TPWD 1964 F-3-R-11 #895: A Fisheries Evaluation of Commercial Moss Harvesting on Caddo Lake, Segment Completion Report, Federal Aid Project F-3-R-11

SEGMENT COMPLETION REPORT As required by FEDERAL-AID IN FISHERIES RESTORATION ACT TEXAS Federal Aid Projeet Noe Fe3-R—ll Fisheries Investigations and Surreys of the waters of Region S—B Job No. B—Bl A Fisheries Evaluation of Commercial Moss Har~ vesting on Gaddo Lake Project Leader John Na Dorohester J“ Weldon Watson Executive Director Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Austin, Texas MfiI‘iOfl T0016 Eugene A. Walker D~J Coordinator Assistant Direoter for Wildlife October 28, 1964 ABSTRACT Nineteen netting collections were made on Caddo Lake during this segment to determine the availability of fish and fishing pressure in those areas of the lake where submerged aquatic plants were harvested° Due to the rapid regrowth of plants in the harvest areas only a short time interval was available to net cleared areas» The resulting data indicated little change in fish movement or fishing pressure in harvested areas as compared to uncut areas" A proposed commercial harvest of much larger scale is now being con— sideredu This would enable the necessary long term netting survey to be made which would produce more accurate data on fish population movements and the resulting change in fishing pressure. SEGMENT COMPLETION REPORT State of Texas Project Non F—S-R—ll Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region S—B. Job Noe B‘Bl Title; A Fisheries Evaluation of Commercial Moss Harvesting on Caddo Lake. Period Covered: February 19 1965 — January 51, 1964 OBJECTIVES: To determine the availability of fish in those areas of Caddo Lake that are cleared of submerged aquatic plants by a commercial harvest. Also to deter— mine the change in fishing pressureo TECHNIQUES USED: Eight netting stations were established in different areas of Caddo Lakeo One experimental type gill net was set at each stationv These nets are 125 feet in length5 6 and 8 feet deepg with mesh sizes of 13 1 1/2, 2, 2 1/8 and 5 inches in 85 foot sectionso Total numbers and weights of each species were recorded for each sta— tiono Data collected before the commercial harvest were compared to data col— lected during the harvesto Spot checks were made by instantaneous counts of fishermen and boats at every station during each netting collection” Nineteen separate netting collections were made on the lakee The first 15 collections were made before any harvesting activities began, The latter six collections were made during a preliminary feasibility harvesting program. During this harvesting period% however, only five of the permanent netting stations were in a harvested areao A spot check of fishermen was made at each netting station during the harvesting to determine if they were utilizing the out areas. Standard water analysis was made for each netting station during the harvesting to determine if water quality would vary in the out areaso FINDINGS: A total of 23115 fish were collected by nets in the nineteen collecw tionso There were 19174 fish taken prior to any harvesting activity and 941 were netted during the harvest periodo The six collections made during the harvesting activity indicate a considerable increase over the earlier col— lections when expressed in fish per square foot of note It is the writer's belief that natural increases in fish movement during early spring contributed much to the higher netting ratio. The harvesting began in early March and con— tinued into April 1963. 13_ Game fish taken before and during the harvest period comprised 51.52 and 52.09 per cent. respectively. of the total catch. This indicated that the ratio of movement between rough and game fish species remained stable in both harvested and uncut areas. The harvesting activity was not concentrated in any one area of the lake. Several species of aquatic vegetation were collected. The major species were coontail (Ceratophyllum sp.), parrotfeather (Myriophyllum §£°) and water— weed (Elodea sp.). Only areas containing an abundant growth of one or more of these species were harvested. The vegetation was out off several feet below the surface but the cutting stimulated the growth rate of the plants. In most harvested areas the plants reached the surface again in l or 2 weeks. This its original density. Table 1 contains the number and weight of each species netted prior to the harvesting activity. It also lists the per cents of total number and weight for each species. The total number and weight of game fish and rough fish is listed for each netting station. Identical data on the six collections made during the harvesting are contained in Table 2. Water analysis made for each station included pH, chlorides and total methyl—orange alkalinity. Table 5 lists the average data for each collection on a comparative basis between out and uncut areas. The total figures indicate only a slight variation in the water quality of the harvested areas. Average coefficients of condition (”K” factor) of several game fish species collected before and during the harvesting are compared in Table 4. All but the redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) show a slight decrease in "K” during the harvesting period. These decreases are only minor and a longer term study is needed to express any conclusive results in relation to condition. As each net was picked up during a collection a visual check was made of the number of boats and fishermen in sight. A total of 11 boats containing 16 fishermen were seen in the harvested areas. In the uncut areas 17 boats containing 51 fishermen were seen. According to these data approximately twice as many fishermen were utilizing the uncut areas. This does not indicate any increase in fishing pressure. however. because the surface acreage of the uncut areas is many times that of the harvested areas. If the harvested areas had remained clear of vegetation for a longer period perhaps more fishermen would have found these areas and an increase in fishing pressure could be seen. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Submerged aquatic plants in moderate numbers are important necessities to a balanced fish habitat. It is only when they become overly abundant that they create a problem. The plants provide protective cover for small food organisms and fish. 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H me.H a o o o o as. n o o o o o o mw.n m mm.e s mH.e a ao.a HH sm.sH HH Hn.ae em mm.a m o o sn.s a mH.on se ma.me mm mm.ne mm oo.m H o o mm.m H Hn.m H mb.Hm s ma.m H ma.mH NH oo.m m oo.e n o o o o o 0 .ps .oz .93 .02 .pe .02 e .epm n .epm m .epm .m oHpes anm Amman mmpocom t .an.mHH NOH ana eases mb.HN we anh mama mH.wnH meH chpoB Om. H Benn hmpdsnmohh * >m.H N eHaacno MceHm o o oHaaoho opHns as. m emHoesm HHHmesHm Hm. H Qmescm seesaw o o emHeesm eeppoam an. H . apnosheg o o amen npsosmmndq wo.HH on mmmp BOHHoM o o amen QPHSB o 0 Pee neonseHh o o eemnHHsp soHHow m o o eemnHHsp MoeHm * om.s e was Hmsoeno nN. . H homage emeHow s o 0 undo c 00.» b hmMonwnfiflo * nH.nn om pesos. eeppoam . mm.s a HmooMoHa eHeeo . ww.me mm seam pssNNHm o o o eHmsom w Om.m H new omosmood c mN.mH m new sovpoam * o 0 new mmospnonm c .mm nmm H .epm mmmmmmm -5- Table 5. Average Water Analysis Data Unharvested Areas Harvested Areas Collection M.0. Alkalinity Chlorides M.O. Alkalinity Chlorides Number pH P.P.M. P.P.M. pH P.P.M. P.P.M. 14 6.9 14 44.91 7 2 16 42.55 15 7.0 19 59.00 7 1 19 42.55 16 6.6 16 59.71 6.7 15 42.55 17 6.9 17 42.55 6.7 17 42.55 18 6.9 16 42.55 6 8 16 42.55 19 6.0 15 55.46 6 2 20 55.46 Average 6.7 16 40.70 6 8 17 41.56 Table 4. Average Coefficients of Condition (”K” Factors) Before Harvest During Harvest Species Average ”K” Species Average ”K” Largemouth bass 2.57 Largemouth bass 2.45 Channel catfish 1.96 Channel catfish 1.87 Black crappie 5.21 Black crappie 5.06 Warmouth 4.27 Warmouth 5.85 Redear sunfish 4.29 Redear sunfish 4.40 a— _. w. _.. — _ _. — u- — u..- "I _ u—n — —. "I -— .— m u u.— _ —. -— _. .- .... .— _ _..n —. —.-. a... — _ _. .— -— ..— _.._ .... The netting records prove that fish are present in very heavily infested areas although it is doubtful that a sport fisherman could harvest them due to the inaccessability caused by the dense aquatic plants. A proposed commercial harvest of much larger scale is being considered at present. It is recommended that this job be continuedE with the belief that a netting program conducted when areas would be clear of vegetation for a longer period of time3 would supply more conclusive data. Excessive aquatic vegetation is becoming an increasing problem in this area. Its total effects on aquatic animal life is unknown and should be further studied. /. fly, Prepared by Joe E. Toole Approved by gzuenierwtx’flg/grf”'f Assistant Project Leader . Coordinator Date October 289 1964 Charles E. Gray Regional Supervisor