TPWD 1955 F-4-R-2 #137: A Check on Commercial Catch of Rough Fish from Possum Kingdom Lake: Segment Completion Report

STATE Texas PROJECT N0. Fnfi—R-2 Job B—ll PERIOD June 12 l9SE-Oct0ber 3.1; 1955. Segment Completion Report by Leonard D. Lamb Project Leader TITLE A check on Commercial Catch of Rough Fish from Possum Kingdom Lake. OBJECTIVES To determine the effectiveness of commercial_fishing on the control of rough and predatory species and the value of the legal fishery, as well as the relative abundance and the seasonal variation by species in the commercial catch. METHODS Since the general sale of fish from Possum Kingdom Lake is prohibited by Legislative action there is only a limited commercial fishery. This fishery is operas ted by persons under contract to the Texas Game and Fish Commission. These contrac» tors are permitted to sell the rough fish to defray the cost of the removal Operation. This contract specifically states which species are undesirable and may be retained by the fisherman, all others must be returned to the water immediately. The contracm tor is required to post a bond in the amount of $1000 to insure compliance with the rules and regulations for commercial fishing in Texas, a copy of which is attached to this report The contractor is also required to make a. monthly report to the Chief Aqua.tic Biologist of the Texas Game and Fish Commission detailing the catch for the month, showing the number and pounds of each species taken. The data used in this report was taken from these monthly reports and also con tained from checks of local wholesale and retail fish dealers who buy the fish.taken by the contract fisherman. Periodic checks were made in the field to determine to what extent game fish were damaged by the commercial netting operations. . DESCRIPTION OF 1mm Possum Kingdom Reservoir, completed in lth, is a multipurpose reservoir located on the Brazos River near Graford, Texas. The basin, when full, extends into Stephens, Young and Jack Counties with the major portion situated in Palo Pinto County. Possum Kingdom Reservoir is owned and Operated by the Brazos River Conservation and Reclamam tion District and is used for production of Hydroelectric Power, irrigation, and municipal uses. 20 The impoundment covers l9,99l surface acres at spillway and has a storage cape acity of 733,800 acre feet. The lake is a winding body of water some 67 miles in length with a 310 mile shoreline. This shoreline is irregular and characterized by a mixture of gently sleping valleys and tall limestone bluffs. The water level is subject to rather severe fluctuation due to periodic draw— downs to provide water for irrigation and hydroelectric power production. FINDINGS Table Number 1 shows the number of each species taken per month together with the percentage of the total catch represented by each species. Buffalo made up more than 50% of the total catch each month and provided as much as 9h.37% of the total in June of 1955. The average percentage for the entire seventeen (l7) months period was 8h.83%. The other species were generally of little importance except for September, l95h when carp provided 39.8% of the total catch and in November and December of 195% and January and February of 1955 when carpsucker provided from 10% to 20% of the catch. Table Number 2 presents the weight variations in the catch by months. Buffalo dominates the weights as much as it did the numbers since only the gar attains a size sufficiently in excess of the buffalo to overshadow the advantage of numbers held by that species. Table Number 3 presents the number of pounds of dressed fish of various species taken by the commercial fishermen, together with the average price paid by the jobber for these fish. The total value of the catch, to the fishermen, was $h6,h50.36 with buffalo providing suu.934.57 or 96.7h% of the total value (fig. 1). Table Number 4 shows the retail market value of the various species in the commercial catch together with the price per pound, paid by the consumer, for the various species. The variation in price per pound for which the various species were sold is less marked than the price paid the fishermen. The retail price difference was only 2¢ per pound while the fisherman was paid 10¢ per pound more for buffalo than for carp, carpsuckers, or suckers. At the retail level buffalo made up 9l.5h% of the total cash value of the fishery against 96.7h at the jobber level. (fig. 2). DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS It will be readily noted that'thabuffalo dominates the catch in both weight and number. This is due more to the selective netting skill of the commercial fishermen than to the relative abundance of this species. Netting operations of the Game and Fish Commission Biologists show that the buffalo do not dominate the population to the extent indicated. The reason for this selectivity may be found in the price per pound paid by the jobbers who bought these fish from the fishermen. Buffalo brought 19¢ per pound while the other species brought only 9d per pound. This is the incentive that brought about a selective netting operation that excluded all species other than buffalo from the catch whenever possible. This selective netting places a heavy pressure on the buffalo but has little effect on the other undesirable species. Care is taken to avoid concentrations of gar, carp, carpsuckers and suckers since they have relatively little market value. The overall effect of the present netting program is definitely lessened by the failure of commercial fish~ grmen to remove the large quantities of undesirable species that they now so carefully avoid because of the low market value. 3. The damage to game species that is often attributed to contract netting has apparently been exaggerated since repeated examination of the nets of Contract Fishermen in Possum Kingdom Lake have revealed such a small number of Game Fish that their loss would appear negligible if they all perished in the nets. This is not the case however and many recover after being released. The fishing methods of the contract fishermen are sharply criticized by a number of the sport fishermen who complain that the crowding of gill nets in the better sport fishing areas offers a hazard to boat traffic as well as trolling and casting. This complaint has been found to have a basis in fact and contract fishermen have been advised to spread the nets more and sink them to avoid entanglement with propellers of power boats. RECOMMENDATIONS 1. It is recommended that further study be made of Possum Kingdom Reservoir to determine suitable means for controlling the undesirable species present. 2. It is further recommended that, if possible a market be located for those undesirable species that are now avoided by the Contract.Fishermen because of their low market value. SUMMARY 1. Possum Kingdom Reservoir is located on the Brazos River near Graford, Texas and is situated in Palo Pinto, Young, Stephens, and Jack Counties. 2. The reservoir covers approximately 20,000 surface acres at spillway level and has a storage capacity of 733,800 acre feet. 3. Possum Kingdom is a multipurpose reservoir that provides water for hydroelecm trio power production as well as irrigation and municipal uses. h. The commercial fishery is limited to fishermen operating under contract with the Texas Came and Fish Commission since general sale of fish from Possum Kingdom is prohibited by Legislative action. '5. The most dominant species in the catch is buffalo which provides 8h.83% of the total number and 8H.65% of the total weight as well as 96.74% of the market value to the Contract Fishermen. 6. The predominance of buffalo is due to the higher price more than to relative abundance of this species. 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Relative value to Contract Fishermen of the various Species Taken from Possum Kingdom Lake, June 1, l95h—00tober 31, 1955. Lbs. of Dressed Average Price Paid Species Fish By Jobber Total value 5 Buffalo 238,603 $ 0.19 $ nu,93u.57 Suckers 805 $ 0.09 72.h5 I Carp 7.7M? $ 0.09 697.23 E Carpsucker 8,279 $ 0.09 746.11 ! Gar None Dressed No Market I t .. P .wm . .. . _ .. _ .. g Totals 255,u3u $ h6,u50.36 .I { Ca - mmmmmmmmmmm 1.5% ? Ca.osucker=-~— l~6% j ' / Suckers ~~~~~ .16% Buffalo a 96.7h % Figure 1. Percentage of Value to Fisherman Represented by Each Species in the Catch of Contract Fishermen, Possum Kingdom Lake, l95h w 1955. 7. Table 8. Retail Market Value of Fish Taken by Contract Fishermen, Possum Kingdom Lake, June 1, 195h~0ctobor 31, 1955. *- “n lbs. of Fish Average Retail Price Total Value Species Taken Per Lb. — Not Dressed “.mml_m_nni ! Buffalo 357,90u $ 0.19% $ 69,791.28 : Suckers 1,208 $ 0.17% $ 211.u0 I Carp 23,2u1 $ 0.17% $ u,067.17 Carpsucker 12,u15 $ 0.17% $ 2,172.62 Gar 28,051 No Market Value ; Totals #22,819 $ 76,2u2.u7 ! Suckers ~~~~~~~~~~ .28 % i Car-suckersmm—m m 2.85% g Buffalo 91.5h 3’6 ‘ Carp ........... 5,33% ii an- ~--- - a.“ run ”a . g .....ma-"_.._ ..._ __..-,.-—- ......y_._.__.-« —.y_._.._..... 4 Figure 2. Percentage of Retail Value as Represented by Each Species in the Catch of Contract Fishermen, Possum Kingdom Lake, 1954 ~ 1955. Rules and Regulations for Contract Commercial Fishing in Texas All persons desiring a contract for fishing in closed waters must fill out an application questionnaire, answering all questions fully and after having sign- ed and notarized the questionnaire, return it to the Game and Fish Commission, Walton State Building, Austin, Texas. The person receiving a contract must provide the Commission with a One Thousand ($1,000.00) dollar bond, made with a reliable surety company and payable to the State of Texas and approved by the Executive Secretary of said Commission, con— ditioned upon his faithful performance of the terms of such contract under regw ulations prescribed by said Commission. License Requirements. The person holding the contact and all persons employed for fishing by the contract holder must have a Commercial Fishing License. All boats used must be provided with a Fish Boat License. Seine or Net License, to be of metal, must be firmly attached to each onemhundred (100) feet or fraction thereof of seine or net. Each contract that is issued will be given a contract number. The contract holder must provide 2" x 8” x 8” blocks made from balsa or other light wood that will float, painted with water m proof white paint and the following legend, GAME AND FISH COMMISSION CON— TRACT N0. , stenciled on the block with black paint. The contract holderis contract number will be inserted after the No. Such a block must be firmly attached to each net that is set out. No fishes other than those listed in the contract will be permitted on the pre~ mises or in possession of the contract helder or his employees during the time the contract is in force. No contract will be transferable. Each contract holder must personally supervise the fishing activities of his employees. A monthly report, provided by the Game and Fish Commission, must be sent to the Chief Aquatic Biologist monthly, giving the information called for. (These rem ports will be strictly confidential.) 10. The Game warden responsible for the waters the contract holder desires to fish must be notified where the nets will be placed. Each time the nets are relo- - cated, this notification is necessary. Such netification may be made by phone or personal contact. The name and Commercial Fishing License number of each person employed to assist in taking fish under this contract shall be furnished the Game and Fish Commission and attached to the contract. Notice shall be given immediately of any person dropped or added to such employment. ' 10. Contract No. STATE OF TEXAS COUNTY OF TRAVIS : Permission is hereby granted to of , Texas and those working under his direct supervision to take carp, buffalo, suckers, gar and/or turtles from through the use of seines and?or nets and for this purpose he is appointed agent of the Game and Fish Commission and authorized to sell such fish for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the operation of the removal of such fish from said waters. It is specifically provided that no other fish shall be in the possession of said or his employees, while removing such rough fish as specifically named in this permit from the waters mentioned in the permit or while selling same. All contracts entered into hereunder shall become null and void and terminate immediately upon breach by the contracting person, or the attached list of persons, work» ing under this contract, of any of the terms thereof or of the attached rules and reguu lations that are hereby prescribed by the Texas Game and Fish Commission. It is a consideration upon which this permit is written and accepted that said H_will provide suitable equipment for the removal of such rough fish from the said and will make every reasonable effort to reduce the rough fish population in said lake. This permit shall be in full force and effect from until _ , unless same is suspended before that time by the Game and Fish Commission of the State of Texas and that said Game and Fish Commission reserves the right to suspend or withdraw this permit at any time for any reason whatsoever. Witness my hand and seal of office at Austin, Texas this day of A. D. 19 . A TEXAS GAME AND FISH COMMISSION by Marion Tools STATE OF TEXAS : COUNTY OF TRAVIS : Before me, a Notary Public, in and for County, Texas this day of 19 , personally appeared well known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed in this instrument and says that he understands the purposes and stipulations of same and agrees to all of the terms and conditions stated herein. Notary Public, in and for County, Texas