Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

The natural production of sulfides is responsible for poor channel catfish production in many acid lakes in Northeast Texas. The TLm of un-ionized hydrogen sulfide for channel catfish fry ranged from 0.8 ppm at pH of 6.8 to 0.53 at pH 7.8. At pH 7.0 the TLm of this gas is 1.0 ppm for fingerling catfish, 1.3 for advanced fingerlings and 1.4 for adult channel catfish. Small fish were also killed quicker when exposed to these concentrations. Maximum concentrations of hydrogen sulfide are produced in the spring. Channel catfish populations can be maintained by continued stocking of adult fish or by raising the pH with agricultural limestone, which in turn lowers the toxic un-ionized hydrogen sulfide.

A 230-volt, 180-cycle alternating current; a 115-volt, 60-cycle alternating current and a 115-volt direct current were used to attempt to kill intermediate-size bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus, Rafinesque, without harming largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede). Bluegill and largemouth bass were placed in screen pens in concrete ponds and exposed to different voltages, electrode types and exposure periods. No largemouth bass were killed during exposure periods which killed 75 percent of the bluegill. The 230 volts killed more bluegill than 115 volts A.C. or 115 volts D.C. However, 230 volts A.C. did not kill sufficient percentages of bluegill with short (8-10 second) exposures.

Bioassays were conducted on two herbicides, potassium azide and sodium azide, using the red crawfish, Procambarus clarki, and bluegill sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus, as test animals. These chemicals proved to be more toxic to crawfish than to fish. Comparisons are made of laboratory toxicity values and field tests conducted in rice fields. Recommended techniques for crawfish bioassays are described.

Eleven rotenone studies were evaluated with SCUBA gear between 1961-1964 to determine the numbers and weights of fish that do not float to the surface and are not recovered. It was determined that 74% of the number and 95% of the weight of all fishes present in the sample area were recovered on the surface within a 52-hour period. Fingerling fishes represented 91% of the unrecovered population by numbers; intermediates, 6%; and harvestable-size fish, 3%. The species of fish which were lost in the greatest numbers were threadfin shad, brook silverside, gizzard shad, black bass and white crappie, respectively. The highest percentage of recovery occurred during the month of September with the low recorded in August. Species composition and size distribution affected the recovery of fish more than other factors.

A method of locking fishes through a model representing a small impoundment structure was tested and found successful. Ten species of fishes were passed both upstream and downstream through two gates which were operated alternately and in such a manner as to provide attracting flows during the entire cycle.

Stomach contents were examined from 579 longear sunfish, 381 green sunfish, 173 bluegill, 206 largemouth bass, 264 smallmouth bass, and 328 spotted bass collected from the shoreline area of Bull Shoals Reservoir, April 1964 - March 1965. The food of the six species by seasons and size groups (0-1.9, 2.0-3.9, 4.0-7.9 and 8.0 plus inches) is presented. Fish contributed 85 to 99% of the total volume of food of the black basses four inches or more in length. Threadfin and gizzard shad were the most common prey species (50% or more of the volume). Consumption of longear, green, and bluegill sunfish by the basses was also significant (19% of volume). Longear sunfish over four inches in length relied heavily on terrestrial insects (37%), green sunfish on crayfish (63%), and bluegill on terrestrial insects (23%) and filamentous algae (23%). Utilization of fish by the larger sunfishes was minor, except for heavy consumption of dead or dying threadfin shad during a winter mortality.

Photographic prints were made of scales taken from largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides Lacepede) and bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque) of known ages by the use of a micro-projection machine. The image of each scale was projected directly upon photographic paper to produce, upon development, a permanent negative print. In an examination of the prints of 272 largemouth bass scales, 80.1 percent were aged correctly when the ages were unknown to the technician. When the scales first aged incorrectly were re-examined after the technician knew the actual ages, an additional 3.7 percent was found to have the correct number of annuli although many were indistinct. A total of 16.2 percent of the bass scales did not possess annuli corresponding to the known ages. In an examination of 264 prints of the scales of bluegill, 76.1 percent were aged correctly when the ages were unknown.

Improvements were made in existing techniques for capturing and handling deer with the oval tranquilizing agent Tranimul. One hundred twelve wild deer were captured. Of these, 99 were transported away from the capture sites. Sika deer (Cervus nippon) and fallow deer (Dama dama) reacted to treatment very much like the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Site selection, pre-baiting, treatment rates and application of drug to bait are discussed. Recommendations are made relative to bait trays, capture nets and tying straps. Capturing, tying, carrying and hauling of tranquilized deer are discussed, las are post release treatment and mortality factors. Suggestions for further research are made.

After two years of minor experimental use, the cannon net trap was made operational for routine turkey trepping in Florida. In 1963, 1964 and 1965, 1934 turkeys were captured with the equipment and procedures described in this paper. A list of major equipment, its current cost, and sources of supply are included.

This paper reports on a review of 24 selected publications dealing with the habitat requirements of the bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus). Its purpose is to bring the results of these investigations into sharper focus in an effort to determine the minimum number of vegetative types, and the minimum amount of each, that are needed to support a single covey the year round. It also seeks to stimulate further inquiry into the validity of the hypothesis presented. The literature reviewed indicates that quail ordinarily require at least three vegetative types-crop fields, brushy cover, and grassland. A further requirement of quail range is that these vegetative types be well interspersed so some of each is available to each covey. The winter food requirements of a covey of 12 birds can probably be met by three-fourths of an acre of annual food plants or one-seventh of an acre of bicolor (Lespedeza bicolor).

One outgrowth of American history is the large demand and matching supply of firearms on the American scene. Projected demands for the future indicate that the firearms industry will continue to be an important sector of our economy. In addition, firearms play 'a significant sociological role in modern society. These socio-economic aspects of firearms in America bear heavily on the field of conservation and natural resources management. Much proposed firearms legislation stands to have an adverse effect on the conservation movement, and for this reason warrants careful consideration by professional workers interested in the future of our natural resources.