TPWD 1954 F-3-R-1 #39: Check on Commercial Catch of Rough Fish from Caddo Lake

STATE Texas PROJECT NOD Fw3-Rulz Job B~3 m PERIOD Nova 1, 1953 w May 313 l954 Jab Completion Report by Charles E. Gray Assistant Project Leader TITLE Check on Commercial Catch of Rough Fish from Caddo Lakeo OBJECTIVES To determine the effectiveness of commercial fishing on the control of rough and predacious species and the value of the local commercial fishery as well as the relative abundance and seasonal variation by species in the commercial catcho METHODS -Commercial fishermen were contacted once each month and were provided with forms on which to record their catch» DISCUSSION Due to the itineracy of some of the commercial fishermen, complete data was difficult to obtain“ However, one of the public camp operators who buys and sells fish states that he buys most of the commercial fish caught in Caddo Lekeu This man has been on the lake for a number of years and is in frequent contact with the cancer” cial fishermeno He has been very cooperative in keeping accurate records of fish he has bought. His infornation, supplemented by information obtained from the more coop- erative fishermen, should be a fairly accurate estimate of the total commercial catcha Those fish which have no commercial value in this area were killed on the spot and returned to the lake so no record was kepto Table l.shows the_connercial catch by species for the seven months periodu Recorded in Table 2 are the present average prices and total value of the catch for each species and for all species. Table 3 shows the relative abundance in percent by weight for each species; Attempts have been made to obtain data on numbers of fish as well as weight but commer- cial fishermen are reluctant to do this, especially when large numbers of smaller fish are taken» Seasonal variations in the commercial catch are shown by the six graphs in Table h. Paddlefish were not graphed because only 80 pounds were caught during the entire periodo SUMMARY Complete records were difficult to obtain from commercial fishermen because some are itinerant and could not be depended upon to keep records or could not be located again after being provided with data forms. One commercial fishermen who buys wholesale fish from other fishermen kept accurate records which were supple” mented by data from other commercial fishcrnen. The figures in this report are no doubt a little below the actual values but it is believed that they are as accurate as could be obtained under existing circumstancesa A total of l§,h6l rough fish were taken which have a market value of $5,106905 at the present price. Buffalo were the most abundant by weight, making up 3?35 perm cent of the total catch. It has been proposed that1his job continue into the'next segment in order to obtain an estimate of the catch for a full year, Meanwhile efforts are being made to establish better relations with the commercial fishermen and to persuade them to keep accurate records of their catch. 41 Table No. l Weights of Fish Taken by Commercial Fishermen by'Month and Species, Caddo Lake, Harrison County, Texas, November 1, 1953 through May 31, 195% __Species Total 'Paddle fish 18,0 80,0 Buffalo . 1087.0 131700 Saoaio Bullheads O 0 #152.0 Blue catfish l0? 5 316 5 lathead catfish b80.c 157100 Channel catfish b77.5 311895 Ireshwater drum 85 5 @1790 als 277100 110795 . . a . ' 2&8505 ' 15,b61,0 Table No. 2 Market Value of Fish Caught by Commercial Fishermen, Caddo . Lake, Harrison County, Texas, November 1, 1953 through May 31, 1954 'Total Catoh" “"" ,'hseaaga' ‘”'”“““Total' Species (Pounds) Retail market value Price Per Lb. . N93-Dr9559¢._.1_-_...-__---ulfl ......_ -. w... __._ __ -_ .— Paddlefish 80.0 $ 0.l5 $ 12.00 Buffalo 5,806.0 0.30 l,7hl.80 Bullhead Catfish u,152.0 0.30 l,sh5.60 Blue Catfish 316,5 O.hO 126.60 Flathead Catfish 1,571 0 0.40 628.u0 Channel catfish 3,118.5 O.h0 1,2h7.h0 Freshwater Drum h17.0 0,25 10s.25 Total l5,uol.0 $5,106.05 5. Table No. 3 Percent by Weight for Each Species by Month and for Entire Period, Caddo Lake, Harrison County, Texas, November 1, 1953 through May 31, 195% Percent_Weight by Month _ H _ : Egzire ............. S _ ._ _ __ ~_ _ __ Febo Fara . _ . _ . __ . 33-105- Paddlefish 0,5 Buffalo 37.5 tullhead Catfish 26.9 slue catfish 2.0 Vlathead catfish 10.2 hannel Catfish 20.2 rreshwater Drum 2.7 rotals 100 TABIE 4, SEASONAL VARIATION, commons CATCH, canto LAKE, how... I Tattoos m 31, 1953-54 Powos {#00 Bullhead Catfish {ooo Blue Catfish g Flathead Catfish I000 .500 -. . (flmanns1.Chstfish.