TPWD 1956 F-6-R-3 #206: Fish Survey and Inventory of the Aransas River, 1955–1956

_. Tam-J1 _ 1.1.. .. PJJJJJT NJ “mF'33_J.J‘b_BT' 11 ._._H “J :0) July 1 -1955.~1JJIJ_3O_1195J111_1 Job CJmJlJtiJJ RJert Al Flury PriJJJ LJJJJT TTTEE JJJJ in the AngJJJ RierJ JJJiJ SurJJy JnJ IJJJmter‘Jf Fish SJJJiJJ Paw “deJJJmtal data JJ JJJ JJJJiJJl Jug JayJiJal JharJJJJrJ Jf b2 TJ JJJJJJJJJ AIJJJJJ RJVJro LJJ JpJJiJJ JrJJJJJ JJJ their rJlative JumerJ in JhJ an TJJJJy JriPJ JJrJ fifiJg tJ JJJ IJJJJJJ Rier t6 gatth JJJiJ JJJ fiJthiJJ JJJJ frJJ SJJJJJJJJ 30,1955 Jhrough JJJJ 21,1956 WJtJr JJJJIJ JJJfiyJJJ JJJJ rum JJ " n JJJJJionJ JJJ JJJQial JJlinin JJmleJ JJJJ tJEJI JVJr JJJ tJQIJyDJiXZJilJ JJJJJJ ' . .3 wart of thJ JJVJJD General JealogiJal JoniiJiJJJ Jf thJ rier .Ji fiflfxmflmfi“ Jri width :JpJ l and 2 JJJJ JJJJ :Jd depth JJJJurJJJItJ JJrJ thJm =' 1f2 ' ”2 fl JJJIJ and f Jm,lJriJl ".2 ,J JJJiIifitratiOE. MJJh anJrJl ianJJaJion about JJJ ..TJ, fiJJiJg JJJJJJJ, flJJJ JJriJaB, JJJ., JJS obtJia d fer Mr FJJLL ~J' Juu1. of J rJJJJ GOVEIiJJ JJJJ of thJ north JhorJ of JJJ leJr rier and fur " ' 'o ' J - Jro CJJJJJJJ CJJJJJ and EJJ GJlJb GlaanJr, LLrJJtJr JJJ iJ-. 21 1 Jf JhJ WJldJr WilJlifJ F. JJJtion Jn tJJ JJaJJ JiiJ Jf JJJ IJVJr, JJJJ JlJJ JOHJJJJJJ about JJJir viJwJ in fiJJJriJJ imfirJVEMJmtg JJ tJJ Etrfiama 1 3i gill IJJJ 125 by 6 fJJt with JunrJ mJJh JJJtlonJ f JJ,1 JJ 3 inGhJJ JJJJ JJt tJiJJ at JJthJJn JtJtiJnJ JJJJJ JJJJiJnJ JJrJ lJJJtJd at JJJJ JJJJ IJJJJJJJ rier JilJ abive thJ dirt dam nJJr JJJ JQJJJ of JlJ JJVJJ. TJJ fiJJJ JJJJJJ Jf JollJJtionJ JJJJ madJ waJ SthmeJr 30,1935 thiwugJ MJrJh 29,1956;JJJ JJJJJi JJJJJJ nyJ MJy lJ JJ 18,1956 NJJJ JJIJ JJJ JJrJJJ thJ JJVJr @hJJJQJ JJ 2 to J JtJtm 31$ TJm.3 t. 5 2 Mo «ii PinJd up thJ fillCTiJi "TH fir WEH-* .2 - *} f’iJh JJJJJ JJJJ JJiJJJi mJJJurJi JJJJi . - -ny JJllJJtioJJ JJrJ man wiJJ a %viJJJ JgJJrJ mJJh 30 by 6 foot bag April J, 1956 aJJ Jt JilJJ 5, 16 «ad 26 on JuJJ 21,1956 JJIEJitJJ IJtJd SJJJJ sJinJ Jt JJlJ 1 OJ 22 im map 1, JJJJrJ JbJut 73% JJJJJJ JilJJ 1JJJJtrJl T'JJJJo TJJ JIJJJJJ JJJJ Jf JJJ JyPiJJlly J y JitJ J fJJ 11.. TJJJrJJJJJrJth JJ JJJ w -J £203 and SJJ F. .flJtieJ iI SJ: JJJ JJJJrJth iJ iJ JJJ CJAJty and JJJ VJIiJuJ JrJJkJ 2. seetterea, mere er less testament, tater heles. The lower twentywsix miles ef the river, f"ee just aheve the in So highway 77 hriege ts the menth, eeutaihs yermameht standing ester, suhjest ts the rise she fell ef the ties in @e3ehe he a may 2 shews this lsfer 3ertieh ef the river iu.here setail thhh may 1. Ghilti3ih Treek is the eager tributaryE sf 33%.A7fiefiafi River, entering she river just abeve the eeuth, betteeh @e3she hey the the iirt the whieh is the she a hhlf miles aheve the meutho Whit éam.Was built hy the Whlier stash ts exeluhe salt water free the river se the fresh water there weuli as uses by rates settleo A floei washed out a hew'ehsatel free aheut e mile aheve the hem ts Shilm ti3ih Greek se that rising tiees hes 3ush bay water as well as eil field brihe fren the ereeh lets the rivera mushy Greek contain: s stilts water for aheut a.eile aheve its eh th fine was the only tributary ef the lower seetieu that The set dryu Re flu in; water’th ~ehh is the Arahsas River exeeyt as a result ef tiihl eta» =9 $25 er runweff water fvhm rsihs. thiltieih @reek is likewise ty3ieelly iry exeeet helew Sisteh There a eehsteht flew sf salt brise eesurs free the Eihteh ell fiele. The area is in the hertheesterh 3hrt ef the Seuth Texas brush lash, the 1223 Iiotie Province of Dies. The lshi is gently vellite'with.hany iee3ly ereaei, iry av. -: u- a we is prineiehlly seedy leae.with sene elays ash outcre3s of ealieIe Tbs flat soastal prairie is preseht enly at the tenth ef the river The u3lnnds afie eeverei Iy'sesquite her thiek growths sf therhy shrub, usually‘with little grass. Alfihfi the s”lies she stre;-t the eriheyel trees are haekherry, huisaehe the live eah with a thick C:uh£ sever sf grasses the varieus fertso The 3riueipel lame use is fer pasturihg sf settle hut in resent years there has heeh eehsiflershle elearihg heme, esteeielly'eh blaehm ltd.eeeas, for the planting sf row'ers3so Humerous eil fields have heeh ievelehei is the we Aecgraigg to the TQW * Hilfifl, 1956ml957, 3ublished hy the Ihllas Thygi_a News, tIe altituies ef the various teens in the area are: seville 21% feet aheve sea level, »- 7here 159, Sinteh 55 ehi'Wseishore t7 HOflei_ Jesusry tees returs at Besvills 13 55: 531? 13 330 THE ave“;:e the e. raihfhll is listea as 3@ inehes in Ice at) W M 32 counties and 33 inches in Be? {it County but euriag the resent irbuth sinee 1‘9“, the reinmel has been sheut 1/2 ts 2/3 sf that fiflm eta leaviest rainfall is no wwdly is is ~ -e xge rein usually seems is thunder steres fillsni s leug dry shells. Table l sIows the eve ere tiitIs sni ae3ths st eaeh ef the the miles statiohs ih tIe lsmer 2‘ miles ef the river The utter hertioh is hemrgw era .;_ng . :hLy-eut be» e sf sandy'loam.risihg at ah; t a 35 degree angle for fifteeh er teehty feet eheve the stress :-v sf this seetien is tiier ehi fleets ”3 - -” ’3-33 3.33ly eut of eleY, Tn eeliehe hut are chly aheut fire feet eheve ester level At Mile 6 they; Iill fegni:§ the seath there of tIe river thigh is abs 75 £555 higi §*.res 1’ 2, Eur -u. soetions of the river 3w ~*:h sides ef the center seetion e. e3'uW *r= ~ wr~mé «~~ -= ~ when new eIathels were eut. Silt iehhsits st sash est 9- . -. . .wily isolated thee fuee the stream exee3t at tIe very his? .. dieetioh sf terreee iePesits were sees it the utter ahizei"J U3357®fiL AEALESIS Thhle 2 gives the results sf ehemieal ahe.yses gig at several ststiehe eh file suitability ef the fresh ester in the river fer fresh wetmr fish was best ewe hy the tresenee of hass sni sunfisI in the fiflilihfi collectioh.eete at Mile 26 aha the The meat im3exL11t itee in ehemieal ahalysis was salinity. Table l shea the results sf sali1ity tests 1' :3 .1e at the State Marine Laberatsry'by Mr. Rudy Marsh an settles takes at each tre mile statism fate the dirt dam ts the heai ef the stasding water in the A aesafl Rivera fies series sf Marplefi was takes an Marsh 26 111 29, anether series as May 13, 1956. Fresh water enters the head sf the river free rammeff raise an the watershed 111 ales at the river's meuth threagh the lswer cut when flseds en *~iltipin Greek are fereed up stream by tidal aetieao The latter ssuree sf fresh water gelaihs the law salinity readings in the lever 3art ef the river in May as the creek had received heavy rains a week 3reviously. Fresh water free the;11in river drainage is usually very turbié has far several weeks after a small rise, ttaumnihy fresh water bleak seenpies the upper yart sf the river while there is clear salt water in the lever part0 1 ring dry spells the water is the upper part ef the stream.heeeaes increasingly salty until runwsff water replaces it. Salt water eaters the river threugh the lewer cut 11 111111 tiaee. It say be bay water (nesuexly 30 to 35 p3t), brine free 611111511 Greek or a mixture of the twe. Tests showed the oil field brine in Ghilti3in Greek to e3@ 3 ppt twe miles above its meuth and 37 3 p3t at its meuth on 91y 13,1956 A 121111 free Sinton at the U S. Highway 77 bridge on May 29, 1956 contaihei 73 ppt. This highly seneehtrated brine,'beimg denser than bay water, is reread iats the msuth ef the river and settles in the deeper waters of the lever and middle parts ef the river. In bath series sf sam3les, salihity at the surfaee deereased res fiarly‘u3streaa. Althea: there are easy days with stress winds, the tertueus eeurse sf the river 3revents any great aeeunt sf wave aetien and ssnseqtent mixing ef the surfaee 111 bettsn waters. Aetien is he: hei11 takes by the State Railread and Gees ani Fish Gems ssishs ts 3re~ vent the 3ellutieh of fleiltipin Greek free the Sihtsn ail r1111, 3T. AQMATTG vsssserrsr Very little aquatic vegetatien was feuni in the Aransas River, ap3arently due ts the salt water. In shallmw areas of the middle part ef the s wfifliflfi water there were .QCflSiOI-fil g ’3'". 6:: Named mus” Fm ° I' there were a we 9. kgrass .- ' . --.. - = .- .. - - . - =‘Jq. Above Mile oj26, in Smut small sends not aseessible to the salt waiter, there were very thieh growths of’mmskgras nu seergent water plants here also ibuni.mpstly in the u11rr seatinn, none below Mile 16 fihey included a sees, ' ~ (21111113111), 1111111 (Types latifolia), club rush (sei;gge_elne-. -~~ and others yrs” } ~ wxw“ . '" fissULTS 3F FISH GQLLEGTIONS Table 3 shews the list sf 29 speeies sf fish reserded free 11 this jsho ewe ether seaeies, the yellsw bullhesi (seeiurue melee) 1; the'sransas River ”the WW1}. bass (*1 enobryttus sorwnarius), were takes free Masks Lake in A3ril, 1955'. Suxtrisw i111y, so freshwater drue,(A1ledionptns 12:111ens), white erappie (Pienxis aeeularis) or channel eatfish (Istalurui 331111111) were taken, they are very season free Table 3 she s the numbers of sash speeies taken in e 1111111111 gill nets at sash twe mile statisno A total of 239 fish of 13 species was taken 3f these, e11y saves spsgleh sad 39 individuals (12 31%) were g~ne fish and only ens sash sf blue eatfish and largem mputh black bass were fresh water g1ge fish 01Ly five speeies (len41ese §1_ .. gar, eIallIIuth huffale, blue eatfieh III lareemeuth bate) were definitely reetrietea tI freak Iater_eea IIIe If them.were taken belIw Mile 16. Except fer the gizzard aha“ the eaveI.Ieet Memehfi fieh takeI in Lake $25312 Eerieti Iere either abaeIt gr Eregemt in reaaeea number ie the #ceeeae River: Wee gizzard ehaa III atripea mullet Here taken iI aeerenieetely'eenal Inmbera alIIet th I rheut the 26 milee If the atreamo Mahle 5 rimeItal eheIe the Ieighte, Iereehteree IId semi by'Ieight If the fieh takeI in the enee Ieteu ! Table 6 givee the comparative eueeeee If e gerimental gill nettiIg in the iieeeaa River. ieeI the average eateh If 9 l9 fieh and 3h 60 pIuIda If fieh err net 12 @fieeerfid to the average eateh f .Iu gete Cerpue Gerieti (2275 fish III 2% 98 g; 4' ~ fieh ear Iet), it will he eeeI that feIer fieh with a larger average size Iere we: .3 twee.aae Rivero It Inet he remembered that meat of the fieh iI the river were salt tater fern» III that the ealt water eoniitioae redueed the IIpulatioIe If the freeh tater fIrIe Table 7 :5 4: w , .‘=:VI_aIfl average etIIiari leIgth Ieight aha ”K“ m *Ieatal Ietao CoIeiaeriIg the ;tlatively eeell a .;; ;:An Jaye g"KI” factere 6f the f teh Iater fieh agree gfihghly'With thIae frII.Lake Cerpua Serieti, ae follexte allihrter.gar .32: .39; eeetteh 7t; 72; 1 59 ; 1:7; 1ezare ehai 1 7e 2 191; 1:; buffalo 2:97 3 3 77, blue eatfieh l 65; 160 and baee 2,30 2 2,66; The relatively “R“ factor If the gizeari eees, amalleeuth buffalo III largeeputh baee iI the AraIeae RiVIr'IIy be flue tI MIIV .; a ver but it mare likely Rue tI the aaliIity IIViB‘ reaueei the weeuIt If faIfl available to theee sIeeieag 1 ale Table 8 Rhett the reenlta If the eeinieg eelleetiene IIRe at fear etatieee in the iyeeeae River: “he IreeeIee If the euafieh, largemeuth baee, R16 G ehde eereh III Red Shiaer*IiIIeIe at the upter and If the etaIiiIg water fiemIIatratea that meere the ealinity ie reaueed the neter ie euitable fer freeh utter aeee fieh. The iIvaeiea If ealt heter free the hay aiaerently'preveate their aiatributieI iI fiehable Iumhere farm ther iefleetreeeo Freeh‘water'ehrimp (We Mfiflfllhthej, ah imIIrtaat fieh fIIa in Lake Gorpue Ghrieti III ether Iatenm of the a.wa, Iere takeI at Mile 26 ted I III Sh " (Refit = I teeue) Iere eeiaea at Male 5 III beds of Foaiweei at Mile 16 aIi Mile 2 Iere III? eItly Iireetly eIIIeeted Iith the larger Iaasnre of fieh eeiIed at these atatieae; 'fl- H: G I’m Three alligator gar were the IIly fieh reeeried Iith et-Ien ax @MMtRiIIi a emalleewte buffalo (Ihieh Iaa iIeludei ia the lhttiifi reeulte) aha twe gizu zarfl ehaao AIIther eeataieee a atriped mallet III the thirfl.@eltaihefl a atriped mullet ..:e-:d aeveral black feathere (probably f e.e a eoet) P: g-e:~ - the eteneeh sad inteetiae ef three alligator gar :ui _,.=. II; . =~ -Iw;1= I - eeraeitie ieroIe Iere faxed in the Ieuthe ef aeveral of the bleak iruI III fieh lice (Ar rggluez Iere fe~ee II tIe alligator III: Fieh eatiee eh eeIteIte ehore birie Iere fairly flum276?3 alIga the etreae, eeetly'Little GreeI Herfiit‘hith heme Great Blue IerIIe at; Ree .«e; a; . :wu Eereteo A $216 Eagle Ieet Iae eeeI IearIMra I: If: . _ . n _ew I- .31; III Inly eeeI eeee. Re Iaehe Ir eeete_Iere eeeI II the river‘hat they are eeIeII II Reehe Lakeo ' RRQQayeeeaemefie Mhier the preeeht echaitiOIe, Iith the hey: the fireaeae River, there 12 II IIiIt in attemptiee I Itin- the Welder- I -._-..,_::j "the elihility if .. eeeluie the ealt water free the river, thMIEby‘umhilg the river a eeuree of freeh tater -u...‘ 3 their eattleo If eueh 3333 are built 333 they are eueeeaeful, it 23u13 he aavamtam 333 3 t3 seteaehe the lever twemtymei3,milea 3f the river t3 reeeve all fieh 333 than reatoek with freak eater game 333 3eairab13 ferage fieho It 13 3333333 that if the 3333 were built, rain water “euld flush the ealt meter 3ut of the river :33 leave a very WV -. 33.233'lake 3f freah eater containing about 1333 aeremfeet or*mnre Shah a lhhe ehouli prbvide 3.33 3333rt a.t freeh eater fiahi3a f3r the area :33 publie 333333 W'uli b3 3V3113bl3 at U S Highway 77 at Mile 25 333 at the Refugie Gaahty 2333 at Mile To Where i3 very little freah eater fiehiae available t3 the public 13 the area 333, aeeer3i3§ t3 reyerte, the 3333uet133 3f blue eatfiah 13 the river haa 3333 very 3333 Erier t3 the iavaeiea 3f the aalt water. €33 3333333 River ie l3eate3 i3 invtheehtral T3333, the firet 1333p333eat deaiaage 333theaet 3f the 333333 River. Abaut 733 equate milee 3f brueh 13333 13 Bee, Refagie 333 333 Entrieie e3uatiee make a} the 3rai33ge. thfi 3L. '-":'".' ., The ereeka i3 Aimage are meetly dry exeept fer ieelate3 eater h3lea wxfi 2 '13 timea of heavy rr3m3ff raina 3hilti§in fireek earriea a atremg £133 3f ail fi313 33133 13 ite lever 33rtien. 30 Salt eater, 33th.hrihe 333 bay'water, eatere the 1333: part 3f the river threugh a ti3al eat are 33 a 3irt 333 hear ite 333tho The 13333 26 ailee 33 the river 333t3i33 etax3i33 eater (aheut 1330 aeremfeet) eebjeet t3 ti3al fluetuatieme. to Very little aquatic 33333331 the 3333: half ef the etan3ihfi eeatteee3 leeatieg o 33 333333 ia the river 333 t3 the aalt watero water eeetiea.3uekgraae 333 33333333 were f3133 i3 33331y 3313 33333 33533 ' 31y 333 £3333 water :333 fieh, a 3133 3333133 and a bleak base, ,3331 i3 26 e; erimental gill met aetao - 60 The preheaee of baae, euhfieh 333 331 331333=3133333 at the*uegy m the 26 3313 333ti33 3h3333 that where the ealt eater ie net tea at; __ the water i3 emitm able fer feeah 3333f fieho Leeal r333rte ia3ieat33 that eatfiahihg 333 3333 5333 13 the river i3 333313 e yeara, preeueably hefere the tidal meta hypaeeed the 333. 7, If the tidal cute were 33 eheula faraiah £333 fT33h eater fiehihg I33ti3kiax with 3eeirahle fieh 30313 pr 3333.to eaelude the ealt eater, the.3333333 River with free 333333 to the public Rgteeeaiag 333 3bably he aeeeaeaey for mergere develeeeeet, Q maUHQ Ho bagumaw zwfidwm mg“ QQQnWQ figm mmwwngHQQ wwga.awwufiw@§ mafifiwafiw @fi fiww fiQfiQH phfiawmm MQQQQO mmmy.QMMWVWr... :-g:?=.:wwerwnW.:. mmeuwww.mefiv mmwwfiwaw mafifiv wwdwa.mwwwm . z. .. HQW “Qdfig fiQW “Qfi Q... Q MWQQQ WK; {I G '0 W3 ; mm m «4 m m: ”fl m 5 wow flg m 3 m a: mi wfi mg wmwwgnJQQ mfiuwmam bguamw qu amfiwaw¢mfl bauaamww O kaka ,rrrwmwmqmgwqr U1QEHJ~JU1fiwua¥flm\fi\nldlfl H B {B o O 0 0 ti” 0 __0 “393g tdsusuugapxnunJr a c>ssc>c:m>bxawsxn<3 G‘sWOmH.H G k‘thJkfihJP4k*h*E’k” mmqummmmmdm waWthfiquwmQ a D Hfi.® mggo Fm.m Hwao EH99 5b H4.m H4.Q 5h HE.H Hmam. $.m fin ameQ mg mmmg‘am gm, QWQEHQWH ___...QEQS 3% $5 bgfimmm glam? Rama 5..me gums wwaadfi 30 m a mwmwgm mgwawfiw QM bfig¢® gr; pww, ppw. anwwo “wwfiv m mamaamm 9 “a a . mgog ww * mm,q m.m m msmqamm m «4 a 9 mp,@ mm * mw.w mom a Hysmwuwm o a a a e rwm g a a « Hwamwamm m a a o mHm a a a Hm wumaawm o a a 0 wow mwo a : Hm mswaamm m 3 s 0 pH» 400 a 3 HQ maMNamm o F.: o o «a * m.w m.r Hm mgm4amm 9 wow H.@ O was Q mam 4.m mm mamaamm o mom a o qu Q m.m m.m mm mamqamm m p.m @ @ qu woo m.m m.: a Hmmwamwmm as $3» 35 L3 Hmmw a mwmmmfimg @H gmmwfig. * Hbmwmmgm Emma $3.5. Mm w: 3H? EH5...:;EJ. 5mg; @E gawwmbmmdww gig? Table 3. .A List @f Fish Beefirdefl frwm.tha Aramsaa Rivar. Scientific Rama Layis®steus sggtula Le is®steus 3rwiu¢tus L@.1s@steus asseua Anchoa hefaétus' Ieti@bus bubalua Egtrgyis lutrems s Galeichthys felis Ietalurus furcatua S-s4gathus aeovelli Lucamia Egrva _ _‘_ rinoima variegatus Mfilliemesia latiginma Mugil eeghalua Memiiia begzilima Micrpeterus aalmnides Gobiannrua dirfiifiath Gfimn@m Name Symbwl Alligatsr Gar SEQttei Gar LQEflflQEQ Gar Eigfiya Esrrimg Threai Eerriag an Hamhaiem Gizzard Shad Stripea Axehavy Smallmeuth buffala 8MB Red Shiner Sea Catfish Blue Gatfish Seavell'a Pi~mfiah Rainwater Fish Sea ngfish Sailfin Mfilly Stripefl Mullet SML Tiiewater Silvgrsidas Largamauth Blaek Bass =Fu Eluagill Sumfish Lamgaar sumfiah GQMMQE Jack RQinSh .1: Sp®t Gr@aker SGR Atlantic Groaker - AGE llaek % »v =1 SleQd T“? Wt Rio Granie Perch Slefiewr SEE “- mwmawmm aw.m EH9: »m w w mm .. a Em .. .. 21“ n H .1;_ a a $5 m o mm m m Ea .. 3 m3 4 G we a a man. m we HEW a a wmfi H n Em H a mum H m mwa m m mfim u a BFBQEMHE m 3 HHI Q's B Hm: [Di-'msa PHI-=4 H3 3 H Mai-‘88 H BNWR E} Quasn 3 HBWH’RI $réau1cx 6 n) (Din—4 mm mu, m: OH o.mm w m “a. m w Hm.rm wmudwwd mmuw 5" 06544?“ H F’b‘ VJCDJru:Chcacauacnnacnrdxnua 63$ mm mwaawwd Hoorm Hmomm Hm.Hw Homm 0 O O O a O O D G D O I C I a-mmmhmauew£~amwmm mgommocoafie—imgomm tawoomflooaoommo 0' .GH ma. O O D Q Q@#QONmm HH 0 rOQNWWH r-iI-l -MW*WHQWH m o-m. nggmhgmfiwfimam: GE...“