Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Since February of 1954, as an integral part of an investigation of fish populations in the Santee-Cooper Reservoirs, special emphasis has been placed on a study of the striped bass to determine whether a resident or migratory population is present. Evidence collected during the past several months, based on spawning ground location, samples taken of fish movement through the navigation lock, and recent recoveries from a tagging study, emphasize the possibility that a resident population is established. Striped bass spawning, based on the collection of eggs and larvae, was found to occur in the Tailrace Canal and Cooper River, below the reservoirs; in the Diversion Canal, between the reservoirs; and in the Congaree and Wateree Rivers, tributary streams of the reservoirs.

A technique of vegetation conversion for the liberation of nutrients contained in filamentous algae and submerged rooted aquatic plants is presented as a practice which may prove useful in the management of warm-water hatchery ponds and possibly small farm ponds. An experiment in the production of bluegill fingerlings was conducted comparing three methods of fertilization with the vegetation converson technique. The rate of production in the conversion treatment compared favorably with that in two of the three fertilizer treatments and the cost of production was less than half that of the best fertilizer treatment. The density of phytoplankton as measured by the light penetration readings made during the growing season was best in the vegetation conversion treatment. Of the fifteen ponds receiving inorganic fertilizer, four of the ponds were dominated by the branched summer alga Pithophora, and four developed rooted aquatic vegetation.