TPWD 1968 F-3-R-15 #1218: Region 3-B Fisheries Studies: Population and Reproduction Study of Channel Catfish in Lake 0' the Pines, Job No. B-23, Project No. F-3-R-15

. FINAL EEPQET AS raquired by FEDERAL fiID IN FISHERiES RESTQI ;¢IIQH AST Federal Aid Prmject'flea F—S—Rwlfi Ragian EwB Fisheries Stuflies -J0b Ne. Bw23 Pfipulatian and Rgpfiaduetian Study Qf Channel Catfish in Lake 0? the Pines Prmject LEader: Joe E. Toele J. R“ Singletan Efiefiutive Eirectag Texas Parks and Wildlife Dapartment Austin, Texas Nation Taale Eugene A; Walker DHJ Geordinatgr Directar, Wildlife Servicaa may a, l968 ABSTRACT With the completion of the 1965 segment study of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatu. in Lake 0' the Pines, it was concluded that only a limited population of adult catfish was present. Various collection techniques including gill nets, hoop nets, trot lines and seining failed to provide evidence of successful reproduction of channel catfish. Extensive flooding of the reservoir during 1966 hampered efforts to determine the effects of hydrogen sulfide gas as a detriment to channel catfish reproduction. Increases in fish collections of 1966 may indicate an increase of channel catfish in Lake 0' the Pines. However, the fact that these fish could have entered the lake during flood stage must be considered. Hydrogen sulfide gas has apparently diminished in the reservoir since the flood period as no toxic concentrations were recorded in 1967. It is recommended that advanced fingerling channel catfish be stocked in Lake 0' the Pines if a surplus is available. Extensive restocking is not considered feasible due to the relative large size of Lake 0' the Pines and the uncertainty of future hydrogen sulfide levels. It is recommended that this job be terminated with the completion of this final, F—3—Rr15 segment. FINAL REPORT State Of Texas :roject No. F—3—R—15 - -Name: Region 3-B Fisheries Studies Job No. B—23 Title: Population and Reproduction Study of Channel Catfish in Lake 0' the Pines n_n__mH____l______h______________.___ Period Covered: February 1, 1967 - January 31, 1968 OBJECTIVES: To determine the need for stocking channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) in Lake 0' the Pines. 1. To determine current population levels of channel catfish in Lake 0' the Pines. 2. To determine if toxic concentrations of hydrogen sulfide gas are periodically present in Lake 0' the Pines. TECHNIQUES USED: During the 1965 and 1966 segments of this study, experimental gill nets, hoop nets, seines and trotlines were utilized to evaluate the population level of channel catfish in Lake 0' the Pines. Experimental gill nets: Gill nets used in this study were 150 feet in length and eight feet in depth with mesh size ranging from 1 to 3% inches. Hoop nets: Nylon hoop nets with mesh sizes of 2 and 2% inches square were stretched on cypress runners and baited with commercial dog food and cottonseed cake. ‘ Trot lines: Nylon trot lines were constructed with 3f0 O'Shaugnessy hooks. Each line was 100 feet in length with 30 hooks. Seines: Nylon bag seines were used in an attempt to locate spawning areas. These seines were 26 and 16 feet in length. Hydrogen sulfide analyses: Eight permanent sampling stations were established on the reservoir during the 1966 segment to determine hydrogen sulfide gas levels. Early tests were made by sodium thiosulfate—iodine titrations. Later tests were made colorimetrically with a Hach DR—EL chemistry kit. Figure l is a map of Lake 0' the Pines with station sites labeled. FINDINGS: During the 1965 segment 50 units of experimental gill nets were set in Lake 0' the Pines. Five nets were set overnight once each month from March — December, 1965. Trot- lines were set in conjunction with these netting activities for an approximate total of 1,800 baited hooks during the segment. I‘II 0.... O'- O. 00!. I00 Wilkes Reservoir our-cue... .oaullca as... Hydrogen sulfide collection stations on Lake 0 the Pines Figure 1. -3- Six adult channel catfish were collected this segment. Four of these fish were .aught in gill nets, the remaining two on trot lines baited with small sunfish. The baited h00p nets failed to catch any channel catfish although a few bullhead catfish (Ictalurus 32.) were taken. The average weight of the 6 fish collected was 3.92 pounds, with individual weights ranging from 2.37 to 6.37 pounds. Table 1 contains weights, standard lengths, K—factors and sexual conditions for each catfish. Table 1 Channel Catfish Collection Data from Lake 0' the Pines _ 1965 _n___c_____nlnn__lwnmn_w._cnmcn.i__wmlwn_n_n_m_mn__w__i_n___m____a____.___m___n__ml__i_____ Standard Length Weight Date No. (millimeter)- (1b.) K Condition 4/28/65 1 515 6.37 2.09 female—approaching ripeness 6/29/65 2 474 3.88 1.65 femalemspent 6/29/65 3 408 2.37 1.54 male—spent 6/30/65 4 390 2.37 1.77 female-spent 7/1/65 5 503 4.50 1.60 ma1e*3pent 8/30/65 6 446 4.00 2.04 female-approaching ripeness _._i______________w_H________i_l__________n_n___________a___n_w__H_,w____c____________nm_ Potential spawning areas were seined in an effort to capture fry or fingerling channel catfish. Some areas were baited prior to seining with commercial dog food and cottonseed cake. The Hurricane Creek area was seined most frequently because of the success of col— 1ecting adult specimens in this area. Areas were seined at various hours, both day and night. No channel catfish were collected by seining. Hydrogen sulfide tests made during the 1965 segment failed to indicate any lethal concentrations of un-ionized hydrogen sulfide gas. The highest concentration recorded was .06 p.p.m. from a sample taken in Johnson Creek in July. The pH value of this sample was 6.8. The results of laboratory tests under Project Fw8—R*10, Job E—l, were used as cri— teria in this study for determining lethal concentrations of hydrogen sulfide gas. According to these findings the median lethal dosage (LB—50) of un-ionized hydrogen sul— fide is 0.8 p.p.m. at pH 6.8, 0.7 p.p.m. from pH 7.0 to pH 7.6 and 0.6 p.p.m. at pH of 7.8 for channel catfish fry. At pH of 7.0 the LD 50 was found to be 1.0 p.p.m. for fin- gerling catfish, 1.3 for advanced fingerlings and 1.4 for adult channel catfish. Factor used to compute the un—ionized hydrogen sulfide in p.p.m. from total hydrogen sulfide content was taken from Standard Methods for the Examination 2f Water, Sewage and Indus— ” «Ia—un— 'F— 1""— trial Wastes. These data are contained in Table 2. _4_ Table 2 Factors to Compute Un—ionized Hydrogen Sulfide from Total Hydrogen sulfide Contents pH Factor pH Factor pH - I. ' Factor _____c___1______l__i_n____1____nn___l______.__n__n_________n1___in.1___._i___w_nfl__n____1__ 5.0 0.98 6.8 0.44 7.7 0.091 5.4 0.95 6.9 0.39 7.8 0.073 5.8 0.89 7.0 0.33 7.9 0.059 6.0 0.83 7.1 0.29 8.0 0.048 6.2 0.76 7.2 0.24 8.2 0.031 6.4 0.67 7.3 0.23 8.4 0.020 6.5 0.61 7.4 0.17 8.8 0.0079 6.6 0.56 7.5 0.14 9.2 0.0032 6.7 0.50 7.6 0.11 9.6 0.0013 These factors are applicable at a temperature of 25°C. For temperatures below 20°C. or above 30°C. or for sewages having a mineral solids content exceeding 2,000 mg/l, suitable core rections should be made. Sewage and Industrial Wastes, page 274.. An additional thirty—four channel catfish were collected during the 1966 segment. Nets and trot lines were set at monthly intervals in the reservoir with the exception of June, when 3 collections were made. Table 3 contains collection dates, 8123 data and individual condition factors for each catfish taken. Tab 1e 3 Channel Catfish Collection Data . ,,_mmmm-————W . . . Length Weight "K" Date Number (mm.) (grams) Factor Sex 2/11/66 — - — - _ 3/30/66 — — _ _ _ 4/25/66 1. - 4083 — _ 5/24/66 2 255 304 1.83 male—3 6/8/66 9 522 3176 2.33 female 500 1758 1.41 male-3 396 1021 1.64 female-3 295 1539 2.10 female-5 293 404 1.61 female—5 280 412 1.88 female-3 172 82 1.61 male—3 262 314 1.76 - male-3 261 305 1.71 immature 15- Table 3 (Continued) Length Weight ”K” Date Number (mm.) (grams) Factor Sex mm. u‘nq-mp—p—n. .m— 6/10/66 13 503 2&95 1.96 maiemfi ’29 to“ ’ In m Q 5 221:1 A! ‘21 ‘15 1,1 {:2 “*1 36% 1 r .. I; {:1 " H... i“; .1.) u ’1- i. . 9'3. “ E- l..-~‘=~~3 Reg 5. . 2. _. )3 ‘ ’MldlEM3 26| 380 2.03 female~3 ??r .1 i 2 {NJ .v.v’* ‘ 22.5 4 E .2531» "Im‘ " "J l 9 3.- 0 ’ . 49 1.1333131. 32 o- * . 7) 1%“ 1.85 female~3 3?9 97 1.59 immature ‘83 102 . of malem3- 6/29/66 - 2 189 133 l.50 female~3 6 gr ‘5 "E‘ 3 " r’ '_'., I." .. ~ w. ’_-‘ (J. ldii 1.9. reenlewn 7/66 8/66 - m m m . 9/30/66 2 2? ix.) i I I 392 1.88 female—S 00 U: Ln \9. C) t. N immature 10/2/66 — 11/22/66 318 652 2.03 male~3 12/66 — _ - — . ~ 1/67 - — — m _ Him 1 i i ”i” iange 1.24 — 2.32 Average ”K” — 1.79 _mw-mmmmmmmmm W mum—W . run-u In midepril, 1966, the reservoir was flooded by heavy rains on the watershed. The flood waters crested at approximately 10 vertical feet ebove conservation pool level. This flooded condition presisted through June9 1966. During this period the normally clear waters of the reservoir were throughly mixed. Figure 2 is a photograph of the flooded tailrace during flood stage. This flushing action apparently dissipated shy strat~ ified concentrations of hydrogen sulfide gas. Table 4 contains hydrogen sulfide data com— piled in 1966. Of the 34 channel catfish collected in 19663 24 were taken during the flood period in the month of June. A total of 15 experimental gill nets and 300 baited hooks were set during the June collections. Individual fish ranged from 82 grams in weight to 7 pounds. Fifteen immature catfish were collected. 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