TPWD 1956 F-3-R-3 #204: Basic Survey and Inventory of Fish Species in Those Portions of the Sabine River and Its Watershed from and Including Sabine County to Its Mouth on the Gulf Coast, Texa

STATE Texas _ PROJECT NO. F3R3 - Job B-9 ‘AX- PERIOD June 1, 1955 to max 31, 1955 we Jab Completion Report Charles E. Gray Project Leader TITLE Basic Survey and Inventory of Fish Species in Those Portions of the Sabine River and Its watershed from and Including Sabine County to Its mouth on the Gulf Coast, Texas. OBJECTIVES To gather fundamental data on the above waters in regard to their physical, chemical and biological aspects. To determine the distribution of fish species pre~ sent, their relative abundance and the ecological factors influencing their distri» bution. Lemons Because of limited access roads on the Sabine River, this survey was made by -bsat, working from one bridge crossing to the next. Forty seining stations were established on the Sabine River and visited three times during the period. Seining collections were made each time the stationS'fiere visited. Water samples were an» alysed one time at each station. In addition to the above, ecological notes were taken at_each station. Sixtywtwo additional collections were made on the tributaries of the Sabine. 'These stations were visited.only one time. Hoop and gill nets were used at random locations to obtain samples of the larger fish. Hoop nets proved to be the best method for this purpose. Rotenone collections were not made due to adverse public opinion in the area. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Credit is due Mr. Robert J} Kemp who was Project Leader at the time this job was initiated and who did a great deal of the field work before transferring to the Coastal Fisheries Division. We are indebted to Dr. Clark Hobbs, Zoology Department, University of Texas who identified several doubtful specimens. we are also grateful to members of the warden force who helped us to find access roads in some of the more remote country. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTECS The Sabine River rises in the blackland prairie soils in Hunt County, Texas, flowing southward through five general soil types and draining over 10,000 square miles of Texas and Louisiana before reaching the Gulf of thico approximately 360 miles downstream. .At a point approximately five miles above the city of Logansport, Louisiana, it becomes the boundary line between Texas and Louisiana and serves as such from there on to the Gulf of Mexico. Reports have been previously submitted on surveys covering the Sabine from its source down to Sabine County. This report covers the river from and including Sabine County to the Gulf of Nexico, or about 200 miles of river channel. Tributary streams were sampled only on the west or I Texas side of the river. In Sabine County, and through approximately the upper oneuhalf of Newton County, the river flows through the Norfork wnRuston Soil area of the Red and Yellow Podzolic Soils group. From there ittraverses a belt of Caddo - Beauregard Soil of the same group. At this point it enters a belt of Lake Charles — Crowley Soil of the Wiessenm boden, Half Bog Soils group which extends for some fifty miles to the lower Newton County line. Near the Orange County line, the river enters the Coastal Mershland where it remains for the rest of its course. In general the entire watershed included in this study is in woodland, wood- land pasture, Open pasture, and small crop farms. Recent studies by the U. S. Soil Conservation Service show that during the last few years much of the cultivated land in the area has been put into woodland, woodland pasture and pasture. This is probably a result of proper land use and conservation education and if the trend continues it should have a beneficial effect upon siltation and flood control in the Sabine River. Princiapl native vegetaion consists of pine, blackjack, post and white oaks, with some dogwood, sweetgnm.and hickory on well drained areas; in poorly drained situations gums and cypress pre— dominate. Grasses present are, in general, tall bunch grasses and coarse grasses of various genera. Bermuda grass and legumes are in wideSpread use on improved pastures. The riverbed is variable with sand, sandy silt and sandy clay predominating. There are occasional rock outcrOppings that form shoals and falls with deep cut rock cliffs forming the banks. Stream width varies from approximately 75 feet in some of the narrow deep pools to an estimated six or seven hundred feet near its entrance into Sabine Lake on the Gulf. From the City of Orange down to Sabine Lake, silt dew posits that have been periodically stirred by dredging operations, have formed a silty'muck bottom several feet deep. This condition.made seining operations practiw sally impossible on that part of the river. This study does not include sabine Lake since one of the marine biologist is now engaged in a study of that area. CEEWECAL CHARACTERISTICS The pH in this portion of the river varied from 6.2 to 7.0 with an average of around 6.6. The effects of lime deposits in the blackland prairie on the extreme upper drainage are hardly evident this far down exnept¢iuring periods of heavy run- off on the upper drainage only. So for fishery purposes, it can be stated that this portion of the river is acid. Total alkalinity ranged from 23 to #6 ppm which is about normal for waters of this area. The highest water temperature recorded was 88°F. The lowest recorded was 660E. This low figure undoubtedly does not represent the extreme low because for ob» vious reasons, boat trips were made during more favorable weather whenever possible. Chlorides ranged from is to 326 ppm, the higher figure being taken from that portion of river near Sabine Lake where tidal action affects the salinity. No salt- water pollution was found during the study. Results of water analysis are shown in Table l. POLLUTION There are no large cities nor large industries situated on this portion of the Sabine River, excepting the City of Orange, so consequently there is very little pollution originating in this area. There is some municipal and industrial pollu- tion in the area around Orange but officials of the Coastal Fisheries Division are taking steps to determine the sources and place responsibility. Silt pollution is present but localized. Suspended clays give the water a reddish brown color. Turbidity, as measured with a Jackson Turbidimeter, never ex— ceeded 75 ppm when the river was near flood stage. At normal water level, turbidity was less than 25 ppm. FISH COLLECTIONS Sixtywtwo seining collections were made on the tributaries of the Sabine and l20 collections on the river itself. Collections were preserved in formalin and brought back to the laboratory for identification and counting. Large fish were weighed and measured in the field and their stomachs preserved for later analysis. Table 2 is a key to the coining stations which may be located on the attached map of the study area. Table 3 shows coining collection results in.the Sabine River ind Table h shows the results in tributary streams. Since there is no standard scale for relative abundance, actual numbers are shown in the tables. Due to the many variables in seining techniques these figures do not give an accurate relative abun- dance picture, but a glance at the total figure for Notropis lutrensis, for example, will indicate that this shiner is very abundant in the Sabine River. Hoop net and gill net collections were used for stomach analysis and coefficient of condition data. Coefficient of condition data is shown in Table 5 and stomach analysis data is recorded in Table 6. Table 7 is a complete checklist of fish collected by all methods during this study. FfiMILY LEPISOSTEIDAE All four species of gars were taken during the study and although widespread and common they are not abundant. FAMILY AMIIDAE The bowfin or grindle was not found in any great numbers in the streams or the river but they are very common and even abundant in some of the lakes on the watershed. FAMILY ESOCIDAE This family was represented only by Esox vermiculatus. If Esox niger occurs on this drainage, it was not discovered nor heard of during this study. FAMILY CATOSTOMIDAE Ictiobus bubalus, Carpiodes carpio and.beolstoma poecilurum were found in the river while the tributary streams produced Ictiobus bubalus, beostoma pgeciluM' , Minytrega,melanow_s,E mygon sucetta and Erimypon oblonggs. FAMILY CYPRINIDAE Twentywthree species of Cypridids were collected during the study. In the Sabine River, NotroEis lutrensis was by far the most abundant. This shiner is an important forage fish in the river and is also prized as the most desirable bait shiner in the area. While making collections trips down the river, the writer observed many bait dealers with hundreds of minnow jugs set on the sandbars at almost every bend in the river. These minnow fishermen undoubtedly take millions of the redhorse shiners from the Sabine in a single year. Even so, the supply seems to be adequate to satisfy the demand thus far. Notropis atherinoides, Netropis Sabinez Notr0pis venustusz Pimephales vigilax and Hybogpathus nuchalis were also found in good numbers. In the tributary streams, NotrOpis venustus far outnumbered any other species. These were found to be especially abundant in the cool clear running streams. FAMILY.ARIIDAE Galeichthys felisz the sea catfish or hardhead was found near the mouth of the river where tides influenced the salinity. FAMILY AMEUERIDAE A glance at the collection results would indicate that this group was somewhat scarce. The best time to collect species of this group is a short period following a rise in the river. we were never able to time collection trips to coincide with best conditions. However it is common knowledge that there are many commercial fish» ermen operating on the river who depend a great deal on Ictalurus punctatus, Ictalurus furcatus, and Pilodictus olivaris. Some of these fishermen have complained to the writer that illegal electrical devices or "telephones" have seriously curtailed the catfish population in the river. Concrete evidence of this would depend upon former abundance records and as far as the writer can determine no such records are availw able. Heavy commercial fishing pressure has no doubt served to keep the catfish population somewhat curtailed, and in local situations the "telephones" could have a devastating effect on these species. Recent legislation imposing heavy penalties upon violators has no doubt greatly discouraged the use of these devices. FAMILY CYPRIDODONTIDAE Four species of tepminnows were taken during the study. Fundulus notatus and Fundulus olivaceous were fairly common and widespread. Fundulus notti and Fundulus chrysotus were more scarce and localized. FAMILY POECILIIDAE This family is represented only by Gambusia affinis which is common and widespread. FAMILY APHREDODERIDAE Aphredoderus sayanus was found in six of the tributary streams but was not found in the Sabine River. FfiMELY’MUGILIDAE Mugil cephalus is present in larger numbers than the table of coining results indicates. During seining hauls, many mullet were observed Jumping over or escaping around the ends of the seine. FAMILY ATHERINIDAE Labidesthes sicculus was the only member of this family taken during the study, occurring in the Sabine River and in three of the tributaries. FAMILY SERRANIDAE Morons interrupts was found to be present but apparently is very scarce. One was taken in the river and one in Cow Bayou. FAMILY CENTRARCHIDAE This family is well represented in both the Sabine River and the tributary streams with sixteen species being taken during the study. Both Micropterus punctulatus and Micropterus salmoides are fairly abundant with MicroEterus punctulatus far outm numbering any other species in this family. Fingerling spotted base were taken in nearly every seining haul. A number of sportsmen have become interested in float trips down the Sabine since this study was initiated and those who have made these trips report excellent bass fishing When the water is clear enough to use artificial lures. The writer‘s experience and reports of these fishermen indicate that the bass do not attain as large a size as those in lakes of the area, but these "stream" bass make up for their small size by their fighting ability in the running water. Both Pomoxis annularis and Pomoxis nigrommaculatus occur in good numbers with the black crappie outnumbering the white in both the river and the tributary streams. FAMILY PERGIDAE Ten species of darters were collected during the study. Selective and more intensive seining would no doubt uncover other Species of this group. FAMILIES CARANGIDAE, SCIAENIDAE, SPARIDAE, PEEURONECTIDAE AND ACHIRIDAE Except for Aplodinotus grunniens, the remainder of the fish representing the above families are saltwater forms which were‘ taken near the mouth of the river. Their upstream.migration is apparently limited by the upstream boundary of tidal saltwater influence. m. HsdHc H. womowdm ow asses boswacwm memewooe on mavens mecca. Amadeus“ Hoodoo can Genome oesoeacec aoaoeu. meoeeoo assess undo was gone 00%. assoc Hose. cow. om HoeoH bHW. was. QUHoawoom fiocoewoo ow manewoo m-H mapwawm we as m.m rm mm.Hos m so a as messes mam m-pw-mm so me m.m rm ee.mme ew.ss ems as masses mam mupmamm m.: we no.em as.ss new oe asses mac Hoaramm m.m we or.pme How.so,ees as masseuse mam maersmm an em «.0 rs Hom.wm we so emn.oe nonsense mayo Ho-r-mm m.m mm Heo.me w wxs no.2e 0e essences mswp _ mapmamm m.m mm mm.owm sw.su a as assesses asp maeramm me we m.m ow mm.ewm mm.su ems no nonsense 25m Hegrsmm 4.0 mm Heo.me es.ss eme.oe assesses as: mawmamw m.m mm se.m:: we so me as essences eve e-mmsmm an em m.m we mm.ewm ew.so as as accesaoeos 2am maHQamm m.m m rw.msr mm.se Ham ow mano<wHHo can Heamamm m.e wo oo.em m m\; sa_ees as acessaowpm esm flammamm m.m mm mm.ewm m W\r so see as easesasops z-po mapeamm m.: we em.mmm e w\; as me as ecosmaopes ease cammamm m.m wo mm.owm Hoe.su was as assessopws also Heamamm m.m om oo.em so w\: so see ensues one: eummsmm we mm m.e mm mm.omm How.ss on season anew muse-mm m.m mm mm.:mo we so was as assess saws «smeumm m.m me mm.owm www.su as as news anew Heamamm m.m mm oo.em m w\r so.eme as acne nape oumeamm m.m mo mm.owm mw.sa was as moose aims Ho-ramm m.m mo no.em a so me as moose same Hoamm-mw so as m.m mo he.m:: Hm.so one as. cosmeaowps e-mm Hoammamm we as m.m we :e.m:: mw.sa me as emsseaaoos sumo Hesmmvmm mm mm m.m we :e.ms: ; so ems ow emsseaspwm OIH Hovmmamm 4H me m.m we re.mrr m no. men so cosmecaoem cam euprumm m.m mo oo.em m_so. as cusses _ one esprumm m.m mm www.mwm mw.so one as ounces 7. Table 2. Key to Collection Stations on Sabine River and Its Watershed. _ (Sabine, Newton, and Oran e Counties Texas) sabine County: Sabine River 5 miles E of Sexton Sabine River 72-miles ESE of Sexton Sabine River ll 3/4 miles ESE of Sexton Sabine River 6 3/h miles NE of Milan Sabine River 82 miles ENE of Milan Sabine River 8 23/1!- miles ESE of Milam Sabine River 102-miles ENE of Memphill Sabine River'lO 2miles E of Hemphill Sabine River 10 miles ESE of Hemphill lO. Sabine River 3 3/8 miles NE of Fairdale ll. Sabine River #1 miles E of Fairdale l2. Colorow Creek Hwy 87 l mile E of Sexton 13. Reeves Creek Hwy 87 h miles SE of Sexton 1t. Sarassee Creek Hwy 2l hi miles ENE of Milan l5. Borges Creek Hwy 212mihaw of Milam l6. Tebo Creek Farm rose 2184 82'WSW of Milam l7. Palo Goucho Bayou off road 3 miles SSW of Milan 18. Borges Creek off road 3 miles S of Milan l9. Palo Goucho Bayou Hwy. 87 3% miles S of Milan 20. Palo Goucho Bayou off road 6 miles SE of Milan 21. Housen Bayou Hwy 83 22-lmiles SW of Hemphill “2. Hanson Bayou Hwy. 87 22 miles S of Hemphill 13. Bull Creek 948 (Hwy. ) 7'1miles SE of Hemphill 2h. Housen Bayou off road 8é-miles SE of Hemphill 25. Six Mile Creek Hwy. 87 8% miles SSE of Yellow Pine 26. Sandy Creek Hwy 87 t1 WSWcfi‘Fairdale 27. Sandy Greek (south prong) ley. 87 #1 SW of Fairdale 28. Six Nhle Creek off road 12 miles N of Fairdale 29. Aurelie Creek off road 2 3/8 miles SW of Fairdale O \QCIJ-KEO‘xU'IFUJNI-J Newton County Sabine River 6% miles ESE of Fairdale Sabine River 92-miles ESE of Fairdale Sabine River 10 1/4 miles SE of Fairdale Sabine River 11 miles SE of Fairdale Sabine River 9% miles NE of Burkeville Sabine River 9-% ENE of Burkeville Sabine River 5 3/4 miles ENE of Burkeville sabine River 5 3/4 ass of Burkeville Sabine River 9-miles ESE of Burkeville lo. Sabine River 9 3/1 miles an of Burkeville ll. Sabine River 102-miles SSE of Burkeville l2. Sabine River 112 miles E of Newton 13. Sabine River 10 :3/t use of Newton 14. Sabine River 102 miles SE of Newton 5. Sabine River 12 miles SSE of Newton 16. Sabine River l2§~miles NE of Call 17. Sabine River ll miles E of Call 18. Sabine River 8 3/4 miles ESE of Call 19. Sabine River 22 miles ESE of Salem 0 \ooov—qmmeccmE-s Table 2. (-S ontinued). 20. Sabine River 5 miles SE of Salem 21. Sabine River 8 miles SE of Salem 22. Sabine River 8 3/4 SSE of Salem 23. Sabine River 11 3/# mi. S of Salem 2%. Sabine River 1- mi ENE of Deweyville 25. Sabine River 2&1/2 mi. SE Deweyville 26. Sabine River h mi. SSE of Deweyville 27. Big Cow Greek 8 3/h mi wsw of Burkeville on Farm RD. 1&16 28. Beekham Greek 10% mi. WSW of Burkeville on Hwy. 63 29. Beekham Greek 11 Ltmi. WSW of Burkeville on Hwy. 63 30. Sat Creek 3 3/4 mi. wa Of Burkewille on Hwy 63 31. Little Sow Bayou 1 mi. SW of Burkeville on Hwy. 63 32. MeGray Greek 1 mi. NE of Burkeville on Hwy. 63 33. Little Cow Creek 1 3/t mi. SE of Burkeville 3t. Yellow Bayou 3 mi. SSE of Bunkeville 35. Big Sow Greek 10 3/t mi. SW of Burkeville 36. Yellow Bayou 3 mi. SE of Burkeville 37. Little Cow Bayou 5 mi. ESE of Burkeville 38. Big Sow Creek ee-ai. NW of Newton 39. Quicksand Creek h mi. NE of Newton E0. MSrey Branch 52-mi. ENE of Newton N1. Little Quicksand Greek 6% mi. ENE of Newton #2. Underwood Sreek7 3/h mi? ENE of Newton 13. Miller Greek t 3/t mi. NNE of Armstrong Lake NE. Big Sow Sreek 2 mi. SW of Newton N5. Quicksand Creek 8 3/# mi. ESE of Newton #6. Saney Creek 22 mi. NE of Bon Wier N7. Saney Sreek2 1 mi. W of Bon Wier N8. Davis Creek 32 mi. WSW of Bon Wier t9. Davis Greek 1 3/t mi SSW of Bon Wier 50. Davis Creek S mi. SSW of Bon Wier 51. White Oak Sreek 10% Mi. wsw of Bon Wier 52. Thickety Creek 12 mi. SSW of Bon Wier 53. Dempsey Greek 5 mi SSW of Bon.Wier 5N. Shureh House Sreek 6 mi. SSW of Bon Wier 55. Aroh Greek 8 mi. SSW of lon_Wier 56. Trout Creek 6 mi. NNE of Call 57. Trout Sreek 3 3/h mi. ENE of Call 58. Big Sow Creek t 3/t mi E of Sell 59. Big Sow Sreek North Fork 6 3/N mi. E of Call 60. Niohols Sreek h% SSE of Call 61. Slayboms Creek 2ml mi. WNW of Salem 62. Nichols Greek 5 mi. SSW of Salem 63. Big Cypress Sreek 8é~mi. SSW of Salem 6%. Big SypreSS Greek 5 mi. NW of Deweyville 65. San Slough North Fork 1 mi. WSW of Deweyville Orange County: Sabine River 5 mi. SSE of Deweyville Sabine River 6 mi NNE of Orange Sabine River 22 mi ENE of Orange Sow Bayou 22-mi. NW of Maurioeville Sow Bayou 22=mi. SSW of Maurioeville Little Cypress Bayou 7 mi. SE of Maurieeville Adams Bayou 5 mi NW of Orange Sow Bayoué mi. NE of Orangefield O G O O meammairwmks O I"'II-u. \\2 x: \3 6‘- ” ._ IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEIIIIEIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII- 9“ "- " ’° *4 6‘ IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII- " IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ~° ~v -» ~= ~ 2, 3L: m (f) Rs Lu 9.: *1: --_ a IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII cm a "‘ ~o (W “0 5‘ «C: 6\ -. - 9+ 3.: IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII “‘1 m. ___o IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIEIIIII 6“ ~ I“ - KJ 3..) (/3 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEIIIIIIIIII- -... -.. w +2 9.; Z a. ...._ LA 4; Ln "‘~ , IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII- *- 9" 99 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 33 HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII- I W h. 9” _r-_~_ c» e -... - -.. “*3 4: E5” 9“ .2 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII a? IIHIIIIII an m -~ \1 a4 - b V C“: $5 33 w 71—7 x ‘ bu 9' 5‘\ U! -.., '- IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ' x k: n \ LI .5 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII “In... IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEIIIIIIIIII o H w IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII '9 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEIIIIII *- IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEIIIIIIIIIIIIIII é IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII! IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGIIIIIIIIIII- ULTIO 1111100 NQNAN 0101:?!” WWW Home Pwo I' 1' at l' -—_.. --II NW!) I”E N If *LLWOO G a .42; .2 H ZIN‘NN ‘2‘} a. Lu u t Z IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII o IIIIIIIIIII! -.. *~ 2. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII- iIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII- -~ - -~ 3 U: ._ ..._ a: ~.. 0‘ 3 ‘11 33. ex ~.. an h: a)? M 1 UK IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEIIIIIIIIIIE?- N" ""' “- w M. C) 3 ** IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I- m ‘R “- U‘ V W ‘0 ‘3 U! .59 9Q . a: IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII II“ L2.) 9 . x b x 1: x on 3: ——l x \_ bu \ u R! ‘ Q: "’ “3 ‘0 30 K a K‘ . 8‘ 1 _ ,___ £‘# QIqQL