in 1969. Vegetation types were identified and recorded before inundation and approximately two weeks after draining in an effort to determine the types of food and cover available.

This study, using smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieui LacepMe, was a field test of a new method of permanently mass-marking fishes. This method consists of producing fish by means of rapid or prolonged growth whose scales have a significantly larger focus to first annulus distance than fish native to a stream chosen for stocking. In October, 1965, 322 young-of-the-year bass, that had been raised either in laboratory aquaria or a hatchery pond, were stocked in three headwater streams of Northwest Arkansas. Recapture attempts in June, 1966, yielded seven scale-marked bass from two of the three streams stocked, indicating the feasibility of this marking technique for certain types of field use.

Tilapia aurea, blue tilapia (Smith-Vaniz, 1968) were brought to Florida in 1961. Verification of this species in Lake Parker occurred five years later. Since this time, they have reached a concentration which provides a unique fishery. Parker, a 2,291 acre lake located in Lakeland, Florida, was creeled for a year to determine fisherman utilization of blue tilapia. Harvest by baited hook was significant only three months of the period. This species comprised over 40 per cent of the total harvest six months of the year, after legalization of cast netting and snatch hooking. Success by these methods was correlated with two, seasonal factors; spring spawning activity and warm water outflow from an electrical power plant in winter months. This does not indicate that 'Pilapia aurea is an additional sport fishery, but rather a food fish that can be significantly harvested only by special methods.

Laboratory tests were conducted to determine the effect of salinity on growth and survival of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. Three-day old or older eggs tolerated up to 16 ppt total salinity. However, at the time of hatching there was a sharp drop in tolerance to about 8 ppt. This level of tolerance was maintained during the period of yolk absorption. Following yolk absorption there was an increase in tolerance to about 9 or 10 ppt. By five months of age tolerance had increased to 11 ppt and to 12 ppt by six months. The level of tolerance was about the same at 11-14 months. Nine days acclimation to 5 ppt increased growth and food conversion slightly but did not increase survival. Forty days of acclimation to 5 ppt increased tolerance about 0.5 ppt. Fish failed to maintain themselves at salinities greater than 12 ppt, even with extended acclimation to 10 ppt salinity.

During the period July 1, 1964 to June 31, 1968, a total of 300 cases was received for diagnosis at the Southeastern Cooperative Fish Disease Laboratory at Auburn University. Ninety of the cases (30%) were determined to be caused by parasites, 104 cases (34.7%) were determined to be caused by bacteria or viruses. The remainder of the cases were routine prestocking checks, kills due to factors other than disease producing organisms, or undetermined cases due to unsuitable specimens for diagnosis or lack of data. A detailed breakdown of the cases is given including seasonal occurrence, prevalent organisms associated with epizootics, and environmental factors associated with epizootics when known.

Contamination of the Peace River with 1,500 acre feet of phosphate mine waste (montmorillonite clay) resulted in heavy mortality of stream fauna. The estimated kill of fishes exceeded 90% of the fish population in 76 miles of stream. Losses of macroinvertebrates were heavy or complete for all taxonomic groups, except oligochaetes and tendipedid larvae. Excessive clay turbidity was determined as the cause of kill. Lethal concentrations of suspended particles was short term and within 9 days stream water quality returned to normal. Recovery of stream fauna was monitored for a 15 month period. Data is presented concerning recovery rates for fish species, invertebrates, and degradation effects on stream habitat. A monetary settlement was obtained from the responsible party in the amount of $200,000.00.

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.