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(1956) Job Completion Report: Basic Survey and Inventory of Fish Species Present in the Aransas River

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--- Page 1 --- Di lt AKANSAS /CIVER STATE Texas PROJECT NO. FOR3 = Job B-6 PERIOD July 1, 1 - June 30, 1956 Job Completion Report Al Flury Project Leader TITLE Basic Survey and Inventory of Fish Species Present in the Aransas River. OBJECTIVES a. To gather fundamental data on the chemical and physical characters of the Aransas River. b. To determine the species present and their relative numbers in the Aransas River. a. “Twenty trips were made te the Aransas River to gather basic and fisheries data from September 30, 1955 through June 21, 1956. Water sample analyses were rum on three occasions and special salinity samples were taken over the twenty-six mile course of the lower part of the river. General ecological conditions of the river and surround- ing area were noted and width and depth measurements were taken. Maps 1 and 2 were made up in the laboratory from county maps of the Texas Highwey Department and from aerial photoes of the Preduction Marketing Administration. Much general information about the stream, fishing success, flood periods, etc., was obtained from Mr. Frank Rooke, owner ef a ranch covering much of the north shere of the lower river and from Game and Fish Warden W. T. Harris. Dr. Clarence Cottam and Mr. Caleb Glazener, Director and Assistant Director of the Welder Wildlife Foundation on the south side of the river, were also contacted about their views on fisheries imprevements on the stream. b. Experimental gill nets 125 by 8 feet with square mesh sections from 1 to 3 inches were set twice at thirteen stations. These stations were located at each even numbered river mile above the dirt dam near the mouth of the river. The first series ef collections were made from September 30, 1955 through March 20, 1956; the second series from May 14 to 18, 1956. Nets were set across the river channel at 2 to 4 stat- ions from 3 to 5 P.M. and picked up the following morning from 8 to 10 A. M. The fish taken were weighed, measured, sexed and stomach contents and parasites noted. Sein- ing collections were made with a i inch square mesh 30 by 6 foot bag seine dt Mile 1 on April 6, 1956 and at Miles 5, 16 and 26 on June 21, 1956. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS The Aransas River watershed, as shown in Map 1, covers about 780 square miles in Bee, Refugio, and San Patricio counties in Southcentral Texas. The greater part of the watershed is in Bee County and the various creeks are typically dry with a few --- Page 2 --- 2. scattered, more or less permanent, water holes. The lower twenty-six miles of the river, from just above the U. S. Highway 77 bridge to the mouth, contains permanent standing water, subject to the rise and fall of the tide in Copano Bay. Map 2 shows this lower portion of the river in more detail than Map 1. Chiltipin Creek is the major tributary’ of the Aransas River, entering the river just above the mouth, between Copano Bay and the dirt dam which is ome and a half miles above the mouth. This dam was built by the Welder Ranch to exclude salt water from the river so the fresh water there would be used by range cattle. A flood washed out a mew channel from about a mile above the dam to Chil- tipin Creek so that rising tides now push bay water as well as oil field brine from the creek into the river. Moody Creek contains standing water for about a mile above its mouth and was the only tributary of the lower section that was not dry. Wo flowing water was found in the Aransas River except as a result of tidal changes or run-off water from rains. Chiltipin Creek is likewise typically dry except below Sinton where a constant flow of salt brine occurs from the Sinton oil field. The area is in the Northeastern part of the South Texas brush land, the Tamaulipan Biotic Province of Dice. The land is gently rolling with many deeply eroded, dry gullies. The soil type is principally sandy loam with some clays and outcrops of caliche. The flat coastal prairie is present only at the mouth of the river. The uplands are covered by mesquite amd thick growths of thorny scrub, usually with little grass. Aleng the gullies and streams the prindpal trees are hackberry, huisache and live oak with a thick ground cover of grasses and various forbs. The principal land use is for pasturing of cattle but in recent years there has been considerable clearing done, especially on black- land areas, for the plamting of row crops. Numerous oil fields have been developed in the area. According to the Texas Almanac, 1956-1957, published by the Dallas Morning News, the altitudes of the various towns in the area are: Beeville 214 feet above sea level, Skidmore 159, Sinton 55 amd Weedsboro 47. Normal January temperature at Beeville is 55, July is 88. The average annual rainfall is listed as 30 inches in Bee and San Patricio counties and 33 inches in Refugio County, but during the recent drouth, since 1949, the rainfall has been about 1/2 to 2/3 of that amount. Heaviest rainfall is normally in May and September and rain usually comes in thunder storms following long dry spells. Table 1 shows the average widths and depths at each of the two miles stations im the lower 26 miles of the river. The upper pertion is narrow and rather shallow with sharply cut banks of sandy loam rising at about a 45 degree angle for fifteen or twenty feet above the stream. The middle part of this section is wider and deeper with banks ef sandy leam, sharply cut, bluffs of caliche or a mixture of the two soils. The height of the banks is generally about ten to fifteen feet above the stream. The lower portion is the widest and shallowest and the banks are sharply cut of clay, sandy loam and some caliche but are only about five feet above water level. At Mile 6 there is a caliche hill forming the south shore of the river which is about 75 feet high. Figures 1, 2, and 3 demonstrate the general characteristics of the three sections ef the river. On beth sides of the center section several oxbow lakes have been formed and cut off from the river when new channels were cut. Silt deposits at each end of the lakes have practically isolated them from the stream except at the very highest fleod stages. In- dication of terrace deposits were seen in the upper and middle sections. CHEMICAL ANALYSIS Table 2 gives the results of chemical analyses run at several stations on the river. The suitability of the fresh water in the river for fresh water fish was best shown by the presence of bass and sunfish in the seining collection made at Mile 26 and the almost complete absence of fresh water fish in collections further down stream. --- Page 3 --- The most important item in chemical analysis was salinity. Table 1 shows the results of salinity tests made at the State Marine Laboratory by Mr. Rudy Marek on samples taken at each two mile station from the dirt dam to the head of the standing water in the Aransas River. One series of samples was taken on March 26 and 29, another series on May 18, 1956. Fresh water enters the head of the river from run-off rains on the watershed and also at the river's mouth through the lower cut when floods on Chiltipin Creek are forced up stream by tidal action. The latter source of fresh water explains the low salinity readings in the lower part of the river in May as the creek had received heavy rains a week previously. Fresh water from the main river drainage is usually very turbid and for several weeks after a small rise, the muddy fresh water bleck occupies the upper part of the river while there is clear salt water in the lower part. Buring dry spells the water in the upper part of the stream becomes increasingly salty until run-off water replaces it. Salt water enters the river through the lower cut on rising tides. It may be bay water (normally 30 to 35 ppt), brine from Chiltipin Creek or a mixture of the two. Tests showed the oil field brine in Chiltipin Creek to be 80.4 ppt two miles above its mouth and 47.8 ppt at its mouth on May 18, 1956. A sample from Sinton at the U. S. Highway 77 bridge on May 29, 1956 contained 73 ppt. This highly concentrated brine,' being denser than bay water, is forced into the mouth of the river and settles in the deeper waters of the lower and middle parts of the river. In both series of samples, salinity at the surface decreased regularly upstream. Although there are many days with strong winds, the tortuous course of the river prevents any great amount of wave action and consequent mixing of the surface and bottom waters. Action is now being taken by the State Railroad and Game and Fish Commissions to pre- vent the pollution of Chiltipin Creek from the Sinton oil field. AQUATIC VEGETATION Very little aquatic vegetation was found in the Aramsas River, apparently due to the salt water. In shallow areas of the middle part of the standing water there were occasional growths of pondweed (Potomogeton pectinatus). Mostly above Mile 20 there were some beds of muskgrass (Chara), pondweed tomogeton nodosus ) and spatterdock (Nuphar) . Above Mile 26, in some small ponds not accessible to the salt walter, there were very thick growths of muskgrass and pondweed. Tmergent water plants were also found mostly in the upper section, none below Mile 16. They included a cane, saw grass eaneenee® » cattail ( latifolia), club rush (Scirpus olmeyi), willow (Salix) and others. No bulrush (Scirpus validus ) was found on the river although it was common. in Rooke Lake. Seining collections made at Miles 16 and 26 showed that the underwater plants that were present furnished important fish cover. RESULTS OF FISH COLLECTIONS Table 3 shows the list of 29 species of fish recorded from the Aransas River in this job. Two other species, the yellow bullhead (Ameiurus melas) and the warmouth bass (Chaenobryttus coronarius), were taken from Rooke Lake in April, 1955. Surpris- ingly, no freshwater drum (Aplodionotus grunniens), white crappie (Pomoxis annularis) or channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were taken; they are very common fresh water fish in the area and may be expected ep res in some of the pools of the watershed. Table 4 shows the numbers of each spe taken in experimental gill nets at each two mile station. A total of 239 fish of 18 species was taken. Of these, only seven species and 39 individuals (12.31%) were game fish and only one each of blue catfish and large- mouth black bass were fresh water game fish. Only five species (longnose gar, spotted --- Page 4 --- k,, gar, smallmouth buffalo, blue catfish and largemouth bass) were definitely restricted to fresh water and none of them were taken below Mile 16. Except for the gizzard shad, the seven most common fish taken in Lake Corpus Christi were either absent or present in reduced number in the Aransas River. The gizzard shad and striped mullet were taken in approximately equal numbers almost throughout the 26 miles of the stream. Table 5 shows the weights, percentages and rank by weight of the fish taken in the experimental nets. Table 6 gives the comparative success of experimental gill netting in the Aransas River. When the average catch of 9.19 fish and 34.60 pounds of fish per net is compared to the average catch from Lake Corpus Christi (2275 fish and 24.98 pounds of fish per net), it will be seen that fewer fish with a larger average size were taken in the Aransas River. It must be remembered that most of the fish in the river were salt water forms and that the salt water conditions reduced the populations of the fresh water forms. Table 7 gives the maximum, minimum and average standard length, weight and "K" factor for the fish taken in experimental nets. Considering the relatively small sample taken from the Aransas River, the average "K" factors of the fresh water fish agree roughly with those from Lake Cerpus Christi, as follows: alligator gar .82: .80; spotted gar .7Th ¢ .723 longnose gar .50 : .47; gizzard shad 1.70 ;: 1.91; smallmouth buffalo 2.97 : 3.773 blue catfish 1.65 : 1.60 and largemouth bass 2.30 : 2.66. The relatively lower "K" factor of the gizzard shad, smallmouth buffalo and largemouth bass in the Aransas River may be due to sampling error but is more likely due to the salinity having reduced the amount of food available to these species. Table 8 shows the results of the seining collections made at four stations in the Aransas River. The presence of the sunfish, largemouth bass, Rie Grande perch and Red Shiner minnows at the upper end of the standing water demonstrates that where the salinity is reduced the water is suitable for fresh water game fish. The invasion of salt water from the bay apparently prevents their distribution in fishable numbers fur- ther downstream. Fresh water shrimp (Paleomonetes), an important fish food in Lake Corpus Christi and other waters of the area, were taken at Mile 26 and Brown Shrimp (Penaeus aztecus) were seined at Mile 5, The beds of Pondweed at Mile 16 and Mile 26 were appar- ently directly connected with the larger numbers of fish seined at those stations. Three alligator gar were the only fish recorded with stomach contents. One contained a smallmouth buffalo (which was included in the netting results) and two giz~- zard shad. Another contained a striped mullet and the third contained a striped mllet and several black feathers (probably from a coot). Parasites noted were tapeworms in the stomach and intestine of three alligater gar and visceral round worms in two spotted gar and one sleeper. Large parasitic isopods were found in the mouths of several of the black drum and fish lice (Argulus ) were found on two alligator gar. Fish eating shore birds were fairly numerous along the stream, mostly Little Green Herons with some Great Blue Herons and American and Snowy Egrets. A Bald Eagle nest was seen near Mr. Rooke's house but the pair of birds was only seen once. No ducks or coots were seen on the river but they are common on Reoke Lake. RECOMMENDATIONS Under the present conditions, with the bay water polluting the lower part of the Aransas River, there is no point in attempting any fresh water fisheries improvements. However, the Welder Ranch has been considering the possibility of damming the tidal cuts to exclude the salt water frem the river, thereby making the river a source of fresh weter --- Page 5 --- 5. for their cattle. If such dams are built and they are successful, it would be advanta- geous to rotenone the lower twenty-six miles of the river to remove all fish and then restock with fresh water game and desirable forage fish. It is assumed that if the dams were built, rain water would flush the salt water out of the river and leave a very long but narrow lake of fresh water containing about 1800 acre-feet or more. Such a lake should provide some important fresh water fishing for the area and public access would bé available at U. S. Highway 77 at Mile 25 and at the Refugio County road at Mile 7. There is very little fresh water fishing available to the public in the area and, according to reports, the production of blue catfish in the river has been very good prior to the invasion of the salt water. SUMMARY 1. "he Aransas River is located in Southcentral Texas, the first independent drainage northeast of the Nueces River. About 780 square miles of brush lands in Bee, Refugio and San Patricio counties make up the drainage. 2. The creeks in the drainage are mostly dry except for isolated water holes and during times of heavy run-off rains. Chiltipin Creek carries a strong flow of oil field brine in its lower portion. 3. Salt water, both brim and bay water, enters the lower part of the river through a tidal cut around a dirt dam near its mouth. The lower 26 miles of the river contains standing water (about 1800 acre-feet) subject to tidal fluctuations. hk, Very little aquatic vegetation occurs in the river due to the salt water. In the upper half of the standing water section muskgrass and pondweed were found in scattered locations. 5. Seiming and gill netting collections showed 29 species of fish present, mostly salt water forms. Only two fresh water game fish, a blue catfish and a black bass, were taken in 26 experimental gill net sets. 6. The presence of bass, sumfish and red shiner minnows at the upper end of the 26 mile section showed that where the salt water is not too strong, the water is suit- able for fresh water fish. Local reports indicated that catfishing has beem good in the river in previous years, presumably before the tidal cuts bypassed the dam. 7. If the tidal cuts were dammed to exclude the salt water, the Aransas River should furmish good fresh water fishing with free access to the public. Rotenoning and restocking with desirable fish would probably be necessary for maximum development. --- Page 6 --- 6. Table 1. Average Widths and Depths and Salinities from Thirteen Stations on the Lower Aransas River. 3-26 & 29-5 5a1L5=5 River Miles Average Average Maximum Salinity (ppt) Salinity (ppt) Above Dam Width Depth Depth Top Bottom Top Bottom _ 2 230 3.37 h.O kO.O 40.0 18.0 18.0 " 183 h..92 7.1 34.0 he.5 17.6 20.0 6 188 5.87 9.5 32.0 52.9 16.8 43.2 8 182 6.24 10.5 31.8 51.0 16.7 18.0 10 187 8.71 15.5 29.2 48.6 16.8 41.0 12 188 5.49 Toh 20.7 31.2 16.5 17-0 14. 152 5.33 9.3 15.2 25.0 16.5 17.6 16 181 7.07 11.0 11.2 20.0 17.0 17.0 18 103 5.07 8.5 9.2 13.8 14.6 16.7 20 90 5 Bh 9.7 4.3 6.0 12.8 14.1 22 91 3.47 4.7 1.0 6.5 12.5 ah 8h 3.42 4.8 oh 3.0 4.0 26 Xe) 3.28 45 3 3 4 Estimated Surface Acres: 347 Estimated Acre-feet; 1822 --- Page 7 --- Table 2. Results of Chemical Analysis on the Aransas River. River Miles Date Depth °F 09 CO, ph-th M. 0. Jackson Salinity pH Above Dam prem sisappm=Ss AL. Alk. Turd. (ppt) : 5 6-27-56 0 88 - ) 20.0 93 * 25.7 8.2 5 6-27-56 6 87 < ) 2h.0 95 # 29.3 8.8 T 11-23-55 fe) - - = ) 4.36 = ‘= oe sj 11-23-55 5 = 2 ~ ) 212 = = ~ 16 9- 30-55 ) 82 - = (e) 106 550 - - 16 9-30-55 9 80 - ~ (e) 118 700 “ - 16 6~27-56 @) 90 yy e) (e) 90 * 8.3 8.4 16 6-27-56 6 88 3.8 1.0 0O 100 * 9.6 7.6 26 6-27-56 f°) 87 2.8 0 0 137 * 5.2 8.2 26 6-27-56 6 86 4.6 fe) fe) 137 100 5.2 8.4 - indicates no test, due to lack of glassware or reagents. * indicates less than 25 ppm silt, minimum reading on turbidimeter tube. ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— LS Sissi i Se: ener ese Sse rs eR --- Page 8 --- Table 3. A List of Fish Recorded from the Aransas River. Scientific Name Lepisosteus spatula Lepisosteus productus Lepisosteus osseus Elops saurus Opisthonema oglinum Bervoortia gunteri Dorosoma cepedianum Anchoa hepsetus ictiobus bubalus Notropis lutrensis Galeichthys felis ictalurus furcatus Syngnathus scovelli Lucania parva é yprinodon variegatus Mollienesia latipinna Mugil cephalus Menidia beryllina Micropterus salmoides Lepomis macrochirus Lepomis megalotis Caranx hi s Sciaenops ocellata Leiostomus xanthurus Micropogon undulatus Pogonias e 8 Cynoscion ne osus Cichlasoma cyanoguttata Gobiomorus dormitator Common Name Alligator Gar Spotted Gar Longnose Gar Bigeye Herring Thread Herring Bay Menhaden Gizzard Shad Striped Anchovy Smallmouth buffalo Red Shiner Sea Catfish Blue Catfish Seovell's Pipefish Rainwater Fish Sea Pupfish Sailfin Molly Striped Mullet Tidewater Silversides Largemouth Black Bass Bluegill Sunfish Longear Sunfish Common Jack Redfish Spot Croaker Atlantic Croaker Black Drum Speckled Trout Rio Grande Perch Sleeper --- Page 9 --- 9. Table 4. The Numbers of Fish Taken in Experimental Gill Nets from the Aransas River. Species Mi.2 Mi.4 Mi.6 Mi.8 Mi.lO Mi.12 Mi.lh Mi.16 Mi.18 Mi.20 Mi.22 Mi.2h Mi.26 Total Percent Rank AG 3 3 2 1 h 5 § 4 1 1 1 ~ 2 - 23 9.62 SG - © - - © « - = - 1 1 3 1 ~ 6 2.51 T LNG - . = = = - - - 1 - 2 4 1 8 3.34 6 BEH . 1 = = - - - ~ - - - ~ - 1 0.41 810 THH - - ~ 2 - - - - = = - - - 2 0.8 9 BMH 2 9 1 h 2 1 EA » = - 2 " 1 21 8.78 5 Gs 6 6 2 T 17 - 1 3 3 1 2 1 12 61 25.56 1 SMB - = - “ wo “ - 1 1 - - 3 - 5 2.09 8 ser T 9 6 h h 1 h - 2 ” > = ~ 37 15.48 2 BC ° - - - - 2 ~ - = - ~ ¥. - 1 0.41 10 SML 2 10 \y 8 1 - » = * i: 2 - 6 34 14.22 3 LMB - - = = - ~ © ~ - = = 1 = 1 0.41 10 RED a - = - ~ - - = - “ - - - uj 0.41 10 SCR - 1 2 1 ~ - = - 1 i = * “ 6 2.51 6 ACR 1 - - - = - 1 = ~ = ~ ~ ~ 2 0.82 9 BDR 1 6 1 3 1 ” 2 - 1 2 5 z - 23 9.62 h SPT 2 2 1 ~ - » < = - - - = = 5 2.09 8 SLE - - ~ - - - - 1 ~ 1 = ~ - 2 0.82 9 Total 25 h7 19 30 29 3 13 6 3. 8 14 14 20 239 99-8 Percent 10.46 19.66 7.94 12.55 12.13 1.25 5.43 2.51 4.61 3.34 5.85 5.85 8.36 99.99 --- Page 10 --- ‘spunod OOT JUSTSA peluMT {ss UsuToeds sug x €S°668 8 S ane OEIIALSHASERATA Seueernecstocgm oN —_ ow oO “Se LT *2t 769 SASISHSSSATSASSBAG Fait-eoonnooHnoocSE INO O spunog Rm “LOATY SVSUeTY 94} WoT 49" TIT) Teywewpredxg uy ueyey, ysty jo spunog ‘OT Te70L Is DS DY setoadg °G SeTQBL --- Page 11 --- Table 6. Success of Experimental Gill Netting im the Aransas River in Terms of Numbers and Pounds of Fish Caught. Average River Miles Number of Number of Number Average Number of Pounds of Average Average Pounds Above Dam Net Set Feet of of Fish Number of Fish/foot Fish Pounds of of Fish/Foot Net Set Caught Fish/Net of Net Caught Fish/Net ef Net = |. 2 2 250 25 12.50 -100 80.30 4O.15 32 \. 2 250 7 23.50 188 151.75 75.88 61 6 2 250 19 9.50 -O76 61.14 30.57 2h 8 2 250 30 15.00 -120 19.64 9.82 .08 10 2 250 29 14.50 -116 143.81 71.90 -58 12 2 250 3 1.50 -016 43.28 21.64 LT 14 2 250 13 6.50 -056 80.19 40.10 32 16 2 250 6 3.00 02h. 29.88 14. oh 12 18 2 250 11 5.50 -Oby 116 .80* 58.40 AT 20 2 250 8 4.00 -032 18.79. 9.39 .08 22 2 250 14 7-00 .059 hh .88 22 4h -18 ah 2 250 14 7-00 -059 89.31 hh 66 36 26 2 250 20 10.00 -080 19.76 9.88 .08 Total 26 3250 239 899.53 Average 2 250 9.19 0.74 34.60 .28 --- Page 12 --- 12. Table 7. Minimum, Maximum and Average Standard Length, Weights and “K" Factors of Fish Taken in Experimental Nets from the Aransas River. Species Number of Standard Length Weight in Grams "K" Factor Specimens Minimum Maximum Average Mimimum Maximum Average Mimimum Maximum Average AG 23 860 2045 1157 4536 h5ho0* 13694 0.52 1.22 0.82 8G 6 512 610 Shy 280 2041 - 1317 0.54 0.90 0. 7h LNG 8 620 1064 1301 1134 5698 3614 0.39 0.66 0.50 BEH i 190 190 190 66 66 66 0.98 0.98 0.98 THA 2 1k45 155 150 56 60 58 1.55 1.90 1.72 BME 21 120 170 132 30 110 47 1.60 2.55 2.21 Gs 61 134 2ho 196 38 256 140 1.40 2.00 1.70 SMB 5 297 390 351 936 =. 2041. 1480 1.05 3.40 2.97 scT 37 155 230 180 60 230 oh 1.25 1.85 1.58 BC 1 310 310 310 488 4.88 488 1.65 1.65 1.65 SML 3h. 165 285 189 95 4.36 141 1.60 2.40 1.98 LMB 1 188 188 188 155 155 155 2.30 2.30 2.30 RED 1, 500 500 500 2126 2126 2126 1.70 1.70 1.70 SCR 6 115 209 143 he TT 56 2.35 2.85 2.61 ACR 2 120 209 164 he 185 113 2.05 2.45 2.25 BDR 23 135 4.60 327 57 2977 1060 2.00 3.05 2.51! SPT 5 210 422 305 124 1134 8h. 1.25 1.50 1.39 SLE 2 303 335 319 475 4.82 478 1.30 1.70 1.50 Total 239 * One AG estimated weight 100 lbs. Not included in "K" factor. --- Page 13 --- 13. Table 8. Numbers of Fish Taken in Seining Collections From the Aransas River. Species Mile 1 Mile 5 Mile 16 Mile 26 Total Percent Rank Elops saurus ~ 2 3 = 5 0.91 11 Pomolobus valis k ~ - ~ 4 0.73 12 Dorosoma cepedianum - 6 - = 6 1.09 10 Anchoa mitchellii ut 2 = = 3 0.55 3 Natropis lutrengis “ - - 2 2 0.35 1 Syngnathus scovelli - ~ 30 3 33 6.01 5 Lucania parva - - 102 11 113 20.69 2 Cyprinedon variegatus 1 8 38 - 47 8.61 h Mollienisia latipinne * 7 27 = 27 4, Oh 6 Mugil cephalus 6h 29 15 . 108 19.78 3 Menidia beryllina 1§ 2 10 130 L157 28.75 iL Micropterus salmoides - = = 12 12 2.18 8 Lepomis macrochirus = - - k h 0.73 12 Lepomis megalotis = - - 16 16 2.92 7 Caranx hippos - 2 ~ ~ 2 0.35 14 Cichlasoma cyanoguttate 2 - * 10 10 1.82 9 (23) wl WA pa ae) ny) wi be & e ‘oO Total --- Page 14 --- pos fel T ae D7} CNY eeGeP Real) ete z : : =r, » siass rho 3 AD) ecu Cae! i “ r eelamel tien hay ae 7 uJ grey nl, FE : ; J pe yo JT eons Te af : 5 hac) sepa Eat, es = - ete by ‘ pyce: os Gel x > “ure —— ST : : 34 : ni Pe Ti ip l sy o 7 ie) ra AT ans tm eset Ps —— —— » - =a - a a te — = ~ ¢ TT a --- Page 15 --- Fig. 1, Aransas River at Mile seven, Refugio County road landing at left, Fig, 2, Aransas River at Mile nineteen, --- Page 16 --- Catwalk Refugio County Mile & \ ° County Landing Rooke Ranch - Mile 10 \ Og Mine 16 Mile 12 C\ Pipeline Mile 1s. : ot Ci Mile 2 Dirt Dam Mile o Mile 1 (cz Waelder Wildlife Refuge me \ ~ Mdal Cuts San Patricio County Chiltipin Creek Map 2, Lower Aransas River, Traced from Aerial Photographs U, 8, Production Marketing Administration, Sinton, Texas, --- Page 17 --- Fig, 3. Aransas River at Mile twenty-six, --- Page 18 --- WVoodsboro Refugio County Bonnie * View og \ Aransas River a — ‘Texas 136 Texas 35 Gregory Texas NOs Map I, Aransas River Watershed Showing drainage and the principle toms and roads, | ‘ \ San Patricio County Traced from General County Highway Seale: 1 inch = 4 miles

Detected Entities

Aransas River 0.999 p.1 Basic Survey and Inventory of Fish Species Present in the Aransas River
Bee County 0.999 p.2 the watershed is in Bee, Refugio, and San Patricio counties in Southcentral Texas
Chiltipin Creek 0.999 p.2 Chiltipin Creek is the major tributary’ of the Aransas River
Copano Bay 0.999 p.2 the rise and fall of the tide in Copano Bay
Lake Corpus Christi 0.999 p.4 When the average catch of 9.19 fish and 34.60 pounds of fish per net is compared to the average catch from Lake Corpus …
Moody Creek 0.999 p.2 Moody Creek contains standing water for about a mile above its mouth
Refugio County 0.999 p.2 the watershed is in Bee, Refugio, and San Patricio counties in Southcentral Texas
Rooke Lake 0.999 p.3 No bulrush (Scirpus validus) was found on the river although it was common in Rooke Lake
San Patricio County 0.999 p.2 the watershed is in Bee, Refugio, and San Patricio counties in Southcentral Texas
Sinton 0.999 p.2 salt brine occurs from the Sinton oil field
Tamaulipan Biotic Province 0.999 p.2 The area is in the Northeastern part of the South Texas brush land, the Tamaulipan Biotic Province of Dice
U. S. Highway 77 0.999 p.3 A sample from Sinton at the U. S. Highway 77 bridge on May 29, 1956 contained 73 ppt
Atlantic 0.850 p.8 ...l Sunfish Longear Sunfish Common Jack Redfish Spot Croaker Atlantic Croaker Black Drum Speckled Trout Rio Grande Per…
Nueces River 0.850 p.5 ...tral Texas, the first independent drainage northeast of the Nueces River. About 780 square miles of brush lands in B…
Rio Grande 0.850 p.8 ...h Spot Croaker Atlantic Croaker Black Drum Speckled Trout Rio Grande Perch Sleeper
Tributary 0.850 p.2 ...ver in more detail than Map 1. Chiltipin Creek is the major tributary’ of the Aransas River, entering the river just…
Aransas County 0.800 p.1 ...E Basic Survey and Inventory of Fish Species Present in the Aransas River. OBJECTIVES a. To gather fundamental data …
Nueces County 0.800 p.5 ...tral Texas, the first independent drainage northeast of the Nueces River. About 780 square miles of brush lands in B…

organization (6)

Dallas Morning News 0.999 p.2 According to the Texas Almanac, 1956-1957, published by the Dallas Morning News
Game and Fish Commission 0.999 p.3 Action is now being taken by the State Railroad and Game and Fish Commissions
Preduction Marketing Administration 0.999 p.1 aerial photoes of the Preduction Marketing Administration
State Railroad Commission 0.999 p.3 Action is now being taken by the State Railroad and Game and Fish Commissions
Texas Highwey Department 0.999 p.1 Maps 1 and 2 were made up in the laboratory from county maps of the Texas Highwey Department
Welder Wildlife Foundation 0.999 p.1 Dr. Clarence Cottam and Mr. Caleb Glazener, Director and Assistant Director of the Welder Wildlife Foundation

person (6)

Al Flury 0.999 p.1 Al Flury Project Leader
Caleb Glazener 0.999 p.1 Dr. Clarence Cottam and Mr. Caleb Glazener, Director and Assistant Director of the Welder Wildlife Foundation
Clarence Cottam 0.999 p.1 Dr. Clarence Cottam and Mr. Caleb Glazener, Director and Assistant Director of the Welder Wildlife Foundation
Frank Rooke 0.999 p.1 Mr. Frank Rooke, owner ef a ranch covering much of the north shere of the lower river
Rudy Marek 0.999 p.3 salinity tests made at the State Marine Laboratory by Mr. Rudy Marek
W. T. Harris 0.999 p.1 Game and Fish Warden W. T. Harris
Ameiurus melas 0.999 p.3 the yellow bullhead (Ameiurus melas) and the warmouth bass (Chaenobryttus coronarius)
Anchoa hepsetus 0.999 p.8 Table 3. A List of Fish Recorded from the Aransas River
Aplodionotus grunniens 0.999 p.3 no freshwater drum (Aplodionotus grunniens), white crappie (Pomoxis annularis)
Argulus 0.999 p.4 fish lice (Argulus)
Bervoortia gunteri 0.999 p.8 Table 3. A List of Fish Recorded from the Aransas River
Caranx hippos 0.999 p.8 Table 3. A List of Fish Recorded from the Aransas River
Chaenobryttus coronarius 0.999 p.3 the yellow bullhead (Ameiurus melas) and the warmouth bass (Chaenobryttus coronarius)
Chara 0.999 p.3 muskgrass (Chara)
Cichlasoma cyanoguttata 0.999 p.8 Table 3. A List of Fish Recorded from the Aransas River
Cynoscion nebulosus 0.999 p.8 Table 3. A List of Fish Recorded from the Aransas River
Cyprinidae 0.999 p.8 not found but family name Cyprinidae is mentioned as part of the scientific classification
Cyprinodon variegatus 0.999 p.8 Table 3. A List of Fish Recorded from the Aransas River
Dorosoma cepedianum 0.999 p.8 Table 3. A List of Fish Recorded from the Aransas River
Elops saurus 0.999 p.8 Table 3. A List of Fish Recorded from the Aransas River
Galeichthys felis 0.999 p.8 Table 3. A List of Fish Recorded from the Aransas River
Gobiomorus dormitator 0.999 p.8 Table 3. A List of Fish Recorded from the Aransas River
Ictalurus furcatus 0.999 p.8 Table 3. A List of Fish Recorded from the Aransas River
Ictalurus punctatus 0.999 p.3 or channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were taken; they are very common fresh water fish in the area
Ictiobus bubalus 0.999 p.8 Table 3. A List of Fish Recorded from the Aransas River
Leiostomus xanthurus 0.999 p.8 Table 3. A List of Fish Recorded from the Aransas River
Lepisosteus osseus 0.999 p.8 Table 3. A List of Fish Recorded from the Aransas River
Lepisosteus productus 0.999 p.8 Table 3. A List of Fish Recorded from the Aransas River
Lepisosteus spatula 0.999 p.8 Table 3. A List of Fish Recorded from the Aransas River
Lepomis macrochirus 0.999 p.8 Table 3. A List of Fish Recorded from the Aransas River
Lepomis megalotis 0.999 p.8 Table 3. A List of Fish Recorded from the Aransas River
Lucania parva 0.999 p.8 Table 3. A List of Fish Recorded from the Aransas River
Menidia beryllina 0.999 p.8 Table 3. A List of Fish Recorded from the Aransas River
Micropogon undulatus 0.999 p.8 Table 3. A List of Fish Recorded from the Aransas River
Micropterus salmoides 0.999 p.8 Table 3. A List of Fish Recorded from the Aransas River
Mollienesia latipinna 0.999 p.8 Table 3. A List of Fish Recorded from the Aransas River
Mugil cephalus 0.999 p.8 Table 3. A List of Fish Recorded from the Aransas River
Notropis lutrensis 0.999 p.8 Table 3. A List of Fish Recorded from the Aransas River
Nuphar 0.999 p.3 spatterdock (Nuphar)
Opisthonema oglinum 0.999 p.8 Table 3. A List of Fish Recorded from the Aransas River
Palaemonetes 0.999 p.4 Fresh water shrimp (Palaemonetes)
Penaeus aztecus 0.999 p.4 Brown Shrimp (Penaeus aztecus)
Pogonias cromis 0.999 p.8 Table 3. A List of Fish Recorded from the Aransas River
Pomoxis annularis 0.999 p.3 no freshwater drum (Aplodionotus grunniens), white crappie (Pomoxis annularis)
Potamogeton nodosus 0.999 p.3 pondweed (Potamogeton nodosus)
Potomogeton pectinatus 0.999 p.3 pondweed (Potomogeton pectinatus)
Salix 0.999 p.3 willow (Salix)
Sciaenops ocellata 0.999 p.8 Table 3. A List of Fish Recorded from the Aransas River
Scirpus olneyi 0.999 p.3 club rush (Scirpus olneyi)
Scirpus validus 0.999 p.3 No bulrush (Scirpus validus) was found on the river
Syngnathus scovelli 0.999 p.8 Table 3. A List of Fish Recorded from the Aransas River
Alligator Gar 0.850 p.4 ...ee roughly with those from Lake Cerpus Christi, as follows: alligator gar .82: .80; spotted gar .7Th ¢ .723 longnose…
Atlantic Croaker 0.850 p.8 ...l Sunfish Longear Sunfish Common Jack Redfish Spot Croaker Atlantic Croaker Black Drum Speckled Trout Rio Grande Per…
Black Drum 0.850 p.4 ...arasitic isopods were found in the mouths of several of the black drum and fish lice (Argulus ) were found on two al…
Blue Catfish 0.850 p.3 ...39 individuals (12.31%) were game fish and only one each of blue catfish and large- mouth black bass were fresh wate…
Channel Catfish 0.850 p.3 ...lodionotus grunniens), white crappie (Pomoxis annularis) or channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were taken; they a…
Freshwater Drum 0.850 p.3 ...re taken from Rooke Lake in April, 1955. Surpris- ingly, no freshwater drum (Aplodionotus grunniens), white crappie …
Gizzard Shad 0.850 p.4 ...r and none of them were taken below Mile 16. Except for the gizzard shad, the seven most common fish taken in Lake C…
Largemouth Bass 0.850 p.4 k,, gar, smallmouth buffalo, blue catfish and largemouth bass) were definitely restricted to fresh water and none of th…
Longear Sunfish 0.850 p.8 ...idewater Silversides Largemouth Black Bass Bluegill Sunfish Longear Sunfish Common Jack Redfish Spot Croaker Atlanti…
Longnose Gar 0.850 p.3 ...h black bass were fresh water game fish. Only five species (longnose gar, spotted
Red Shiner 0.850 p.4 ...sence of the sunfish, largemouth bass, Rie Grande perch and Red Shiner minnows at the upper end of the standing wate…
Sailfin Molly 0.850 p.8 ...Blue Catfish Seovell's Pipefish Rainwater Fish Sea Pupfish Sailfin Molly Striped Mullet Tidewater Silversides Largem…
Smallmouth Buffalo 0.850 p.4 k,, gar, smallmouth buffalo, blue catfish and largemouth bass) were definitely restrict...
Spotted Gar 0.850 p.8 ...noguttata Gobiomorus dormitator Common Name Alligator Gar Spotted Gar Longnose Gar Bigeye Herring Thread Herring Bay…
Striped Anchovy 0.850 p.8 ...ar Bigeye Herring Thread Herring Bay Menhaden Gizzard Shad Striped Anchovy Smallmouth buffalo Red Shiner Sea Catfish…
Striped Mullet 0.850 p.4 ...n reduced number in the Aransas River. The gizzard shad and striped mullet were taken in approximately equal numbers…
White Crappie 0.850 p.3 ...urpris- ingly, no freshwater drum (Aplodionotus grunniens), white crappie (Pomoxis annularis) or channel catfish (Ic…
Yellow Bullhead 0.850 p.3 ...from the Aransas River in this job. Two other species, the yellow bullhead (Ameiurus melas) and the warmouth bass (C…