TPWD 1959 F-3-R-6 #523: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region S-B: Studies of Netting Methods Used for Taking Fish in Jasper and Tyler Counties

Jab Completion Report State of TEXAS Project No. F-3uR-6 Name“ . Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the waters of Region S-B. Job No. E-Lt Title; §tudies of Netting Methods Used for Taking Period Covered: Abstract: in Jasper and Tyler Counties, which have become regulatory authority counties, this jdb Objectives: To determine the effect of the present legal netting methods on game fish and rough fish in Jasper and Tyler Counties. Procedure; Gill nets were used in making this study. The-dimensions of the nets are as follows: one inch bar measure up to three inches bar measure graduating oneehalf inch every 25 feet, making a total of five mesh sizes for a 125 foot net; one and one—half inch bar measure up to four inches bar measure graduated oneehalf inch every 25 feet, making a total of six mesh sizes for a 150 foot net. These nets were eight feet deep. Therefore, seven mesh sizes were used ranging from one inch to four inches. The nets were marked with red paint where the mesh size changed so that the fish could be kept separate as ' ' of 128 overnight net sets made over the eleven months period. The nets were set in all areas of Dam "B" Reservoir, and up- stream in the Angelina and Neches Rivers for several miles, and downstream to the Toll Ferry crossing on the flashes River. The nets were usually set singly but sometimes in pairs in order to get a wide distribution of sets. As the fish were removed from the nets, they were placed in containers for each mesh size (See photograph). They were then counted and weighed by species and mesh size. At the end of the job all of these data was compiled into Table I which gives the total numbers, weight and average weight for each mesh size by fish species. . Because the larger mesh nets were not used until OctOber the total lengths of net by mesh size is not uniform. Considering this, the figures of the total catch (actual catch) in numbers do not give a fair picture of what each size mesh really catches. The l, 3% and h inch meshes are the ones that are not in line with the others. To correct these figures so as to make them all from the same lengths of net, the total number figures were computed for 3,250 feet of mesh. This makes all the figures on the basis Of 3,250 feet of each size mesh, which was the actual amount of 1%, 2, 2% and 3 inch mesh used. The percentage figures and the average weights remain the same for both sets of data. For the purpose of this study all catfish species, except the bullheads, were clas- sified as game fish because of the heavy fishing pressure on them by Sportsmen. Findings: mesh stands out from all the others by being the most effective in catching rough or commercial fish. The percentage figures are 8h.17% rough fish and 15.83% game fish com- pared to 69.92% rough fish and 30.08% game fish in the 2% inch mesh. The total numbers ’of fish caught drops from 266 in the 2% inch mesh to 120 in the 3 inch mesh. However, the average weight jumps from 2.1M pounds in the 2%-inch mesh to 3.65 pounds in the 3 inch mesh. The figures for the h inch mesh are based on only one fish caught out of a total of 900 feet of net. The figures for 3% inch mesh are 66.67% rough fish and 33.33% game fish or a total of only 5h in numbers but an average weight of 3.hh lbs. A total of 17,050 feet of net was used and 2,501 fish weighing 2927.82 pounds were caught. There were 28 fish species caught. Conclusions and Recommendations: Considering the data collected in this jdb, 3 inch bar measure mesh is the most efficient mesh size for nets used in the area of Jasper and Tyler Counties. It is therefore recommended that a minimum bar mesh size of 3 inches be used in these waters. These figures can be used as a basis for making future net regulation recommendations in the Southeast Texas area. Prepared by John N. Dorchester Approved by Assistant Project Leader Director Inland Fisheries Division Date May 19: 1959 W Results of Dam "B" Reservoir Netting Showing Catch by Mesh Size. Table I. .T.. w . l l .. 2 2 2 . 2 v 1 1 1 2 l A I . . . 2. O 13 M. o M“. m . ..s. 1.. m1... 2 2 1 1. m l .4 l .4 0 1 . O .1 o . 1b D 10 N 1 l l .L 1 m. I 1.4. . on M 0 no 2 :1 .3 2 2 no mu I Am M“ .. . . . . . . .. L 1w . 1 ; V L4. .11... 121 l .11... .14 3 A O 0 H1... . a. L 10 2 41 do 2 c M“ ”N mu . h Mfl mfl W 11 L 2 h. l 2 Ru .3 (o l ,b .3 3 I4 81...} .l. 1-. 3 . 2 No . 3... 63.. 113 l 05 35 86314 2 nrl l 31 163...) 1. oh. so. 00 .u. . M am 1” 2 D 7. 7. .1 :1 .4 no 10 7. :1 01 10 an n aw h 01 7. 2 .L 3. 2 0 2 1o 3. l l 3. 2 3. 2 3. A . . . I 3. 0 .3 1 01 1. 9, R. Q. 5. e 2 .o 4. 1 t ..m no 1 1 .3 no 0 1. O l 1. 1o 7. .4 0 L4 :1 .4 .4 no m. fly mm W 01 2 co 2w . .3 . . . on .m L L 2 41 q: 2 .1 . 2 .4 2 9. .% “Q P n. wl 1 1. 1 my 51 R. l mfl fly no 1 mm '3 . . . . 11 no 1 m... 1.19....a n.1ma 1 3. 1 3. .3 7. .3 1. wt 10 .4 1. 1. .8 1. 1. 1. .1 no 11 1 q I l l 2 3. 2 :1 2 R1 10 h. 0 51 .4 a d W q: 1. :1 wk 2. m” no MW 3. m .8 “w 2 .3 2 3. 3. 3. .1 l 31 .1 l a 0 can on .oon..ooen .sc- . .0 n W .4 i4 71 0 1 2 1. 2 2 1. 1 1. .3 .4 .3 2 1 l 2 1. 2 2 1. 2 A .3 .4 .1 :1 l l .4 no 0 .3 . h. :1 7. 41 0 7. 1. no 2 no 0. 1 no 2 R. .9 h an 01 O 2 no 41 .4 5, 0 1o . .3 2 0 q: 0 3. h. .1 9. 7. 1 mm 74 2 7m 1 w 3 1... is 1.1511,...hhi 0.0.1.... 5...% 2h...% 2 .2 l n1 1. W. 2 1. 1 2 h. 2 - .m 71 2 .4 I n1 2 . . 2 no . .8 o 01 .0 w 0 N 51 e 3. 1 1 1o 1. .4 1 A. 2 “W 0w 0 ”w . mm c Q ”m m h. 2 h. .1 %w 2 1 . 1 Q. 2 1 10 13 2 l .3 2 h. 2 Q1 1 .4 l .3 Q1 0 41 F3 2 .3 :1 R1 0 .4 l .3 to l 9. 2 1. 2 2 um am an no 7. .4 go 1o 10 .1 1 .3 o. .3 01 1 1o 7. e. 2 11 0 R. .4 1. 11 he 1 1. n 9. .4 9. .4 .U 1. .1 1. 2 l 1. l 1. l 1. o. 1 0 O O 0 l O 1. 1 l 1. l 1 an 41 01 no 01 1. 0 .4 :1 .4 2 Q1 0 10 :1 .4 :1 41 0 0 Q1 1. 2 h: 01 1 Q. .3 .4 01 l .1 :1 t .1 1b 10 .4 9. .4 7. .4 1. .1 :1 i4 1o :2 .1 e: :1 .0 co :1 7. %w no 11 :1 L: 13 .u to .3 L: ”w I 00- u o o. .neu-OII-o con-ouch 7| 0. w :1 2 .1 no 9. 3. .3 . :1 0 no 1 1 9. 1 Q1 2 01 1. 1 1 n. e. 3. .4 .3 . .4 41 .1 h. 3. 10 L4 10 1. my .3 2 1. .1 2 1o .4 p m“ 71 2 mu "1 m“ .1 2 n1 . _ _ on an 1. .4 2 2 9. %w mu .% WM %W. Jm m .w 10 .3 .4 l (u .3. .3 .4 l :0 .3 :1 +u o no a. :1 71 h. 0 7. 2 1 .3 3. Q. 2 A. 71 .b 2 h. 0 3. :1 n1 .3 7. 0 fl cu .b 2 J :1 .4 .1 Q1 .3 h. 0 .1 1o .1 7. l 10 no w: h. 2 11 :1 41 Q1 :1 ..m ow .J .fi w. no 11 9. 1. 2 0 0 0 1 l 7. O 0 0 .u 1. 1. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 no 0 0 0 no 0 A . t W m N. .7... W W.- A t W m N. ’82 .82 2501 00 0 no co .0 . 2 3. :1 Q1 11 11 91 n1 v1 :1 1o 2 n1 n2 9. 1. 2 7. 10 .8 ro :1 2 1. no :1 R. 2 l :1 11 1. 11 n1 7. 10 1o 1. 1. no n. v. n1 10 :1 10 so 11 :1 .3 no 1 mw 3. ”w :1 mm mw MN 10 11 w: o u I I u e o o I u . c n u o n u o o c c s o L - n o o 1o 2 .4 n2 0 .3 :1 h. 2 t4 :1 0 :1 1. 0 9. 2 l 21 .4 1 no no 9. l R. a 10 u .1 R. 0 10 h. 1. .M R. .3 MW 11 l 9. .4 1w v at 2 .3 p n1 2 . he 10 .4 co II... E} 14 5 l 7. o. m“ 11 n. o. m“ 1. .1 .1 [o 3. 1. l .8 a: mu mw mm .0» mm mu ”w . .% mm .4 3. .3 2 41 :1 1 l 3. l 1 .8 2 .3 :1 7. Ru 3. 41 3. Q. .3 01 .3 .3 .w 41 my 2 .4 E1 2 .3 a. 2 no :1 :1 9. Q1 5. no 1. 7. .4 2 1 10 no 0 71 no 0 .1 9w J. O 01 11 .4 5. 2 A. 7. .3 2 3. .3 2 h. .1 2 .1 2 Q. 3. .4 3. .3 .4 3. .3 .4 2 .1 :1 0 0 0 0 l 0 0 1. 0 no no 0 0 0 .U 0 0 0 0 no 0 no 0 O 1 he no .u 2 01 .4 :1 :1 :1 :1 71 :1 no 21 qr no L4. 01 :1 7. 10 :1 :1 :3 (o :1 :1. :1 so 9. no 13 .3 l .4 o. “W 10 9. 0 no 9. no 1. 93 oo o. 0 .4 no mm o. no .1 MW my a. no 1” WM 1 .. L .h er .3 d .L a L L :w on .o :w d 1. .o 3 .7 h. v. o. .3 R. 1 m so 1 1. 1. l l l 2 2 1 Q no 31 .4 m m“ 1. 41 .4 2 01 .1 .4 .3 3. 10 . . mm 71 01 no 11 3 3 11.... 5 7.1 2250 Feet 3250 Feet 3250 Feet 3250 Feet 3250 Feet 900 Feet 900 Feet 17,050 Feet 01 1 .4 .3 2 1. no. 9. my 9. o. 1. :1 1. 1. no 11 .3 1. aw w” am an my 3. 9. 41 h. :1 :1 1 .4 1 1 2. 2 1o 2 l h. 2 2 2 2 h. .3 :1 Data corrected to 3250 feet of net t e m N i f m m S 0 r a .n h h h 0 f d w h S S S h S h . S h h +u h r f a .0 S .1 S i S h .1 S h .1 S h s e r r d e e u e a r .1 f. a f i s e e w. .1 s w. i s e e a r a d e .k s b m e d .1 h .t b s n f i .i i s. h i w. h i M w. E. a .. r a r c r r m t S a s u n f P P h s .n w. h s h. F S a h u e o r. r h 1 r a i c h a s u n P P % e i s % e .1 s r e y. s 1 s k h .e e t u 1. e c w. t b s u a a m w. i. 1 m F 1. u o e s i c d k k u b u t t d u h 1 s r r o a w. 1 o a F S t as 0 d d a d u e a. C O b a l a a 0 d 1b 1 r c c R G h A R G h. A e a O n e n r t e s r u u m W w e c e m e u i a r % e E a. 1 1. a. n t t .1 a k t s s l .K h n h e t o .6 e a e k 1. 1. m .1 1. 1 u m c .1 8 r t z c t e v. b P P .1 1. c s n e t E .t m e E. e t n. a a o a a a a o a a e l n .o o M s. a .u u a u r r a 1. h e m u a r o u n .u i a t t R .u t t +. R G .t . .1 o h . o .1 l n. 1 r h a a m e r 1. 1. a P a 1 o e w 1. o o o o o o .o A L S S u. n. B S B G .c n. C S Y. B P. .o B F r. e. W B .L R B T m. 1?. 1H m. m1 m1 1P 1? W. Note: Weights are given in pounds As fish were removed from the nets, they were placed in a container for each size mesh. Field Assistants Larry Fisher and Kenneth Bales are shown.