Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

We reevaluated the effects of hunting deer (Odocoileus virginianus) with dogs in 10 east Texas counties 5 years after the initial investigation in 1984. We mailed standardized questionnaires to rural boxholders, licensed hunters, and forest industry landowners. The numbers of landowners and hunters opposed to deer hunting using dogs increased (P < 0.05) from 1984 to 1989. However, there was no (P > 0.05) shift in hunter classification between years. The area available for hunting deer with dogs by landowner permission declined 69% and only 5% of the available deer range in the 10 dog-hunted counties was open for hunting deer with dogs. Hunter success and deer harvest rate decreased as percentage of county deer range open to dog hunting increased. As a result of these investigations, hunting deer using dogs in Texas was prohibited beginning with the 1990-91 hunting season.

Thirty-nine artificial den structures for raccoons (Procyon Lotor) were examined to determine structure condition and occupancy on 3 areas in central Kentucky. Thirty-four of the structures were 6 years old and 11 (32%) of these were considered habitable for raccoons. Five of the structures were 3 years old and all were considered habitable by raccoons. All 16 of the habitable structures exhibited some type of animal activity. Data suggest that weathered artificial den structures are used extensively by a variety of wildlife. Methods of increasing den structure longevity are discussed

Philosophies of fisheries management have evolved through time and have affected, and been affected by, traditional uses of various (different) fisheries. Because of historic differences in management and utilization of freshwater and saltwater fisheries, we expected to find differences among freshwater and saltwater anglers in their support for (attitudes toward) management regulations. Using results from a statewide questionnaire of anglers in Texas, basic social and demographic characteristics and attitudes toward management tools were compared for 3 groups of anglers: those who fish in fresh water only; those who fish in salt water only; and those who fish in both fresh and salt water. Significant group differences occurred for age, income, boat ownership, tournament participation, and years of previous experience. Angler attitudes toward management tools showed significant differences for 5 of the 7 regulatory measures that were compared.

The objective of this study was to determine if largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) electrofishing catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) varied within the traditional spring sampling season. Shoreline electrofishing for largemouth bass was conducted on Chowan River and Sutton Lake in 1990 and on Tuckertown Reservoir in 1989 and 1990. There were at least 6 sample stations per body of water. Each of the 3 study locations was sampled 3 times from March through June. The number of bass >200 mm captured and effort were recorded by sample station and date. Effort was measured in electroshock time at Chowan and Sutton and shoreline distance at Tuckertown. Friedman's nonparametric test was used to test for differences in CPUE among the 3 repeated samples (sample replicates) within each spring for each location. A significant difference was found only at Tuckertown in 1989.

Effects of changing harvest regulations on largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides from a 254-mm minimum length limit and 10-fish daily bag limit to a slot length limit of 356-457 mm and later to a 5-fish daily bag limit were monitored on Calaveras and Monticello reservoirs, Texas. Electrofishing was used to monitor changes in size structure at both reservoirs and density as catch per unit of effort (CPUE) at Monticello Reservoir only. A creel survey was used to monitor angler harvest at Calaveras Reservoir. In both reservoirs, RSD 203-355 decreased while RSD 356-457 and RSD 457 increased. In Monticello Reservoir, electrofishing CPUE of largemouth bass 203-355 mm declined, while CPUE of largemouth bass 356-457 mm and ≥457 mm increased. However, the total CPUE of all stock-size largemouth bass remained similar to pre-slot length limit levels. Calaveras anglers responded to length limit changes by harvesting largemouth bass below the slot length limit.

Lake destratification was conducted from 1987 to 1989 at Beech Fork Lake, a 720-acre lake in West Virginia, to improve the fishery habitat. Improvements in the habitat was associated with increases in standing crop, harvest, catch, and recreational use. The economic benefits of the improvements were evaluated and compared to the cost of the destratification program. On an annual basis, the fishery benefits ranged from $5,676 for the harvest valuation method, to $30,000 for the catch valuation method, $100,282 for the fishermen use valuation method, and $726,660 for the standing crop valuation method. The benefit crop ratio ranged from 1 to 127 times the annual cost depending on the evaluation technique.

Completed-trip information was analyzed from 6 access-type creel census surveys in Georgia to evaluate the impact of statewide creel limits on restricting sport fish harvest. Interview data from 3 river surveys (1988) and 3 reservoir surveys (1 in 1985 and 2 in 1988) were analyzed to determine what percent of anglers caught the daily limit for largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), crappie (Pomoxis spp.), and sunfish, and to determine what percent of anglers would be affected by various daily creel limits for these species and for catfish (lctalurus spp.), which currently have no creel limit. Results indicatedthat current Georgia daily creel limits do not significantly reduce sport fish harvest, as harvests of < 1% of anglers approached the creel limits for the 3 groups of fish studied. Access-type creel surveys can be of great value in monitoringor predicting the impact of altered creel limits of anglers as well as on fish populations.

Current Texas law allows the culture of exotic and native penaeid shrimp in private waters under provisions of a Texas shellfish culture license. Because of superior growth and survival characteristics exhibited under pond culture conditions, the Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) has emerged as the primary penaeid shrimp commercially cultured in Texas. Recently, shrimp believed to be Pacific white shrimp were collected by commercial shrimpers in the Brownsville, Texas, ship channel. These specimens were morphologically and biochemically compared to native northern white shrimp (P. setiferus) and to Pacific white shrimp from 2 sources: the Parita Gulf, near Panama City, Panama, and commercial rearing ponds, Palacios, Texas. Comparison of morphometric and meristic characteristics and soluble protein profiles isolated by isoelectric focusing confirmed the identification ofthese shrimp as Pacific white shrimp.

A renovation project on Lake Chicot, a 1,417-ha Arkansas oxbow lake, was undertaken to improve water quality and fisheries productivity negatively impacted by surrounding agricultural land and ensuing drainage. A 1920s levee and drainage project that added 90,653-ha of catchment area to the inflow of Lake Chicot also increased agricultural acreage from 10% to 80% of the lake's watershed. This resulted in a substantial increase in turbidity in the lake (from 40 to 400 NTU), negatively affecting the sportfish populations, especially the largemouth bass. In the late 1980s, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission initially aided lake water quality by drawing down the lake and seeding the exposed lake bottom. A fish population adjustment using rotenone was also conducted by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to bring back a desirable lake fishery. In excess of 70,500 kg of fish, mostly shad, stunted catfish, carp and buffalo, were removed from the lake.

Sarcoplasmic proteins were isolated from skeletal muscle of 14 species of Gulf of Mexico sciaenids encompassing 11 genera utilizing isoelectric focusing (lEF). Individuals from the 11 genera were distinguishable. However, intrageneric comparisons (Cynoscion and Menticirrhus) were constrained by similar protein banding among congenerics and required a high resolution pH gradient (pH 4-5) to produce species-specific patterns. A graphical representation of differences in banding patterns among the 14 species was provided by densitometric tracings. Isoelectric focusing provided qualitative evidence of the biochemical relationships among and within the 11 genera surveyed. Although only 2 multi-species genera were surveyed, this study appears to confirm their status as congenerics. Protein profiles generated by IEF appear superior to conventional electrophoretic techniques for the identification of certain sciaenid species.

Angler survey data indicated that voluntary release rates for largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) ranged from 8% to 85% for 11 Florida lakes surveyed during 1989 with a mean of 40%. Nine lakes surveyed during the past decade showed an increase in voluntary release, indicating the practice may be becoming more popular. Lake Tarpon anglers released 85% of their bass catch, and 97% of those anglers stated conservation was the reason for not keeping fish. No harvest of bass <30 em was documented at Lake Tarpon, which supports the notion that in Florida most anglers release smaller bass. However, the level of release of quality-size bass at Lake Tarpon was unprecedented. A major factor in this unusual occurrence was the lake's highly urbanized location.

A landlocked population of blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis) was established in 1982 in Lake Theo, Texas, and persisted for 7 years. Analysis of scales provided inaccurate ages for fish older than age 1. Analysis of otoliths provided valid ages of blueback herring, but protracted formation of annuli on otoliths limited the use of otoliths for back-calculating lengths of these fish. Fish in this landlocked population attained maximum total lengths of 240 mm, lived 2 years, and spawned only once. The disappearance of blueback herring in Lake Theo was attributed to their short life cycle and production of weak year classes. Future use of blueback herring as a forage fish may require additional stocking to supplement weak or missing year classes to maintain the population.

Principal fisheries in riverine sections of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway below Aberdeen and Columbus dams are associated with tailwaters and bendways (original Tombigbee River channels cut off by the construction of navigation channels). Navigation channels contributed little to the fisheries. Approximately 80% of the anglers interviewed originated their trip from within the county where the respective dam was located. Blue catfish (lctalurus furcatus) dominated the harvest from the Aberdeen system while white crappie (Pomoxis annularis) dominated the harvest from the Columbus system. In the Aberdeen tailwater, catfish anglers prevailed while in the Columbus tailwater, anglers fished for crappie as welI as catfish. In both systems, most anglers in bendways were fishing for crappie. Within navigation channels, no pattern was apparent regarding fish preference by anglers.

The commercial trotline fishery in the Laguna Madre, Texas, was simulated using fishery-independent sampling data to estimate landings of black drum (Pogonias cromis). Simulation of a commercial fishery can provide landings estimates and more precise estimates of confidence intervals. It can also provide information (i.e., by catch) not available through self-reported systems.

Using results from on-site creel interviews, the use and fishing success of 16 bait types for 8 game fishes were studied for bay and pass saltwater sport-boat anglers in Texas. The success of catching at least 1 fish was evaluated using percentage of successful fishing parties by fish species, bay system, and bait type. For all fish species, the use of different baits was not proportional to the success of these baits in catching fish; however, we could not determine whether this was caused by ineffectiveness of the investigated bait or anglers not directing this bait toward the investigated fish. A logistic regression model fitting the effects of bay system and bait type for each fish species adequately described the odds of success for fishing parties.

Fishery surveys utilizing electrofishing and gill nets have documented natural reproduction of striped bass in 2 Maryland impoundments: Liberty and Piney Run reservoirs. Natural reproduction has occurred for 5 years, 1986 through 1990, in Liberty Reservoir; and for 3 years in Piney Run Reservoir, 1988 through 1990. It was initially thought that reproduction occurred in Liberty Reservoir because the relatively hard bottom and high dissolved oxygen levels allowed hatching of striped bass eggs that descended to the bottom. Recent discovery of natural reproduction in Piney Run Reservoir, a small eutrophic impoundment, supports the theory that striped bass eggs may float or remain suspended in the water column until hatching occurs in these impoundments.

Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) were sampled during summer and winter in the St. Johns River, Florida, to determine effects of summertime thermal stress on fish condition. Regressions of log weight on log length for winter and summer fish had significantly different slopes (P < 0.001) indicating larger fish were less robust than smaller fish in summer as compared to winter. Data were arbitrarily separated into 3 size categories (small = <331 mm TL; medium = 331-500 mm TL; large = >500 mm TL) to investigate thermal related stress by size. No negative seasonal impacts could be detected for the small fish category. Although the seasonal slopes were not significantly different for either the medium or large fish categories, significant differences (P < 0.001) in line elevations indicated that summer fish weighed less for any given length than winter fish.

Twenty-four adult striped bass (66.8-84.6 cm; 4-7 years) from the McAlpine Pool of the Ohio River were fitted with internal radio transmitters and tracked from May 1989 through May 1990. Study fish were found to be very mobile, although seasonal movement patterns were predictable. Tagged striped bass utilized the tailwater and upper pool sections during the spring, summer, and fall. Little use was made of the lower McAlpine Pool sections by striped bass. Fish in the pool were most often located in water between 0 to 6 m (x = 92.1% all seasons). Twenty-four hour surveys determined that striped bass total daily movement ranged from 1.3 to 4.3 km (x = 2.1 km/fish), with movement per hour varying from 0 to .3 km/hour. Fifty-eight percent of the daily movement was during the day following by the crepuscular (23.7%) and night (18.3%) periods. Four striped bass (16.7%) were still active at the end of the study.

In recent years, a small scale bowfin (Amia calva) roe fishery in Louisiana has increased in both volume and value. To initiate an evaluation on the impacts of this fishery on bowfin populations, 3 study areas were selected to represent various ecosystems inhabited by bowfin. It was not possible to relate growth, size, and sexual maturity with age based on otolith samples. Length-frequency data suggested that 9-month-old fish ranged from 225-400 mm and 21-month-old bowfin may grow to 525 mm. Gonadosomatic indices showed a constant increase through February, and all females observed had spawned by early March. Gonadal development and length frequency data support the conclusion that most bowfin in Louisiana mature during their second winter. It appears that at least some bowfin mature before they become vulnerable to legal mesh (76 mm) gill nets.

This study was conducted to estimate the summer and winter hooking mortality of flathead catfish (pylodictis olivaris) caught on trotlines in the Colorado River and Kerrville Reservoir, Texas, and blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) caught on trotlines in Livingston Reservoir, Texas. Water temperatures averaged 12.2 and 13.3 C, respectively, during February and March flathead catfish winter experiments, and 27 C during summer experiments. Water temperatures averaged 12.5 and 24 C, respectively, during winter and summer blue catfish experiments. Flathead catfish (range = 352-675 mm total length (TL)) were caught with sizes 7/0 and 8/0 single hooks baited with live green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus), bluegill (L. macrochirus), and goldfish (Carassius auratus). Blue catfish (range = 165-655 mmTL) were caught with sizes 4/0 to 6/0 single hooks baited with pieces of shad (Dorosoma spp.) and goldfish.

We assessed trotline hooking mortality of channel catfish (lctalurus punctatus) at Lake Palestine, Texas, from June through September 1989. Our objective was to estimate trotline hooking mortality of channel catfish using 3 hook types and identify factors relating to that mortality. Fish collected by trotline were confined for 72 hours in submerged cages. We examined relations between percent mortality and hook type, water temperature, and oxygen concentration using logistic analysis. A total of 214 channel catfish were collected by trotline; 40 (19%) were dead at the end of the 72 hour confinement period. Oxygen concentration was the only variable significantly related to mortality (P = 0.002). Our results indicate channel catfish have >80% chance of survival when caught on trotline and released, even under stressful conditions such as high water temperature, variable oxygen concentration, and confinement.

Historically, degradation of water quality from mining activity in the Monongahela River Basin adversely affected fish populations in the mainstem river. Improvement of water quality since 1971 has resulted in positive changes in fish populations. We assessed changes in the fishery by analyzing rotenone samples in relation to changes in water quality. Before 1970, pH ranged between 3.8 and 5.8 and alkalinity between 0.0 and 2.0 mg/1. After 1980, mean annual pH ranged from 7.0 to 7.3 and alkalinity ranged from 8.7 to 12.9 mg/1. From 1973 to 1990, mean fish biomass increased in nearly every sample from 41 to 355 kg/ha, Fish diversity also increased. The increase in biomass was significantly correlated with mean alkalinity, but not with mean annual river discharge or mean annual pH.

Passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags were placed in 15,344 triploid grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) (200-280 mm total length) and length, weight, and tag-code data recorded for each fish at rates of 206 to 350 fish per hour. Only 43 fish (0.28%) died within 48 hours post-tagging. Survival of tagged (N = 122) and untagged (N = 131) groups of fish held in ponds 83 to 115 days post-tagging was >90% and near equal, except for 1 tagged and 1 untagged group where a columnaris disease outbreak occurred; survival in those groups was 68.0% and 69.1%, respectively. All tags were retained in the fish and functioned properly after 83-85 days in ponds. After 1 group of fish (N = 29) had been in a pond for 225 days, tag responses were found for all but 1 fish. The techniques used for tag placement and data recording utilized equipment generally available at most fisheries laboratories.

Trends in the abundance of young-of-year largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and water level fluctuations from 1976 to 1988 in Grand Lake were evaluated to assess recruitment strength before (1976-1981) and after (1982-1988) a change in reservoir operations. Significantly positive relationships between abundance of young-of- year largemouth bass and days of littoral flooding during spawning and nursery seasons, drawdown during revegetation season in the previous calendar year, combinations thereof, and water levels during these seasons indicated recruitment of largemouth bass was influenced by water level fluctuations. Implementation of a new operating rule curve in 1982 seemed to affect recruitment only indirectly by minimizing drawdown during late summer, thereby decreasing the exposure of shoreline areas of the reservoir for revegetation during the latter part of the growing season.

Success and cost effectiveness of stocking larval vs. fingerling hybrid striped bass (o Marone chrysops X o M. saxatilis) were evaluated at Lake Sam Rayburn, Texas. Stocking success was evaluated using gill net catch rates of age-2 hybrids, mean length of hybrids at age 2, and relative annual mortality of stocked individuals. Hatchery production and stocking cost of larvae and fingerlings were compared. There was no significant difference between gill net catch rates of age-2 hybrids stocked as larvae vs. fingerlings. However, age-2 hybrids from larval stockings were significantly larger than those from fingerling stockings. Relative annual mortality of stocked larvae was significantly higher than for fingerlings. Stocking costs for larvae were less than half those for fingerlings.