TPWD 1954 F-6-R-1 #85: Inventory of the Fish Species Present in Falcon Reservoir

--- Page 1 --- STATE _ Texas PROJECT NO. F-O-R-1, Job B-4 PERIOD July 1, 1953 to June 30, 1954 : Segment Completion Report by Alvin Flury and Luciano Guerra TITLE Inventory of the Fish Species Present in Faleon Reservoir. OBJECTIVES To determine the species present and their relative numbers in Falcon Reservoir. PROCEDURE a. Netting Collections 1. Ten stations were selected on Faleon Reservoir to represent different locations and ecological conditions. A total of k7 experimental nets were set from November 1953 to June 1954, As far as possible, nets were set at each station at monthly intervals but becanse of low water stations in the upper lake were frequently inaccessible. 2, Thirty net sets were made with 100 by 8 ft. nets of two inch and three inch square mesh at various locations. 3, One hoop net was set for four nights and baited with beef scraps. A fyke net was not available. 4, Beginning in February 1954 when weighing and measuring equipment was de« livered, all fish taken in the nets were weighed, measured, sexed and parasites noted. Some scales were collected but prove of no value in determing age. Fifteen stomachs of game and predacious fish were pre= served. b. Seining Collections 1. Ten seining collections were made at three beaches with a 30 ft. by 6 ft. bag seine with one-fourth inch mesh and a Common Sense seine, 20 ft. long. Thick brush covers almost the entire lake bed and very few sein- ing areas are available. One rotenone collection was made. 2. Data collected on netting and seining collections wr recorded on fish eards and collection sheets and these were filed for further study and tabulations. RESULTS a. Netting Collections 1. A total of 1,696 specimens of 18 species of fish were taken in the AT experimental gill net sets. 2, Four-hundred and eighty-six fish of 12 species were taken in the two and three inch mesh nets. --- Page 2 --- 2. 3. The one hoop net set took 38 fish of five species. 4. The data collected was filed and the "K" factors and stomach analyses are being prepared. b. Seining Collections 1. <A total of 6,266 fish of 30 species was taken in the ten seining col- lections and 3,056 fish of 12 species were taken in the rotenone col-~ lection. 2, All data observed and recorded in making the netting and seining collections were filed and will be used later in compiling detailed charts and tables for the job completion report. A total of 31 species of fish have been recorded from Falcon Reservoir. Their frequency of occurrence is shown on the Fish List. SUMMARY Netting and seining collections and one rotenone collection were made in Falcon Reservoir during the period. Fish collected were tabulated, weighed, measured, sexed and parasites noted. Stomachs and scales were collected from some of the fish. Thirty- one fish species have been recorded from the Reservoir. --- Page 3 --- FISH LIST Name of Water Falcon Reservoir Date sc mcm eR RAE OE TCT nnn nIDDD ee 31 Species Seining Station Netting Station Total Percent Lepisosteus spatula 0 Lepisosteus platostomus 6) Lepisosteus productus 0 5 5 Lepisosteus ogseus @) iL Dporosoma petenensis Dorosoma cepedianum 3,511 659 4,176 Astyanax fasciatus m. 863 ) 863 Ietiobus niger O i 1 Ietiobus bubalus aL 179 730 Carpiodes carpio fo) 4s 45 Hybopsis aetivalis 33 0 33 Notropis amabilis 33 0 33 Notropis jenezanus ue 9) L Notropis lutrensis 12 QO 12 Notropis proserpinus 3 0 3 Notropis braytoni 161 0 161 Ictalurus punctatus 0 17 17 Tetalurus furcatus 0 488 4.88 Amerius melas Q 2 2 Pilodictus olivaris 0 62 62 Anguilla rostrata al ie) 1 Cyprinodon variegatus L 0 4 Gambusia affinis 2h0 0 2h0 Mugil cephalus 6) 2 2 Menida beryllina 1,854 0 1,854 Lepomis cyanellus 119 2 121 Lepomis macrochirus 18 8 26 Lepomis auritus L ie) 1 Pomoxis annularis 1 7 8 Aplodinotus grunniens Bh5 336 681 Cichlasoma cyanoguttata 23 2 25 Totals