METHQD ‘3 FOR WE CQEWRGL Q? STUMED
PANF {SH PGPULAYIGNS

 

T319533 {*or We Degree 0% M. S.
WCHIGM STATE UNIVERSE“

Joseph Bruce Hunn
1957

11mm11111111111311 i

3 1293 010711

LIBRARY

Michigan State
University

 

 

 

 

. \Tv-w-r.f

”IT'“ _'/‘~.;“ f': ‘j‘,’\'|: CIT”: fiffi'lfijj,‘ "" Wyn! "“'1‘ " ",, ‘ ‘ K . t"; :j‘l'T "lap .‘ 7'0
XiqulA\—'x L) J. L‘A‘. $1 I ‘—' Vbfll‘i .L...\’L \JL‘ UL La. . *; U l 1144* .L~"L. l N)‘ L'HALIUAIQ

g
\WV‘

JOSEPH BRUCE HUNH

AN ASSTPACT

Submitted to the College of Agriculture of Hichigan
State University of Agriculture and Applied Science
in partial fulfillment of the requirements

for the degree of
MAS ER CF SCIENCE

Department of Fisheries and Wildlife

1957

11’7 _ "
Approved - jl4Z»;Z:;L ‘:> ':<§:‘EL'£;’4éEl

Joseph Bruce hunn

To cope with the problem of stunted panfish populations, the fish-
eries manager of today commonly employs one or more of the following
methods of control: (1) poisoning (corplete or partial}, (2) netting,

(3) water drawdown, (h) stocking or (S) destruction of spawn.

During the summer of 1956, a cooperative experiment was begun oy
the Institute of Fisheries Research and the Lake and Stream Improvement
section of the Fish Division of the hidhigan Department of Conservation
to control stunted panfish pepulations by'partial poisoning with rotenone.
As part of the experiment, an attempt was made to detennine the percent
kill by two methods: 1) comparative netting and 2) by ratio sampling.
Comparative netting was done with trapnets fished before and after
poisoning in the same locatiOn for equal periods of time. Ratio sampling
consisted of saupling the poisoned fish for narked fish which had been
released prior to poisoni. .

The estimated percent kill for each lake is as follows: Saddle
Lake -- comparative netting 36$, ratio sampling 18.53; Lower bcott Lake --
comparative notting39.53, ratio sanpling 53.15; East Basin of Turk Lake --
comparative netting 89.7%, ratio sampling hl.8% and West Basin of Turk
Lake -- comparative netting 86.0%, ratio sampling 32.6%. The great
variation in results is most likely due to insufficient and biased sampling.

Probably the most promising method of estimating population reduction
is comparative netting using the large seine. The large seine takes a
representative 5 aple of the population in large enough numbers to make

it economically justifiable.

I-ETHODS FOR THE COI‘JTROL CF STUIITZTU PMCFISH POPULATIOIS

by

JCSEHI BRUCE BUTTE?

A THESIS

Submitted to the College of Agriculture of Michigan
State University of Agriculture and Applied Science
in partial fulfillment of the requirements

for the degree of

MASTER OF SCIENCE

Department of Fisheries and Wildlife

1957

ii

/- ’7’ 5‘3”
’3.“ 57—3 .7 5'-

ACKNOWLVUGHENT

I sincerely wish to thank Dr. Eugene W. Roelofs for his guidance
of the project. AI also wish to thank Dr. Robert C. Ball for his helpful
suggestions in the preparation of the manuscript.

I wish to thank Dr. John E. flillians, Henry Vondett, Gaylord
Alexander and Charles Steinmetz for help in collection and compilation
of the field data.

Thi project was made possible by a fellowship granted by the

(0

Institute for Fisheries Research.

,- 2? . ”in , d‘gm‘, ET K
TAJLJEI 01 LL}! 41;” S

ItITRCDUCTIOIIo o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 0
Objectives of the Study. . . . . . . . .

POPULATION RIWFCTIOH TETHODS. . . . . . . . .
Poisoning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Complete poisoning. . . . . . . . .

Partial poisoning . . . . . . . . .

Netting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
water Leve Manipulation . . . . . . . .
StOCkingoooooooo
Destruction of Spawn and

I .

Spawning Sites.

METHODS OF ESTIUATING THE PERCENT LILL OF THE FISH POPULATION

METHODS CF COYI OL USED IE UICHIGAN . . . . o
SCIGCtion Of Lakes 0 o o o o o o o o o 0
Basic Hethofis Used in the Summer of 1956
Estimate of Percent Kill . . . . . . . .

SJXDDLE LAKE o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

LOTiVT‘JlI-Z SOC-YT ILAXLZo o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

TL'RI; LAI<E o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

STMIDING CROP o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

STMFTE'ARY o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

BIBLIOGpjkflkY. O O I O O O O O O O O O O O O O

APITENIDIXoooooooo'o0.0.0.0000

TAELE

TABLE

TABLE

TABLE

TABLE

TA; E

TASLE

TIBIJE

TABLE

II

IV

VI

VII

VIII

IX

LIST 0’ TABLES

Estimated number of recaptures for Saddle Lake . . .

Estimated kill of fish over 3.5 inches in
Sac} (13.8 Lalce . . I O C C O O O O C C O O O O . O O O 0

Estimated number of recaptures for Lower Scott Lake.

Estimated kill of fish over 3.5 inches in
Lower Scott LaJ-{e . C . O O O O O O O O O C . . . . 0

Estimated number of recaptures for the East Basin of
Of Turk Lake 0 O I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 0

Estimated kill of fish over 3.5 inches in the East
Bats-in Of TUI‘I‘: [alike 0 o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 0

Estimated numb r of recaptures for the West Basin
C‘fTurkLéLl‘CCoooooooooooo00.0.00.

Estimated kill of fish over 3.5 inches in the Nest
BaSin Of Turk LUICC o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 0

Numbers of fish caught by comparable 2b hour trapnet
sets before and after poisoning. . . . . . . . . . .

iv

PAGE

L6

\fl
\fl

'7

\II

LIST OF FIGURES
PAGE
FIGURE 1 Saddle Lake - Growth Rate of Bluegills. . . . . . . . hB

FIGURE 2 Saddle Lake - Size Frequency Distribution of Blue-
gillS........................ 1.18

FIGURE 3 Lower Scott Lake - Growth Rate of Bluegills . . . . . 51

FIGURE h Lower Scott Lake - Size Frequency Distribution of
31119811180000000000000000.0000.S].

FIGURE 5 Turk Lake - Growth Rate of dlucgills. . . . . . . . . 56
FIGUPE 6 Turk Lake - Size Frequency Distribution of Bluegills. 56

CHECK LIST CF FISLTS

Lepiscsteus profiuctus - spotted gar
Ania calva - bowfin

Ictiobus sp. - buffalo
Erimyzon sueet a - lak chubsuckcr
Catostonus co morscnnii - white sucker

H'pr nus carpio - carp
Semotilus atronaculatus - creek chub
Hotemigonus cr“soleucas - golden Shiner

{yborlvnr chus notatis - bluntnose minnow
Opso; oeodus emiliae - pUgnose:1innow
F-Totropis cornutus - common Shiner
“o strepis heterodon - blackchin Shiner
NotrOpis heterolepis - blacknosc Shiner

Ameiurus nebulosus - brown bullhead
Anciurus natalis - yellow sullhead
Schilbeodes sp. madtom

Unbra limi - mudminnow

Esox americanus venniculatus - gram picks

Esox lucius - northern pike

Perca flavescens - yellow perch
Boleosora nigrun - Johnnv darter
Poecilichths s exilis - Iowa darter

Hicropterus salmoides - largenouth bass
Chaenobryttus coronarius - wannouth
chomis cyanellus - green sunfish

Lepor -is megalotis - longear sunfish
Lepomis gibbosus - pumpkinseed

Lepomis nacrochirus - bluegill
Ambleplites rupestris - rock bass
Ponoxis nigro-maculatus - black crappie

INTRODUCTI ON

INTRODUCTION

Stunted panfish populations are a problem for the fisheries manager
throughout the United States. This condition usually comes to his
attention through routine surveys or complaints that fishing is poor
and most of the fish are small.

On further investigation, he may encounter some or all of the
following characteristics of a stunted pOpulation:

l. The fiSh are slow growing.

2. Fish generally are in poor condition.

3. A small percentage of the fiSh are "keeper" size.

b. Usually one age—group predominates.

5. Few old fish are present.

6. Males predominate in young fish; females are predominant in

older fish. (Eschmeyer, 1937).

7. Few predators are present, most of which are large.

8. Many centrardhid.hybrids occur.

Overcrowding, which is one of the major causes of stunting, is due
to a shift in the papulation "balance" - the unstable equilibrium be-
tween numerous fiSh species and countless environmental situations
(Johnson, 19h9). This shift may occur naturally or may be the result
of selective fishing.

Climatic factors seem to affect population balance by influencing
spawning success and survival of certain species. The lake herring

(Leucichthys artedi) populations of Lake Erie fluctuate with the turbidity;

 

year class strength in whitefish (Coreggnus clupeaformis) in some

 

Canadian lakes is inversely correlated.with the strength of autumn

winds;a:uiabundance of Kamloops trout (Salmo ggirdneri kamloops) is

 

affected by spring run-off (Larkin, 1955). It is also known that
northern pike spawning is influenced.by spring water levels.

Some biologic factors involved in stunting nury be (1) abundant
aquatic vegetation, (2) cannabalism.and mutual predation, (3) flexible
growth rates which allow fish to grow slowly rather than starve, and
(h) the high reproductive potential of prey species.

By concentrating his fishing efforts on large fish, especially
predators, man harvests fish in a disprOportionate relation to their
numbers in the p0pulation. This harvest of predators is significant
because predators are a key factor in controlling the numbers of prey.

Further damage to pepulation "balance" is done when people destroy
spawning grounds of predators and create new spawning sites for'prey
species by'meking desirable water front real estate.

Out-moded fishing regulations have also contributed to stunting
by controlling the harvest of prey species which should be crepped
extensively. Through education it is hoped that further liberalized
fishing for warmwater prey species may be authorized in this state as
they have been in other states. Controls on predator harvest should
be kept until further studies are made concerning predator-prey relation-
ships as affected.by sport fishing.

Clarke (195h) states, "Perhaps the most generally harmful effect
of increasing numbers among animal pOpulations is the competition for

food." The adverse effects on the individual as well as the population

are expressed in the growth rate. Odum (l95b) expresses it as follows:
growth rate equals the intrinsic rate of growth minus self-crowding

effects minus detrimental effects of the other species.

Objectives of the Study
The material presented herein covers all present-day methods of
control of stunted panfish populations with special emphasis given to
the work done in.Michigan during the summer of 1956. The data from
this work are presented to show the results of two methods used to

measure population reduction.

POPULATION REDUCTION IVIE'HIODS

POPULATION REDUCTION METHODS

The two basic methods of control are 1) complete removal of the
population and restocking and 2) partial reduction of the stunted species

with or without further corrective measures.

Poisoning

methods of poisoning with rotenone are many. Rounsefell and
Everhart (1953) list 7 methods of dispersal ranging from hand application
to spraying by plane. Pond poisoning methods are covered by Swingle,
Prather and Lawrence (1953).

Lake stratification has been a problem in poisoning. Smith (1950)
states, "In lakes with depths over 25 feet, difficulty has been encountered
in Obtaining a complete kill of fish by poisoning, presumably as a
result of an inadequate dispersal of the poison in toxic concentrations
to all depths."

'With the development of new emulsified rotenone products, the
thermal barrier problems may be eliminated. Bassett (1956) in testing
new rotenone products found that, "From the standpoint of efficiency
and economy, Pro-Noxfish is recommended for shallow, well circulated
lakes; Chem Fish for deeper or stratified lakes, and Chem Fish Special
for special problem.waters." Pro-Noxfish is a product of S. B. Penick
Company and Chem Fish and Chem Fish Special are produced by the Chemical
Insecticide Corporation.

In the past low temperatures have made poisoning with rotenone in-

effective. Brown and Ball (19h3) found that rotenone was ineffective

under h5° F. Today, however, poisons have been perfected so that
poisoning can be effective with water temperatures as low as 390 F.
This means that poisoning can be done during overturn.which would
facilitate complete poisoning.

Partial poisoning is possible when lakes are stratified. King
(1953, l95h), attempting pOpulation control work on Lake Hiwassee,
Oklahoma, poisoned only the shoal areas. In 1951, 20 acres of the 15h
acres were poisoned. In 1952, 30 acres were poisoned. Age-growth
studies after two years indicated no change in growth rate. Due to
the failure of the previous poisonings, the entire shoreline was treated
in 1953 and l95h. A substantial growth acceleration in largemouth bass

(Micropterus salmoides), bluegill (Epomis macrochirus) and redear

 

 

sunfish (hepomis microlophus) was noted after the 1953 application.

 

King (op. cit) states that, "Evidence from other partial fish pOpulation
removals indicates that about 50 per cent of the water volume must be
treated before definite growth increases can be noted." work in
Michigan indicates that a good partial kill will result from treating
most or all of the surface area when the lakes are stratified (Greenbank,
19h1).

Leonard (1938) gives the concentration of 0.50 p.p.m. as the lowest
concentration of rotenone for killing fish. At this concentration
rotenone is generally accepted as being lethal to most fish.

Complete poisoning. Complete poisoning is used throughout the nation
for renovation of trout waters, destruction of rough fish populations,

and the elimination of stunted panfish. Many fisheries managers feel

this is the most economical way to control stunted panfiSh. With

limited budgets and personnel to handle the work, many states are re-
stricted to this technique. Even though it is the most economical way
to treat the stunted panfish problem, it is still costly, especially
when treating large bodies of water with rotenone. The use of toxaphcne
will reduce treatment costs if a satisfactory concentration can he

found (HOOper and Grzenda, 1356).

Following the complete elimination of the fish population, re—
stocking often presents a problem. WEich fish to plant, when, and in
what numbers can be difficult questions. If the problem were solely
biological, its solution wouldn't be too difficult but the interests
of the fishing public must be considered.

"The human idea of management is to alter a fish population to
produce a larger harvestable crop of desirable fishes even if some
deviation from the natural is required" (Johnson, 19L9). Many people
have considered the idea of planting only one species, a suitable
predator. Combinations of two or three species iave received some
attention. An increase in tic standing crop in lakes and ponds is noted
as the number of species of fish increases, but the maximum crors of
selected individual species occur when only one or two species are present
(Carlander, 1955 . The use of one or two species of fish oer body of
water would mean a large standing crop and a specialized sport fishery
because fisherman would have to choose the lake(s) for fishing on the
basis of the kind of fish they desired.

Partial poisoning. With the advent of rotenone, partial poisoning has

 

become a common management practice in many states. Partial poisoning

may be selective, but selective poisoning need not be partial. Selective

poisoning with rotenone can be used for gizzard shad and yellow perch.
The concentration used is such that these fish are killed but the I‘DSO
(concentration at which 50 per cent of test animals die) for other
species is not reached (Burdick, Dean and Harris, 1955).

Partial poisoning may be directed at a certain group in the
population by the method of application. Littoral areas may be poison-
ed in an attempt to kill smaller prey fish with a minimum kill of large
prey and predators. Spawning areas may also be poisoned to reduce cer-
tain species.

Removal of competition at all levels is one of the advantages of
partial poisoning with rotenone (Grice, 1957). Other points in favor
of the use of rotenone are (1) it is easy to handle and apply, (2) it
is non-toxic to humans and livestock, (3) it is low in cost of labor
and materials needed as compared to netting and (b) the fish are edible
if taken soon after poisoning.

The major drawbacks of partial poisoning is the inability to deter-
..ine the extent of the kill of the various species. This inability is
mainly due to the fact that our sampling techniques and population
estimates only give us an "educated" guess as to what the population is.

On small bodies of water, such as farm ponds, sampling with a
seine may give some indication as to the population composition accord-
ing to size groups. In the southern part of the United States, the
number of intermediate size panfish is used to measure the degree of
"balance" (Si-tingle, 1950). No such figures as those given by Swingle

are known for northern states.

10

For large bodies of water, change in growth rate seems to be the
best criterion on which to base the efficacy of the poisoning. It
must be noted, however, that these changes usually last but a few years
and then the treatment must be repeated.

Partial poisoning may be augmented by planting of predators in an

effort to establish the necessary predators.

Netting

Since poisoning with rotenone has become popular, the use of nets
to control stunted panfish has become secondary. The chief reason for
this change is economic. Grice (1957) shows that in the state of Massa-
chusetts the cost of poisoning is only one-sixth that of netting. In
addition, nets are usually selective as to the species and size groups
taken.

Intensive netting can temporarily improve the growth rate of the
species being removed but has little effect on the remainder of the
population. Boussu (1955) removed approximately 80 percent of the
crappies from a 2h-acre lake, and only the young—of-the-year and yearling
crappies showed an increased growth rate. Grice (1957) got similar
results. In both of these cases, the predator pepulation failed to
increase significantly.

Netting today is primarily used for work on the control of rough
fish, with most of the work being done with large seines. Seining is
done in late fall or early spring because at this time aquatic vegetation
is less abundant, the water temperature is low and the fish are usually

concentrated in particular areas.

O'Farrell (1956) states that "for effective rough fish removal,
all lakes must be seined at least annually." The use of seines is
usually limited by the availability of good seining beaches.

Richer and Gottschalk (lQhO) found in Indiana that the removal of
a large portion of the rough fish resulted in increased abundance of
game fish and improved angling success. Rose and Moen (1952) obtained
comparative results in Iowa. Johnson (l9h9) states that: "Complete
removal of all carp would allow a replacement of 15-20 pounds of game
flab for every 100 pounds of carp lost, and only if the aquatic environ-

ment were suitable for game fishes."

Water Level Manipulation

Water drawdown is an effective tecnnique for control of stunted
panfish in reservoirs and drainable lakes and ponds. Bennett (1951)
states that "the use of a drain valve for the management of fish pOpu-
lations in artificial lakes surpasses all other techniques in value, and
no farm pond or artificial lake built for recreation.should be planned
without an outlet so situated and of such a size that all water and fish
in the impoundment will pass under the dam to the downstream side where
a simple screen can be installed to trap the fish."

In reservoirs, drawdown is sometimes augmented by seining of game
species and poisoning of rough fiSh.

Other manipulations of water levels can.help bring about suitable
conditions for an increase in predator pressure. By drawing down in the
winter, the predators and the prey species are concentrated, thereby

increasing the probability of predation. Maintaining high springtime

l2

leveIS'will favor pike spawning, steady levels in.May and June may aid
bass spawning, and lowering of the levels after this will shorten pan-
fish spawning periods (Johnson, 19h9).

Water drawdown is equally applicable to fans ponds. The degree of
drawdown depends on the location of the pond. In the north, there is
always danger of winterkill after drawdown in ponds and shallow lakes
(Bennett, l95h).

Water level manipulation is becoming a widely used management practice

for fish pOpulation control in large drainable bodies of water.

Stocking

"'Therapeutic' stocking is an old idea revived for new reasons.
If removal of undesirable species is so expensive and often futile, aid
. might be obtained from living predatory fishes which could control ob-
noxious or overcrowded species and furnish good angling themselves"
(Johnson, l9h9). Northern pike, muskellunge, walleyes, largemouth
bass, channel catfish, and striped.bass have all been used. These
fish are desirable sport fish as well as possible pOpulation regulators.
However, little evaluation has been made of the results of planting
predators as a management practice.

"Two questions arise immediately: How many predatory

fish are needed to do the job and how can they be produced?

Partial answers are now available. Expansion of rearing pond

facilities for raising prodigious quantities of hungry finger-

lings or yearlings is now under way, not with the old aim of

scattering a few'thousand into eadh lake but to pour in at

13

least 50 to 100 fingerlings per surface acre in lakes where

control of other fiSh is needed and where sudh quantities

of fingerlings are not naturally produced.

As for the number of carnivorous fishes required,

only an empirical answer is to be had. Analysis of test-

net data on 253 Minnesota lakes indicates that dominance

or control of fish populations there can be achieved by

pike only when its weight comprises 25 to 30 per cent of

the total fish weight present. If yellow pikeperch are

dominant predators, they must comprise h5 to 50 per cent

of all fish weight" (Johnson, l9h9).

The idea of using predators such as the bowfin or gar has received
some thought but adverse public opinion has prevented such plantings.
These species might exert predator pressure throughout most of their

life without being greatly reduced in number by fishing.

Destruction of Spawn and Spawning Sites

The use of chemicals for deStruction of spawn and fry has received
some attention in the eastern states.

In Vermont, Stewart (1956) is experimenting with "Canrite", a
commercial creamery detergent, for destruction of eggs and fry of yellow
perch and pumpkinseed sunfiSh. "Canrite" (NaHSOh) was dispersed in
granular form over concentrations of egg masses, resulting in a high
percentage of kill.

Jackson (1956) conducted experiments in New Hampshire for the con-

trol of the common sunfish Lepomis gibbosus by placing NaGH pellets in

1h

the nests. Eggs and fry were killed in from 3-5 minutes in a concen-
tration of 5 p.p.m.

Experiments in New Jersey show that CuSOb can be used as a spawn-
destroying agent. Essbach (1956) found that 5.6 mg. per liter of CuSOh
gave a 95 percent kill of yellow perch eggs, and those that hatched
quickly died. The use of CuSOh is greatly complicated because its
toxicity is directly affected by alkalinity, pH and the amount of organic
matter present.

The use of chemicals for destruction of spawn and fry needs much
further research before it can be seriously regarded as an effective
management tool.

Mechanical destruction of spawn and spawning sites is possible but
usually on a small scale. Raking, trampling and dragging can be used
to destroy panfish nesting areas in fann ponds or other small bodies of
water.

The control of aquatic vegetation to prevent stunting is common
practice in pond culture but as yet has had little application on
large bodies of water. At the present time in Florida, this technique
is being used.but no evaluation is available. Similar work is being
done in Michigan to detennine the affects of removal of aquatic vege-
tation on growth rate of fish.

Aquatic vegetation will probably become an extensive problem as

more and more lakes approach late stages of eutrophication.

I‘ETHODS OF ESTII‘IATIIIG THE PERCENT KILL OF THE FISH POI-’LEATION

METHODS OF ESTIHATISG THE PERCENT KILL OF THE FISH POPULATION

Miller (1950) states that: "The literature is conspicuously short
of data on either (a) the completeness or otherwise of kills, (b) the
preportion of the whole population actually recovered, supposing a
kill was complete, and (c) the rapidity with which repopulation with
undesirable species takes place."

There are two means commonly used to detennine population reduction
(1) reduction in catch per unit effort of net (gillnet, trapnet, seine)
or (2) ratio sampling of a known number of marked fiSh in the poisoned
populations. Netting has definite disadvantages: (l) selectivity of
the gear, (2) the amount of time required to get sufficient samples,
and (3) the investment needed for the gear. Of the three types of gear,
the large seine seems to offer the best solution. The seine can be used
effectively both in spring and fall. It can also be used to remove
desirable game fish before poisoning.

Ratio sampling by the Petersen mark and recapture method may be used
to determine the percent reduction, the theory being that the marked fish
should be killed in the same prOportion as the unmarked fish. By
taking a random sample of the poisoned pOpulation, the number of marked
fish per unit of pickup (lbs. , barrels) can be determined. This ratio
is then multiplied by the total number of pickup units to get the esti-
mated kill of the marked.fish. The estimated kill is then divided by
the known number of marked fish to determine the percent kill. The

main problems are (1) how many fiSh to mark (2) what size fiSh to mark

l7

(3) whidh species to mark (h) how large a sample to take and (5) over
what period of time should these samples be taken.

The number of fish to be marked is usually governed by the means
of obtaining the fish but as many fish as possible should be marked.
The size of fish to be marked is dictated by how effective the pickup
will be. The sample size and the time of sampling will probably be
governed by the amount of time alotted for the project.

The percent of recovery of marked fish after poisoning has been
variable. Krumholz (l9bh) in checking the fineclipping method for es-
timating fiSh pepulation had an 86 percent return. Ball (l9hh) in
poisoning Third Sister Lake recovered 23.h percent of the marked fish.
In poisoning Ford Lake, Ball (l9h5) recovered 5h percent of the marked
fish. In all of the above experiments, the men conducting the tests
were trying for a complete kill.

The use of the ratio sampling method is probably not economically
justifiable in view of the sampling method deve10ped.with the large
seine in such states as Iowa, Wisconsin and hinnesota. If a lake is
sampled each year at the same time (spring or fall), the seine should
give comparable samples of the fish population. The seine also takes
a large number of fish which can be used for growth and size frequency
distribution studies without destroying the fish. The use of the large
seine will be limited by the water depth and obstructions on the lake

bottoms.

METHODS OF CONTROL USTD III I‘iICHIGAN

 

 

METHODS OF CONTROL USED IN MICHIGAN

The control of stunted fish populations in Michigan was begun by
R. w. Eschmeyer in 193h with his work on stunted yellow perch. Eschmeyer
(1937, 1938) suggested three methods to alleviate the condition: (1)
increase food by fertilization, (2) removal of a considerable portion
of the population, and (3) complete removal of the pOpulation followed
by stocking with other species.

Partial or complete removal was accomplished by using rotenone, and
rotenone augmented by dynamite to circulate the deep water. These waters
were later stocked with trout.

In 1937 Eschmeyer began an experiment to determine the effects of
population reduction in.warmwater lakes. The lake chosen for the ex-
periment had two distinct basins with a connecting channel. The channel
was blocked and one basin poisoned in an attempt to completely destroy
the population. Following detoxification the Obstruction was removed
and the fish allowed.to move into the other basin. Beckman (19hO, 19h2),
continuing the study, found that the reduction in population was followed
by improved growth rate of the rock bass. This increased growth rate was
maintained.for four years. In further studies, Beckman (l9h8) found
that the improvement of growth following winterkill is only temporary
and that differential kill in favor of rough fiSh often occurs.

During the summer of 1956 the Institute for Fisheries Research
and the Lake and Stream Improvement Section of the Fish Division of

the Michigan Department of Conservation started a cooperative experiment

'to develOp techniques for stunted panfish control and methods of

evaluating these techniques.

Selection of Lakes
The choice of lakes for the experiment was based on the slow growth
rate of the bluegill pOpulations and the poor fishing reputation. The
lakes chosen for the experiment were Saddle Lake, Van Buren County;
Lower Scott Lake, Allegan County; and Turk Lake, Montcalm County. All

of these lakes are in the southwestern part of the state.

Basic Methods Used in Summer of 1956

Preliminary work on all lakes consisted of marking all fish over
3.5 inches taken by seine, trapnet and hook and line. These fish were
released in the center of the basin of the lake except in Saddle Lake
where they were released at site of capture. The fish were grouped into
one-inch size groups (3.5 to h.5 inches, h.5 to 5.5 inches, etc.).

The poisoning was done with Nexfish, an emulsified rotenone product
of the S. B. Penick Co. The rotenone was sprayed over the surface with
a Garter Centrifuge Pump powered by a Briggs and Stratton engine. The
amount of rotenone applied was theoretically sufficient to give a con-
centration of 0.5 p.p.m.

Sampling of the poisoned fish took place during the first three
days after poisoning. The fish were picked up and put into barrels for
handling purposes. The fish were sorted as to species. Scale samples
were taken and size frequency distributions recorded. In addition the
average number per pound was determined for most species. Fish under

3.5 inches were not sampled.

21

Bottom transects were made to determine the number of fiah remain-
ing on the lake bottom. The transects were made within 2h hours of the
poisoning. For each transect, a line of known length was laid out and
the swimmer using a Scott Hydro-Pak followed this line counting all fish
within one foot either side of the line. From the transect counts,

estimates as to the number of fish per acre were made.

Estimation of Percent Kill
The percent kill was estimated in two ways, 1) reduction in catch
per unit effort of trapnets and 2) by ratio sampling.
The catche per unit effort of trapnets from before and after
poisoning were compared to get the percent reduction (see Table IX,

Appendix). These trapnet sets were 2h hour sets in the same location.

SADDLE LAKE

SADDLE LAKE

Saddle Lake, T15, RlSW, Sections 9, 10, 15, 16, 22, Van Buren
County, is a 290-acre lake with a maximum depth of 32 feet. The bottom
types are fibrous peat, mud and sand. The lake is drained by Barber
Creek which is part of the Black River drainage. About 80 percent of
the lake is shoal,'and approximately h5 percent of the lake has dense
aquatic weed beds.

The following fish are found in Saddle Lake and Barber Creek:
bluegill, pumpkinseed, wannouth, black crappie, largemouth bass, brown
and yellow bullhead, madtom, carp, golden Shiner, blackchin Shiner,
Spotfin Shiner, blacknose Shiner, bluntnose minnow, pugnose minnow,
yellow perch, Iowa darter, mudninnow, creek chub, lake chubsucker, and
grass pidkerel, northern pike, spotted gar, and bowfin.

Preliminary work on Saddle Lake consisted of marking fish over 3.5
inches which were caught by seines and trapnets. Seining, begun on
July 12, 1956, met with only limited success, so trapnetting was begun
July 16th and was carried on until July 20th. Trapnetting yielded
107? fish.

From July l2-20th a total of 2886 fish were marked by fin clipping
and released at the site of capture. Of these fish, 1910 were marked
in areas to be poisoned.

Poisoning of Saddle Lake was done from July 2hth to August 6th
in 9 areas ranging in size from 3 to h3 acres. The area poisoned (lh8

acres) represents 51 percent of the total surface area and 25 percent

2b

of the total volume. These areas were enclosed.by a blocking seine(s)
10 feet high and of one-inch-bar mesh. It was hoped that this would
prevent migration into or out of the poisoned area.

After each area was poisoned, a sample of fiSh was taken. Of
the 62 barrels picked up from the 9 areas, 11.5 were studied. The
total pickup must be considered miminal as not all of the lake could
be completely covered. The pickup was done with soap nets and scooping
devices mounted on boats.

0n the day after the area had been poisoned, bottom transects were
made to determine the number of fish remaining on the lake bottom. In
the 9 areas, hh transects were made with h0,632 square feet of bottom
being viewed. A total of 2L9 fiSh were found, giving an estimate of
266 fish per acre. Since these transects were made within 2h hours of
the poisoning, it is not known how many of these fish came to the sur-
face to be included in the pickup in the following days. Fish continued
to come to the surface for h or 5 days; large northern pike, gar pike
and bowfin were the last to come up.

In sampling 11.5 barrels, 66 recaptures were recorded (see Table I,
Appendix). If this sample is a random sample of the poisoned pepulation,
the ratio sampling method may be applied. The estimated percent kill
by the ratio sampling method was 18.5 percent. The estimated percent
kill by comparative netting is 75.7 percent.

The use of ratio sampling during the summer of 1956 was beset with
many problems: (1) there were not enough men to work the samples, (2)
samples were taken only on the first few days following poisoning because

of the shortage of manpower and time, and (3) the biased pickup. Members

of the pidkup crew knew that the biologists were looking for marked

fish and therefore made an effort to find these fiSh. Furthermore,

large game fish were picked up first so as to prevent adverse public
relations.

After the lake had been poisoned, nets were fished in the poisoned
areas and in the non—poisoned area. The 12 nets fished in the poisoned
areas showed a 36 percent reduction in numbers while the h nets in the
nonvpoisoned area showed a 95 percent reduction. The combined percent
reduction was 75 percent. This large discrepancy in percent reduction
may be explained by movement of fish into the areas of reduced competition,
a seasonal migration of the fish or sampling variation.

The estimated kill of fish over 3.5 indhes is 50 pounds or h76
individuals per acre for the poisoned area. No estimate of the weight
of fish under 3.5 inches was made for Saddle Lake (see Table II, Appendix).

In taking weights, it was hoped that an imbalance in the predator-
prey ratio could.be shown. The predator-prey ratio by weight for fiSh
over 3.5 inches in Saddle Lake, with mud pickerel, bowfin, garpike,
northern pike and largemouth bass considered as predators, is 1:5.

Ricker (1955) distinguishes 3 types of numerical relationships
between predators and a species of prey they attadk: "A. Predators
of any given abundance take a fixed fraction of the prey species during
the time they are in contact, enough to satiate them. The surplus prey
escapes. B. Predators at any given abundance take a fixed fraction
of prey species present, as though there were captures at random.en-
counters. C. Predators take all the individuals of the species that

are present, in excess of a certain minimum number."

26

In type B the number of prey species eaten is preportional to the
abundance of predators and to the abundance of prey.

Poundage ratios of predators to prey fish species have been used
to indicate "balanced" populations. Swingle (1950) gives a predator-
prey ratio of l:3.0-6.0 as most desirable for ponds. This ratio is
based on the weight of all fish in the pond. Moyle (1919) gives the
ratio of 1:6 for Minnesota lakes. This ratio is based on seining data
from littoral areas of 68 game-fish lakes. The average poundage of
large predaceous fishes (pike, pikeperch and bass) is compared to that
of all other fish combined.

In the present study, all predator-prey ratios were within the
desirable range given by Swingle (1950) except the west basin of Turk
Lake which was 1:17. Due to the biased pickup of large predatory fish
mainly the bass and the time of sampling, the estimates of the pounds of
predators are too high. In.making the estimates it was presumed that

fiSh‘would.be picked up at the same rate throughout the pickup period.
8 This assumption was incorrect. The difference in rate at whidh various
species came to the surface caused the estimated number of bass to be
too high. Krumholz (1950) in poisoning a pond in Indiana recovered
87.1 percent of his marked bass but all of them in the first 3 days
after poisoning. Marked green sunfish came to the surface for 8 days
with the greatest number coming to the surface the third day.

In order to improve predator spawning success so that the prey
species can be controlled, the prey species must be reduced. Partial
poisoning augmented by predator planting seems to be the best answer.

The selection of predators will vary from lake to lake. The most

27

efficient predator according to Johnson (l9h9) is the northern pike.

By placing pike at the top with a predator rating of 100, the yellow

pikeperch (walleye) would.have a rating of 50 and the largemouth bass
a rating of 20 (in northern waters). The predator rating of bowfin,

gar and grass pickerel are unknown.

The problem of rearing enough predators to meet the demands for
population control and fishing pressure is complex and difficult. Should.
predators be planted on a put and take basis? Should efforts be concen-
trated on improving habitat for predator spawning? How much artificial
prOpagation is needed? Are any changes in fishing regulations neces-
sary? Answers to these questions will have to be temporary while basic
research on predators is conducted. Information is lacking on food
preferences, size relationships, buffer relationships and density relation-
ships.

Artificial propagation and transfer from other lakes will probably
be necessary for stocking of newly poisoned lakes. Northern pike are
being successfully reared in natural ponds and shallow lakes. walleyes
and bass are reared in artificial situations.

'With increased fiShing pressure on the predatory species, it may
be necessary to reduce the catch by increasing the size limits. By so
doing, predators would be able to exert their influence on the prey
species for greater periods of time.

Figures 1 and 2 (see Appendix) show the growth rate and size

frequency distribution of Saddle Lake bluegills.

LOWER SCOTT LAKE

LOWER SCOTT LAKE

Lower Scott Lake, T1N, R15w, Sections h, 9, 10, Allegan County, is
a l27-acre lake with a maximum depth of 8 feet. The bottom is fibrous
peat with some sandy areas. A stream from Upper Scott Lake flows into
Lower Scott Lake whose water level is maintained by a dan in the outlet
which flows into the Black River. The lake is 100 percent shoal and
aquatic weed beds cover approximately 75 percent of the lake bottom.

The following fish are found in the lake: bluegill, pumpkinseed,
warmouth, black crappie, largemouth bass, yellow perch, Johnny darter,
northern pike, grass pickerel, carp, golden shiner, blackchin shiner,
brown and yellow bullhead, lake dhubsucker, buffalo and bowfin.

From August 2hth to 28th, 1305 fish over 3.5 inches, caught by
hook and line, large seine and trapnet, were marked and released in the
middle of the lake.

On August 28th, 100 acres (79 percent of the area and 82 percent
of the volume) were poisoned with NexfiSh. The pickup and sampling
followed the same basic procedure. Of the 50 barrels piCked up, 7 were
sampled (see Table III, Appendix). Because all fish could not be picked
up, the pickup crew was requested to make an estimate of the number of
barrels of fish remaining. They estimated that 60 barrels of fish re-
mained (see Table IV, Appendix).

Bottom transects were again.nade within 2h hours of poisoning with
an estimate of 251 fish per acre being made from two transects totaling

h,330 square feet.

 

 

A total of 5b recaptures were recorded in the sampling. During

sampling, a difference in the rate of species return was noted.

August 28 August 29 August 30
bluegills 3 3 12
pumpkinseed 1h 8 2
largemouth bass h - 2
black crappies 5 - l

A differential rate of return by size and species has been noted
by other workers (Brown and Ball, 19h3; Krumholz, 1950). This differ-
ential may be caused by fish getting entangled in aquatic vegetation,
the nature of the fishes reaction to the poison, by different rates of
decomposition or by lack of a swim bladder.

The estimated kill from comparative netting showed a 39.h percent
kill while ratio sampling showed a 58.1 percent kill.

The predator-prey ratio was 1:3 for fish over 3.5 inches.

Figures 3 and h (see Appendix) gave the growth rate and size

frequency distribution of the bluegills in Lower Scott Lake.

TURK LAKE

TURK LAKE

Turk Lake, T10N, RBW, Sections 3, 9 and 10, Montcalm County, is a
lSl-acre lake with a maximum depth of 20 feet. The bottom types are
pulpy and fibrous peat, marl and sand. The lake has two distinct
basins, east (91 acres) and west (60 acres), connected by a small
channel. Turk Lake Creek drains the lake and flows into the Flat River.

Species of fish found in Turk Lake are: bluegill, pumpkinseed,
warmouth, green sunfish, longear sunfish, rock bass, black crappie, large-
mouth bass, yellow perch, northern pike, white sucker, carp, common shiner,
and blackchin Shiner.

From.August lst to lhth, 1991 fish over 3.5 inches, caught by hook
and line, seine and trapnet, were marked and released in the center of
the east'basin of the lake. The east basin was divided.into two areas
(2h acres and 67 acres) and all of the surface area treated. The two
areas were separated by blocking seines.

The total pickup was 56 barrels with an estimated 25 barrels re-
maining. In sampling 8.3 barrels, 87 recaptures were recorded (see
Table V and Table VI, Appendix).

Bottom transects indicated 332 fish per acre on the lake bottom
2h hours after poisoning. While swimming these transects, it was noted
that fish were alive in water greater than 12 feet in depth. This in-
dicates that only 27 percent of the volume was actually poisoned.

The predator—prey ratio was 1:3.

Estimated kill by ratio sampling was h1.8 percent and from comparative
netting 89.7 percent. However, samples taken by trapnetting were so small

as to cast doubt on the validity of the results.

In the west basin, 1069 fish were marked and released in the center
of the basin. On August 2lst the entire surface area was poisoned. Live .
cages set at varying depths showed all fish to be dead within 2h hours
of poisoning.

The pickup of all fish amounted to h5 barrels of which 10 were
studied. In sanpling 10 barrels, 77 recaptures were Observed (see
Table VII and Table VIII, Appendix).

Bottom transects revealed 518 fish per acre.

The predator-prey ratio was 1:17.

The estimated kill by the ratio sampling method was 32.6 percent
and by comparative netting 86.0 percent.

Figures 5 and 6 (see Appendix) give the growth rates and size

frequency distribution of Turk Lake bluegills.

STAI-TDING CROP

STANDING CROP

Clarke (195h) defines standing crop as "the abundance of the organisms
existing in the area at the time of observation; it may be expressed as
number of individuals, as biomass, as energy content, or in some other
suitable terms." Standing crops of fish do not necessarily bear a close
relationship to fiSh production but usually the standing crop is the only
available estimate of fiSh production in a body of water (Carlander, 1955).

The estimated standing crOp in pounds for the three lakes are as follows:

Estimated
Estimated Total Estimated Standing Pounds
Lake Pounds Killed Percent Kill Crop Per Acre
'West Turk h800 32.6 1h,72h 2L5
East Turk 8800 h1.8 21,053 231
Lower Scott 9900 58.1 17,039 13h
Saddle 7h00 18.5 h0,000 138

The estimates are based on the results of the ratio sampling method
of estimating the percent kill. Although this method has many weak
points, the estimates are not unreasonable for intermediate to hard
(M.O. alkalinity 50-150 p.p.m.; over 150 p.p.m.) warm water lakes in
the southern part of the state. The standing crops in pounds per acre
are considerably higher than those reported by Ball (191m)). Ball
(op. cite) found that the average standing crop in ponds per acre for
"bass-type" lakes for the state of Michigan was 81.3).

The estimated standing crOp for Saddle Lake is probably low as
only 50 percent of the lake was sampled, and much of this area was

shoal with clean sand bottom.

36

These data show that these lakes can and do support large fish

populations which if properly managed could provide much sport fishing.

SUMMARY

Of all the methods used to control stunted panfish pepulations,
poisoning and water drawdown have been the most successful. Complete
poisoning, although a difficult goal to attain, gives the fisheries
manager a controllable starting point in his efforts to produce the
most desirable fish. A similar situation may be created by the drain-
ing of a pond or lake.

Partial poisoning has one main drawback, the evaluation of the
poisoning. Today, as in the past, age-growth studies are the criteria
on which the efficiency of the poisoning is based. The age-growth
method.has been used for the lack of something more comprehensive. The
1aCk of a comprehensive study was largely due to inadequate sampling
techniques. 8

During the summer of 1956 two methods were tried in an effort to
detect what had happened to different segments of the fish populations
upon being partially poisoned with rotenone. Comparative netting with
trapnets and ratio sampling of marked fish both proved inadequate due
to 1aek of proper sampling. Insufficient netting before and after _
poisoning failed to establish a large enough sample to make results
reliable. Biased pickup plus insufficient sampling gave questionable
results for the ratio sampling estimates. Because each of’these methods
requires much time and effort, it seems likely that their use will be
limited to research rather than management practices.

The proper use of the large seine as a sampling technique holds

great promise in attempting to evaluate partial poisoning as a control

me asure o

r
«9

With the large seine, which takes fairly representative snaples,

SlZC fre1uency distribution and Species abundance can be deteniinud. In

addition, scale samples for concurrent age-growth studies can be readily

taken.

The large seine i

is still necessary on such subjects as predator food preference,

prey Size

panacea but a sampling tool.

.wgionships, pepulation and buffer Species

44.1
Plenum/l"-

before

a more intelligent ranagement program for warm water lakes is forthcoming.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Ball, Robert C.
19h7 A tagging experiment on the fish population of Third Sister
Lake, Nichigan. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc., l9bh, Vol. 7b,
pp. 360-369-

19h8a Recovery of marked fish following a second poisoning of
the population in Ford Lake, Michigan. Trans. Am. Fish.
Soc., l9h5, Vol. 75, pp. 36-h2.

19h8b A summary of eXperiments in Michigan lakes on the elimination
of fiSh populations with rotenone, l93h—19h2. Trans. Am.
Fish. Soc., 19h5, Vol. 75, pp. 139-1b6.

Beckman, William C.
19h1 Increased growth rate of rock bass, Ambloplites Rupestris
(Rafinesque), following reduction in the density of the
population. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc., 19h0, V01. 70, pp. 1b3-1h8.

19h2 Further studies on the increased growth rate of the rock
bass, Amb10p1ites Rupestris (Rafinesque), following the
reduction in density of the population. Trans. Am. Fish.
Soc., 19b2, Vol. 72, pp. 72-78.

1950 Changes in growth rates of fishes following reduction in
population densities by winterkill. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc.,
l9h8, V01. 78, pp. 82-90.

Bennett, George W.
1951 Experimental largemouth bass management in Illinois. Trans.
AF}. F1511. SOC” 1950, V01. 80, pp. 231-239.

195h The effects of a late-summer drawdown on the fish population
of Ridge Lake, Coles County, Illinois. Trans. Iineteenth
N. 1km. 'b'IilCJ'life Conf., pp. 259‘270.

Boussu, Marvin F.
1955 Experimental alteration of a panfish population by netting.
Dingell-Johnson Project F-l-R-h, Job No. 1, 1955-1955,
South Dakota (mimeographed).

Brown, C. J. D. and Rdbert C. Ball
19b3 An experiment in the use of derris root (rotenone) on the
fiSh and fish-food organisms of Third Sister Lake. Trans.
Am. Fish. Soc., 19b2, v01. 72, pp. 267-28u.

1:“
r0

Burdick, G. E., Howard F. Dean and Earl F. Harris
1956 Toxicity of emulsifiable rotenone to yellow perch. New
York Fish and Game Journal, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 75-80.

Carlander, Kenneth D.
1955 The standing crop of fish in lakes. J. Fish. Res. Ed.
Canada, Vol. 12, No. h, pp. 5h3-570.

Clarke, George L.
l95h Elements of EcolOgy, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York,
1". 3210

Eschmeyer, William R.
1937 Some characteristics of a pOpulation of stunted perch.
Pap. Mich. Acad. Sci., Arts, andeetters, Vol. 22, 1936,
pp 0 613'628 o

1938 Further studies of perch pepulations. ’ap. Mich. Acad.
Sci., Arts, and Letters, Vol. 23, 1937, pp. 611-631.

Essbach, Alban R.
1956 Reduction and control of yellow perch, Perca Flaveseens
(Mitchill), through netting and chemical destruction of
the eggs in Bear Pond, Sussex County, New Jersey. Dingellé
Johnson Project F-3-R, Miscellaneous Report No. 17, pp. 1-9
(mimeographed).

Greenbank, John
l9h1 Selective poisoning of fish. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc., 19h0,
Vol. 70, pp. 80-86.

Grice, Frank
1957 An evaluation of Kassachusetts fyke netting program. Mass.
Div. of Fish and Game, westboro, hass., 9 pp. (mimeographed).

HOOper, Frank F. and Alfred R. Grzenda
1956 Studies on the use of toxaphene as a fish poison. Trans.
Am. Fish. Soc., Vol. 85 (in print).

Jackson, C. F.
1956 Control of the common sunfish or pumpkinseed, Lepomis Gib-
bosus in New Hampshire. Technical Circular No. 12, N. H.
Fish and Game Dept., 16 pp.

Johnson, Raymond E.
19h9 iaintenance of natural pOpulation balance. Proc. 38th
(19h8) Conven. Internat. Assoc. Game, Fish & Conserv. Comm.,

pp. 35-h2.

King, John E.
1953 Growth rates of fiShes of Lake Hiwassee, Oklahoma, after two
years of attempted population control. Proc. Okla. Acad.
Sci., Vol. 3h, pp. 53-56.

l95h Three years of partial fish population removal at Lake Hiwassee,
Oklahoma. Proc. Okla. Acad. Sci., Vol. 35, pp. 21-2h.

Krumholz, Louis A.
19hh A check on the fin-clipping method for estimating fish
populations. Pap. Mich. Acad. Sci., Arts, and Letters,
Vol. 29, 193b, pp. 281-291.

1950 Some practical considerations in the use of rotenone in
fisheries research. Jour. Wildlife Uan., Vol. 1h, pp. h15-32h.

Larkin, P. A.
1956 Interspecific competition and pepulation control in fresh-
water fish. J. Fish. Res. Ed. Canada, Vol. 13, No. 3,
pp. 327-3h2.

Leonard, Justin N.
1939 Notes on the use of derris as a fish poison. Trans. Am. Fish.
Soc., 1938, Vol. 6L, pp. 209-280.

Miller, Richard B.
1950 A critique of the need and use of poisons in fisheries re-
search and management. The Canadian Fish Culturist, No. 8,

pp. 1'14 .

Hoyle, John B.
19h9 Fish-pOpulation concepts and management of Minnesota lakes
for sport fishing. Trans. Fourteenth N. Am. Wildlife Conf.,
pp. 283-29h0

Odum, Eugene P.
195h Fundamentals of Ecology, w. B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia,
p. 167.

O'Farrell, Charles
1956 Accomplishments, improvements, and program changes --1951-1955.
Annual Reports on Fisheries Techniques, Iowa State Conserva-
tion Commission, pp. 1-10 (mimeographed).

Ricker, W. E.
1952 Numerical relations between abundance of predators and survival
- of prey. The Canadian Fish Culturist, No. 13, pp. 5-9.

Ricker, W. E. and John Gottschalk
19h0 An experiment in removing coarse fish from a lake. Trans.
AI“. FiSh. SOC.’ V01. 71, pp. 102-105.

Lb

Rose, Earl T. and Tom Moen
1952 Increase in game-fiSh populations in East Okoboji Lake, Iowa,
following intensive removal of rough fish. Trans. Am. Fish.
Soc., Vol. 82, pp. lob-11h.

Eounsefell, George A. and'w. Harry Everhart
1953 Fishery Science, Its Methods and Applications. John Wiley
& Sons, Inc., New York, p. 253.

Smith, M. w.
1950 The use of poisons to control undesirable fish in
Canadian fresh waters. The Canadian Fish Culturist,
NO. 8, pp. 1‘13.

Stewart, James D.
1956 Field experiments concerned with the destruction of spawn
of undesirable fish populations by chemical control. Dingell—
Johnson PrOject F-6-R—2, Job. No. b, 1956, vermont (mimeographed).

Swingle, B. so
1950 Relationships and dynamics of balanced and unbalanced fish
populations. Alabama Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. No. 27h, 7h pp.

Swingle, H. 3., E. E. Prather, and J. M. Lawrence
1953 Partial poisoning of overcrowded fish populations. Alabama
Agr. Exp. Sta. Circular No. 113, 15 pp.

APPENDI X

 

[\—
,__
g, \

TABLE I

ESTIMATED HUN ER OF RHCAPTURES FOR SADDLE LAKE

 

4:.
r

 

humber of Recaptures Total Estimated Estimated
marked in 11.5 barrels total percent

Species fish barrels picked up recaptures kill
Bluegill 701 h 62 22 3.1
Pumpkinseed h56 21 62 113 2b.?
Bl ack

crappie 85 2 62 11 12.9
Yellow

perch 135 8 62 h3 31.8
Warmouth 77 6 62 32 L1 .5
Lake chub

susher 131 3 62 16 12.2
Golden '

Shiner 160 l 62 5 3.1
Bullhead 105 13 62 70 66.6
Largemouth

bass h9 8 62 L3 57.7
Bowfin 5 - 62 - -
Carp 1 - 62 - -
Spotted gar 2 - 62 - -
Hybrids 2 - 62 - -
Grass

pickerel l - 62 - -

Total 1910 66 355 18.5

 

h?

 

 

 

TABLE II
Pounds Total Estimated Number Estimated
in 11.5 barrels total of fish total
Species barrels picked up pounds per pound number
Bluegill 388 62 2095 1b.? 30,800
Pumpkinsoed 105 62 567 12.2 6,900
Yellow
perch 95 62 513 9.6 h,900
Golden
Shiner 67 62 362 11.0 h,000
Black
crappie 22 62 119 6.1 700
Lake chub
sucker 159 62 859 8.2 7,000
Narmouth 133 62 718 lh.8 10,700
Grass
pickerel 22 62 119 8.6 1,000
Bullhead 127 62 686 3.h 2,300
Bowfin 3.5 62 19 .6 11
Largemouth
bass 182 62 983 2.1 2,100
Spotted
gar h 62 22 1.0 22
fl 0 * fa *
carp 205 62 285 .06 19
Northern * *
pike 62 to .3 10
Total 62 7h00 70,500

 

*
Totals known

 

I.“
C 4'3

 

 

Figure 1 .

  

H

II III

Saddle Lake - Growth Rate of Bluegills

State Average

   

Saddle Lake

1 I Q l 1

IV V VI VII VIII

Age Class
1 4

 

10

8

g; 6
,SJ
0
.5

h
.5
if.

C 2
CD
s—l

' O

100

3350
as
p
s:
Q)
0
$4
0)
D...

 

 

Figure 2.

 

Saddle Lake - Size Frequency Distribution
of Bluegills

I l J A j

 

7" 8 H 9" 10" 11 I! 12"

Size Groups

 

 

 

ESTIMATED NUMBER OF RECAPTURES FOR LOWER SCOTT LAKE

TABLE III

1:. l
\f)

 

1
fl

1.:
:-

—_‘-———
I

 

Number of Recaptures Estimated Estimated Estimated
marked total percent
Species fish barrels recaptures kill
Bluegill 70h 110 No.6
Pumpkinseed 288 110 130.9
Largemouth
bass 32 6 110 309.3
Black
crappie 78 110 126.9
Narmouth 12 110 -
Northern
pike 5 110 -
Bullhead 169 110 -
Yellow
perch 1 110 -
Hybrids 7 110 -
Golden
Shiner h 110 -
nmecmm
sucker 2 110 -
Bowfin 2 110 -
Grass
pickerel 1 110 -
Total l305 3 56.1

 

TABLE IV

\fl
0

ESTIHATED KILL OF FISH OVER 3.5 ITCHES IN LOVE? SCOTT LAKE

 

 

 

Pounds Estimated Estimated Number Estimated
in 1 total total of fish total
Species barrel barrels pounds per pound number
Bluegill 17.5 110 1925 21.L h1,200
Pumpkinssed 15.7 110 1727 lh.2 2h,500
Black
crappie 0.8 110 88 h.0 h00
Largemouth
bass 15.6 110 1716 3.9 6,700
Yellow
porch 0.5 110 55 13.3 700
Bullhead 2.1 110 231 2.8 600
Lake chub
sucker 17.6 110 1936 2.9 5,600
Golden
Shiner 1.5 110 165 11.0 1,800
'Nannouth 3.7 110 h07 30.0 12,200
Grass
pickerel 1.2 110 132 6.0 800
Buffalo h.0 110 LhO 0.0, 22
Carp 5.2 110 572 0.1 57
Northern
pike 3.3 110 363 .25 91
Bowfin l.h 110 15h .21 32
Total 9900 9h,700

 

V1
l—-'

 

Length in Inches

10 -

M

 

Figure 3. Lower Scott Lake - Growth Rate of
Bluegills

State Average

Lower Scott Lake

J A J A A A ‘

 

 

 

 

 

"l.
' II III IV V VI VII VIII
Age Class
Figure h. Lower Scott Lake - Size Frequency of
Distribution of
Bluegills
100-
o
a 50
.p
'C.
o
o
h
0)
o.
O 6" 7n 8" 9" 10" 11" 12"

Size Groups

 

 

J

L 2
,/

TABLE V

[11

ESTIMATED T-IUITBEP. 0F RECAPTUEE‘IS FOP. TEIE EAST BASIN 0F T8213. LAK

 

1
‘1

Number of Recaptures Estimated Estimated Estimated

 

 

marked in 8.3 total total percent
Species fish barrels barrels recaptures kill
Bluegill 1221 26 81 251 20.6
Pumpkinseed 2214 23 81 226 100.9
Black
Grapple 159 2 81 16 10 .1
Warmouth h8 3 81 32 66.6
Yellow
perch 88 6 81 57 6h.8
Largemouth
bass 141 13 81 130 317.1
White
sucker 17 1 81 C h7.1
Bullhead 10k 10 81 97 93.3
Longear
sunfish 22 2 81 16 72 . 7
Northern
pike 8 - 81 - -
Rock bass 7 - 81 - -
Bowfin 8 - 81 - -
Green
sunfish hh - 81 - -

Total 1991 833 81.3

 

TABLE VI

ESTIHATED KILL 0F F SH OVER 3.5 INCHES IN THE EAST BASIN 0F TURK LAKE

 

 

Pounds Estimated Estimated Number Estimated

 

in 5.3 total total of fish total
Species barrels barrels pounds per pound number

Bluegill 219.25 81 3355 23.1 80,900
Pumpkinseed 78.25 81 1197 5.2 6,200
Largemouth

bass 115.0 81 1760 6.5 11,h00
Black -

crappie 88.75 81 7h6 1h.5 10,800
Yellow

perch h0.75 81 623 13.7 8,500
Warmluth 19.75 81 302 16.7 5,000
Bullhead 23.75 81 363 5.h 2,000
Northern

pike 1h.50 81 222 .5 100
Bowfin 6.75 81 103 .h ' to
White

sucker 10.0 81 150 1.6 200

Total 8800 125,100

 

TABLE VII

ESTIMATED NUMBER OF RECAPTURES FOR THE WEST BASIN 0F TURK LAKE

 

 

 

Number of Recaptures Total Estimated Estimated
marked in 10 barrels total percent
Species fish barrels picked up recaptures kill
Bluegill h53 26 15 117 25.8
Pumpkinseed 266 3b h5 153 37.5
Green
sunfish 16 1 2:5 5 31.2
Longear
sunfish 7 - us - -
Warmouth 19 l 115 S 26.3
Black
crappie 79 - b5 - -
Yellow
perCh 53 3 85 1h 26.h
Largemouth
bass 2h 2 85 9 37-5
Northern
pike 9 l 85 5 55.5
White
sudker 51 2 h5 9 17.6
Bullheads 71 7 115 32 L5 . 0
Rock bass 2. - hS - -
Bowfin 3 - 85 - -
Hybrids 12 - ES - -
Common
Shiner 1 - LS _ -
"Carp 1 - h5 - -
Total 1069 3A9 32.6

 

\11
\"L

TABLE VIII

ESTIEATED KILL OF FISH OVER 3.5 INCHES IN THE TEST BASIN OF TURK LAKE

 

 

 

Pounds Total Estimated Number Estimated
in 5.3 barrels total of fish total
Species barrels picked up pounds per pound’ number
Bluegill 260.0 b5 2210 3h.9 77,100
Largemouth
bass 29.25 h5 2h8 8.1 2,000
Pumpkinseed 92.50 h5 788 20.1 15,800
Yellow
perch 06.79 MS 738 23.3 17,200
Black
crappie 2h.25 h5 207 12.5 2,600
White
sucker 13.0 h5 113 1.7 200
‘warmouth 30.25 L5 256 16.7 u,300
Bullhead 28.0 h5 203 8.0 800
Northern
pike 2.75 L5 23 22.2 500

Total h800 120,500

 

\J'L
C\

 

10

Length in Inches
11"

 

Figure 5. Turk Lake - Growth Rate of Bluegill

State Average

/ Turk L816“.

   

A A

 

 

 

 

0 II III IV V VI VII VIII
Age Class
Figure 6. Turk Lake - Size Frequency Distribution
of Bluegills
100
West Basin
- - - East Basin
8
.50
C:
o
o
H
o
‘10
0 . . 1 - 11, 1 all

 

 

 

 

7" 8 ll 9" 10" 11" 12 H

Size Groups

 

 

PITT

)1_.1.S C1 1‘13:
T.. itRJL'IT S1133 131110I111. 1"... 1) AFTT LL 10100 II JG

TABLE II

L2 11.111]

""T BY CW

ALAD

2h HOUR

 

 

 

 

 

*B - Before poisoning, A -
**l‘rom tra pnzts fidhed inside and outsice tie pols oncd areas.

ter poisoning.

Lower Turk Turk
Saddle Scott Turk Lake Lake
Lake Lake Lake East Basin Vest Basin
Species B AS 0 A B A B A B A

Bluegill (61 170 129 79 1h 5 10 2 h 3
Pumpkinsecd 33 2t 75 38 1h 3 7 1 7 2
Black

crappie £1 13 L5 )3 59 1 81 O 18 1
Largemouth

bass 20 18 17 11 25 2 10 2 15 0
Northern

pike l l h 2 0 2 O 2 - -
Yellow .

perch - - - - 5 O 1 O h 0
Bullheads 113 36 137 7h 56 3 28 2 28 1
Ed'armouth h 0 1 0 2 L 2 0 0 h
Bowfin 3 1 - - 2 2 2 2 - -
spotted

gar l 1 - - - - - - - -
White

suckers - - - - 2h 0 6 0 18 0
Hybrids - - - - 0 2 - - 0 2
Total 1077 260 )08 2b? 201 2k 107 11 9h 13
Percent

Reduction 75.71** 39.L7 88.0 89.72 86.17

ROOM USE 08.”

Date Due

“57.”.

'M—nflm _ ,

 

 

“h ' ‘ ’7'; "-

Demco-293

 

 

llHlflllllHHlll muuulm mummI "171117141!