TPWD 1954 F-7-R-2 #99: Job Completion Report: Laboratory and Statistical Results of Analysis of Materials and Data Collected in the Field, Lake Wichita and Big Wichita River

--- Page 1 --- TITLE STATE Texas PROJECT NO. FE. i PERIOD June T, 155 £5 Way 31, 1055 JOB COMPLETION REPORT Leo D. Lewis and Walter W. Dalquest ee Laboratory and statistical results of analysis of materials and data collected in the field. OBJECTIVES le a ao To determine the following data from laboratory examination of field collected specimens and datas Bo De Co de To TECHNIQUES le Zo Growth rate of the species present. Food habits. Sexual development and spawning success, Comparative physical condition (coefficient of condition). determine population estimates and trends from field data, Field and laboratory techniques for objective 1, above, were as follows: Bo Do Ge This objective was abandoned on the basis of last year's findings, Stomachs of all predacious fishes that obvicusly contained food were preserved in a formalin solution and later examined in the laboratory. Stomaches of a number of nonepredacious fishes ware alse opened and examined. Sexual development, spawning seasons and spawning successes were determined by field observations, Reproductive potential was determined by making counts of the eggs in the ovaries of female fishes that were almost ready to spawn. Coefficients of condition were computed in the laboratory from measurements of length and weight, made in the field, after the formula presented by Carlander (Fresh-water Fisheries Biclogy). Population estimates of the fishes of Lake Wichita and the Big Wichita River were determined by gill net and seining collections. The data is presented elsewhere (Completion Reports Fe7-R=2, job BeS and jobs Ae2 and B-6, combined), --- Page 2 --- BACKGROUND The report on the laboratory and statistical analysis of materials and data collected in the field during the 1953-195 project year, covering Lake Kickapoo, Lake Kemp and Lake Diversion (Completion Report Fe7eRel, Job Bel) is used as the outline for the present report, which is organized in a similar fashion so that the statistical results of the three lakes studied Last year may be readily compared with the one lake and one river studied this year. The Canadian River, in the Texas Panhandle, was also studied in detail in the past year but no large fishes yisiding data of the type summarized here were taken ° AGE DETERMINATION Our detailed studies of the "annuli” on the scales of fishes from this part of Texas, in the 1953=195) project year, led to no useful findings that sould be applied to the fisheries biology of this area, Our summary of our last=year's work is repeated here. We have found no reason to change ite "We are forced to conclude that annuli on the scales of fishes from this region, if valid for age determination at all, will require far more time and detailed study than we can spare for them, In this region, winters are mild and the lakes rarely freeze, Insect and plant life is available throughout the year, It is possible that scale marks reflect violent ecological conditions such as drouth, excessive salinity or sudden floods rather than regular yearly growth Stages o "We do feel, however, that scale markings may show, or at least indisate in a general way, age of the specimens, If the 'ridiculous? specimens are discarded and the doubtful specimens read as best they can be determined, the results are in fair agreement with what we would judge from size and weight. Nevertheless we have no confidence in the results and would rather depend on length and weight as age indicators," We have noted several recent publications that also cast some doubt on the complete validity of annuli, even from areas where annuli have been much used in the paste FCOD HABITS The stomachs of all predacious fishes were examined in the field. Those stomachs that contained food were removed, labeled and preserved in 10% formalin. In the laboratory these stomachs wers opened, wider a microscope when necessary. Parasitic worms were discarded and only those food items that could be identified with reasonable certainty were recorded. Of the nonepredacious fishes, a weasciable number of stomachs, gullets and the anterior portions of intestinal tracts, were tied off and removed from specimens for laboratory examination. Because of the nature of the food items, no quantitative method of presenting this data could be devised, Foodehabits data is here presented by species, in phylogenetic order, Lapisosteus osseus (Longenosed Gar).o= A specimen from Diversion Dam Station on the Big Wichita River, taken August 3, 195i, contained two smal bluegill sumfishes (Lepomis macrochirus), each about 85 mm. in Length. x --- Page 3 --- 3 Lepisosteus preductus (Spotted Gar) oo A D2) ZAMS» contained a small giggarc s gested to measure, on October 29, 195h. 5 ib) 9 specimen from Lake Wichita, female 23 (Dorosoma cepedianum), too | cyprinellus (Bigmouth Buffalo).-= Two small specimens, taken May IH, 1955, sontained only planktonic organisms, The food habits of this buffalo seem to be identical to those of the next species. Tetiobus bubalus (Smallmouth Buffalo) .-- A number of smallmouth buffalos were studied. This fish has no distinct stomach, and the pharynx constricts to a tube of almost miform diameter in which esophagus, stomach and intestines are scarcely differentiated, externally. Im the field we tied off the throats and rior portions of the gut and saved these parts in formalin. In the Laboratory we found great numbers of zooplankton in the gullets and anterior parts of the gut, digested zooplankton and reddish oil in the parts immediatals posteriom, and only fecal material farther back. — On December 15, 195i, the digestive tracts of three large specimens were carefully examined, Only zooplankton, almost entirely large forms of Cladocera and Copepoda, was present. Great numbers of these were found in perfect concition. A plankton haul in the lake showed the dominant planktonic animals to be rotifers and protozoa.e These small forms outnumbered the entomostracans at least 10 to 1, but only the larger arthropods had been eaten by the buffales, Apparently the smallmouth buffaio, and probably the largemouth buffalo also, is axtremely selective in its feeding habits. Carpiodes carpio (River Carpsucker).-- Small guantitiss of plankton were found tne anterior parts of the digestive tracts of several river carpsuckers , along with a small amount of unidentifiable material that seemed to be vegetable in nature. Farther back the long digestive tract contained only large quantities of fecal matter, We are not sure the material in the anterior part of the put was foode Certainly it was present in amounts too small to support fishes as large as carpsuckers. Hiedeon alosoides (Goldeye),-= A female weighing 275 grams, taken at the Diversion Dam Station on the Big Wichita River, July 6, 1954, contained a large Carabid beetle and a small Acrid grasshopper. Db etatus (Spotted Channel Catfish).—= Only two channel caifishe: din their stomachs were taken, both from Lake Wichita. A 525 pram fish en September 23, 1954, contained one small gizzard shad. A catfish taken ary 255 1955, held a large gizzard shad and several Acanthocephalan parasites. cimens containing food were an femals held one inches in length, and 11 3 inches Long, 1 small elurus melas (Black Bulihead).== All of the sp ‘ron Lake Wichita. On October 29, 195i, a 600 gr ; 300 gram fish held 21 sunfishes, 3/1 to 2 ess a 750 gram female held 1 gizzard shad Lh grass shrimp (Paleomanotes). iiheads were taken November 23, 195i. One held 11 small sunfishes. small gizzard shad. taken December 21, 195, held two small. gizzard shad, 4& large bullhead taken February 1, 1955, held eight small sunfishes , apparently ali. Lepomis cyanslius, and two small giszard shad. These large specimens taken May 25, 1955, had their stomachs bulging with decayed, brown vegetation that seemed to be cattasil (Ty ha.) » One stomach held @ +) --- Page 4 --- k ‘aing but this vegetation. The other two held large numbers of large fish eggs t compared most favorably with the eges of the drum (Aplodinotusl grunniens), cca in the Tood of the white bass from Lake Wichita, Gizzard shad and grass shrimp formed the bulk of the food, with other small fishes making up the differences In the Big Wichita River, only gizzard shad were found in the stomachs of specimens takeno The data from Lake Wichita is presented in the following table. Morone Lai (White Bass).=-= There seemed to be little seasonal variation food item frequency of oecurrence total number identified 15 at 36 55 ' SPo 7 erysloeucas L LS mepalotis i poms macrochirus 1 OmoxXLS annalaris L Aplodinotus prunniens 1 — 2 CACAO eee t MR nb pe i Micropterus salmoides (Black Bass).-= All of our specimens of black bass from the Big Wichita River that contained food in their stomachs came from Kemp Dam Station. On December 13, 1954, one bass held a small gizzard shadg one held a small drumg another held a large parrot minnow (Pimephales vigilax), On Pebruary 21, 1955, a bass 290 mm. Long held a channel catfish (ictalurus punctatus ) 76 mms long. On March 1, 1955, a specimen 193 mm. long held a sm “am an another, 355 mm. long, contained three small gizzard shad. Seysral specimens from Lake Wichita also contained food,» One taken on December 15, 1954, contained a gizzard shad two inches long. One taken December Zl) 1955 contained two small gizzard shad and a grass shrimp. Five taken on March 4, 1955, held food as follows: one grass shrimps ons small, golden (Notemi goneus evysLoeucas)3 three each contained a single gizzard shad, following summary shows the materials identified in tabular forme rood item frequency of oscurrenes total number identified --- Page 5 --- 5 Pomoxis annularis (White Crappie) <= Only one crappie with food in its stomach Was taken from the Wichita River, at Kemp Dam Station on December 13, L95he It contained a small green sumfish and a large parrot minnow, A number of specimens from Lake Wichita contained food, as follows: in 15 cepedianum Lo 22 GPOpLsS SPe L Lb erysoleucas L als 1 L runniens i a dl. ApLodinotus grummiens (Freshwater Drum).-- a male drum, 298 grams in weight, taken Jaly 1, hoa version Dam Station on the Big Wichita River, contained a .arge shortehorned grasshopper. This is our first record of an insect) from the stomach of a fish of this species, Two specimens were taken at Lake Wichita on October 5, 195), with food in their stomachs. One female of 675 grams contained two smaill gizzard shade A male of 700 grams held another drum, about three inches in Length. We found this species to be cannibalistic last year also. A drum taken in Lake Wichita on February 1, 1955, contained two small gizzard shad. REPRODUCTION Records were kept of all observations in the field of spawning fish and schools of fry. All young of large fishes that were taken in seine hauls wers counted and measured, All fishes taken in gill nets were examined for stages of sexual development and recorded as: (1) immature, with small, thin testes or Ce smal ovaries containing eggs of msdiumesize or smaller: (2) ripe, with largs, thick testes or large ovaries containing large CLES 8 (3) spent, with flabby he op ovaries, ovaries usually with a small number of wilaid eggs and often with traces of blood. The judgment of “immature” and "ripe" is purely ry but, in the field, few borderline cases oceur. The chserver simply /nimsel!, “Is this fish ready or nearly ready to breed." In general, eggs of a wipe female fish can easily be separated from oneeanother and easily be é teds The “spent condition is more difficult to judge, especially in male #o It is also a condition of short duration. Some errors are doubtless ded in this classification but, when many fish of a species are recorded "spent® In a single catch, it is thought that the actual spawning date was > a few days paste The ovaries of a number of females recorded as “ripe! were saved in a formalin solution, In the laboratory the ovaries were weighed to the nearest {lO gram. <A smail portion, less than one gram, was then snipped from the large ‘Sy a8 representative a sample as possible, and weighed on a chemical balance > nearest milligram. The eggs in this small sample were then counted and tal number of eggs in the ripe ovary thus estimated, Since the number is an obvious function of the weight of the fish, we list the number of --- Page 6 --- 6 eges per fish and eges per kilogram as well. In general it seems that the past project year was a much more normal year than the 19536195 project year, principally because this year the lakes nearly full and rainfall was abundant. In the 1953-5 year, lakes were extremely low and it was a “drought” year. ALL spec sles for which we haye adequate data did breed in the spring cr summer of 195). Some forms apparently did net do so in 1953. Breeding times alist seemed somewhat more regular and iL inti'ted this past SeaSOne Wichita Riv rer given first. ifs. suppose that the Saninstiee potential of a species of fish is genetically fixed in any given area and therefore we have not Listed separately egg counts from the Wichita River and Lake Wichita. Lepisosteus osseuseess The largest spam of this gar took place in beth the Big Wichita fiver and take Wichita in May, 1955, A similar spawn must have eceurred in May or early June, 195, for gar fry were taken in late June, 195lis in the lake. A few fish with gonads large snough to be in spamming condition were taken in the fall and early spring. Lepisosteus platostomus.-= The spawning season of the shortnosed gar seems bo occur sariier fs that of the above species, We found most large females to be "ripe”® in April, 195) and 1955. Several spawning fish were taken in August and September, suggesting that this form may spawn twice a year. a oma sepedianum.e= The principal breeding ssason of this species in the fey Occurs in May, when most specimens taken have “ripe” gonads. A fom, “seatt ered individuals have “ripe” gonads at other months.of the year. In seine hauls we took tiny gizzard shad, obviously not more than a few days cld, im almost every month of the year, including the winter months, We judge that or nearly all of the adult fish of this kind breed in May, but a fraction of * percent breed twice, at any time of the year. Survival of the offspring of thess offeseason breeders seems to be surprisingly high. Tetiobus sh rinellusos= The bigmowth buffalo spawmmed successfully in Lake Wichita in May, 195%, ard specimens one to ae inches long were taken in seine : s in late May and in June. No more small specimens were taken wmtil May, when several fish 10 to 12 inches long ware caught in a seins haul. On basis, t eles grows about a foot in the first year. ‘etlobus 3 a The smallmouth buffalo spammed successfully in May, ent Fish slightly more than an inch in length were abundant, with an oc ‘casional bigmouth buffalo of slightly larger size, in June, 195k. ] week or SO, thess small fishes were common. By July, no more were taken am seine hauls in the shallows, On February 2, 1955, a seine haul in deeper water took 201 young buffalo = this species, They ranged from 102 to 130 mm. in standard length (mean 114.8) and from 33 to 76 grams in weight (mean 8.7). Gonad development of the smallmouth buffalo is gradual, Noticeable reoment of eggs and ovaries ocecurs in February and March. By April, eggs Lusted as "ripe although a few off-season spaymers are recorded as "ripe" at times of the years --- Page 7 --- 7 Garpiodes carpicoe== The carpsucker spas at irregular times. In Lake Wichita, most of the females taken in February anc March were "ripe," A few rips individuals were taken at cther months of the year. In the past project year, relatively few carpsucker fry and young fish were noted, In the previous year, ‘the carpsucker was one of the most successful Spawners. Perhaps this species reproduces most successfully when the only bottom available is mud or silt, as is true in drought years when the lakes are reduced in VOLUME. Cy prinus carpioes= We tock a ripe female in February, 1955, and recorded a "spent" female in May. Otherwise all the European carp we captured in gill nets were not in or approaching breeding condition. We took only a few small earp in seine haulss Ietalarus punctatuse== Two females in breeding condition were taken, one in ‘Late March”and one In early April, Distinet enlargement of ovaries was seen in fish taken March ), 1955, The catfish spammed successfully in Lake Wichita in April, but not in numbers comparabi3 to other nearoy lakes where 3einch fish were a nuisance to fishermen in Jume and July. Ameiurus melas.=- Two females taken on April 29, 1955, contained ripe ovarieSs All others taken, both males and females, were immature, This indicates a quite regular spamming season, in early May. No fry of this species were taken in Lake Wichita, Morons chrysopse== White bass in both the Big Wichita River and Lake Wichita spawned sucee in the spring of 195) and again in the spring of 1955, The br eeding season of the species is rather extensive, reaching from April to July. In duly, fish from a few inches to nearly 1/i pound in weight occur together in the rapids and in deeper pools, We found no offeseason breeders in this species. Micropterus salmoides.-= Black Bass spawned succesfully in Lake Wichita y May, £955. We found no spawn of this species in the Wichita River. Pomoxis annularises= The spamming season of the white crappis in Lake , are : % . o on ” ta apparently started in early May, because ripe females were taken on Lo 2% 19550 The spawning season was short.e All adult females taken ir May wipse All taken after that month were immature, Few fry and no fingerLings taken in seine hauls, and it is possible that the Spam might not have been --- Page 8 --- species weight of fish number of eggs Lepisosteus osseus 735 13,712 — 8,619 89, 541 4,000 1,125 episosteus platostomus 800 65370 1, 300 15,908 15 300 27,765 Dorosoma cepedianum 625 354,450 550 17h, 378 515 125,810 725 136,000 5L5 213,803 i128 12h, 38h 510 108 , 60 1,125 Wh5,653 Carpiodes carpio 600 18h,28 _ 800 263,874 850 158, 307 Cyprinus carpio 35500 386, 746 Istaiurus punctatus 25100 26,870 a "710 11,1:76 Ameiurus melas 760 97,500 925 75,888 Morone chrysops Lok 270,600 W3u 160,000 382 2h. 875 hos 301,815 h72 1735788 1.90 389,000 388 «25,606 256 21,962 775 23,839 ight, sey opto le, The egg comts reveal some rather interesting facts. Longnosed gar is far more numerous and successful in northes the shortnosed gar REPRODUCTIVE POTENTIAL (EGG COUNTS) eggs per kilogram 1.866 1,039 39521 7,963 12, 236 21, 258 567,120 317,051 2h, 291. 187,586 LOL, k73 290,607 112,667 396,133 307, 377 329,83 539,185 110,198 12,795 165163 128, 207 82,041 596,035 268, 36k 633,181 755222 368,195 793,878 59,000 86, h15 30,5 760 For example, the entral Texas than is Nevertheless, the latter lays more eggs per kilogram of body o In general, the channel catfish is far more numerous and successful in central Texas than is the black bullhead. Yet the latter lays far more beth per fish and per kilogram of body weight, than does the channel catfish. --- Page 9 --- CCLESICIENT OF CONDITION Coca ORC The “Ks factors were determined for each specimen of large fish taken in our gill nets, Obvious errors in recording resulted in some impossible ratios af length to ‘weit, and these were discarded. All others are included in the =e Owing naragraphs. We have preferred to state all of our actual data rather 4h ee averages or other statistical conclusions, so that our figures can be readily compared with those of other workers by any preferred methods. Tt is obvious that the fishes taken in Lake Wichita were in much better z cal condition than those from the Big Wichita River. This is true of beth oust fishes and game fishes, planktoneeaters and predacious species, This béars out what we had coneluded from our field observations of the fishes from ae two Waterse As compared with Lake Kickapoo, Lake Kemp and Lake Diversion, as determined duming the previous project year, the fishes from Lake Wichita are in superior physical condition and have higher "K" factors, though the differences are not so great as between the lake and the Wichita River. This also agrees with our eieie observations. Lake Wichita seems to be the most productive body of water in this arga. DISTRIBUTION OF "kK® FACTORS FOR LAKE WICHITA Lepisos teus osseus - oly 25 io) a males 1 h 28 hh 2 females = 2 13 10 = Lepisos teus piatos tomus AC TRC and cameaey CRC aR RTBU ICRNE Ra NCI OE ES factors eo OD peer nt O, inales - 1 2 1 ws “ Pome 2 = = é = + comets --- Page 10 --- LO Dorosoma cevedianen Ra eo ta eos aerial factors Led 196 Lef 1.8 109 260 Zoi foe 2e3 Bali 205 2.6 2e7 2.8 209 eae IY CA SRN SI HERAT a MCR RICE a RSI aCe naa TE a ROD CRT ere ncanenEl Dawe 6 8 females 2 2 “ ‘10 9 23 19 lo 12 E) 5 6 5 CIEE Sea Tan eerie bean NORAD ECO SECT At ME SSSI ICE AONNE cR ORIC NER Ht MASAO ; COMO CUES MYT eR RLS SOI SremcoUN CANOSA RE ictiobus cyprinelius 209 _ 320 Bel 302 303 30h 305 306 3ef _ b] BS * Tetiobus bubalus 208 209 300 301 362 303 30h 305 306 307 308 309 lied - 7 13 16 33 23 2 22 2 lo UW 6 2 os 2 1 1 7 6 2 6 3 2 3 9 - Carpiodesi carpio 320k 205 206 207 208 209300 Bek 302303 oly 5 7 1 ww im =. 10 6 3 1 - @e hk 5 99 hk 9 6 kh 7 7 8 Goyorinus carpic cata comacerneetate 205206 207 208 20 3800 ol 302303 ictalLurus punctatus with "K® of 1.53 1 fish with "K" of 1.6. WKR of 253 OL small buffalo in a seine haul on February 2, 1955. These ranged to 136 mmo in standard Length, and from 33 te 76 grams in weight. were weigned in a mass, not determined as to sex, but individually measured The average (mean) "K" for these young fish was 3.3. --- Page 11 --- Ameiurus melas eee Cee Morone chrysops factors 205 206 207 208 = 209 3000S 30 302 303 Bok 86530 males 1 = - 2 7 6 7 9 12 6 3 @ females = 3 1 7 9 13 10 8 5 h ° - miles 3 - 2 k » bh kh 5S 2 2 29 29 4 oo © females 6 = 8 2 1 3 5 5 3 6 3 h 3 1 1 Apio dinotus grumiens fas ters Pelt 265 206 Qol 208 209 360 3el 302 363 Beh males an 1 2 1 2 6 1 1 1 7 2 females 1 @ 6 8 1 hy h 1 L 1 1 Ce a atone nea NRL I cee DISTRIBUTION OF "K® FACTORS FOR THE BIG WICHITA RIVER Lepis osteus osseus q factors a eli a) eG males 20 73 17 = females 3 50 22 3 --- Page 12 --- 7. en Co rao CATA I AEH OR ee OE ETD ete CE TES NTE NNT RIOR CCE TENOR Doroso ma, cepedianum factors 1e2 Te3 Teh 1e5 te6 1e7_ 108 249 200 20d 202203 ol males h h 2 3 lL 16 20 2h 28 11 8 hi 1 females 2 5 h h 7 3 13 17 17 11 12 7 1 cn SO RISC POAC tA IES A OE NPN TEAC OAS CTS Hiodon alosoides males e9= none taken. females -= 1 fish with "K" of 1.lis 2 fish with &K" of 1,5 Ictiobus bubalus rs Cho: fishes S 282 ww .« @&@ » 6 & &§ tee. 2. e Carp iodes carpio h 6 2 3 kh &@ 2 « W ae a tb] | ame &@ 77 Nad to = WI fa) i Ww DO wo Ww Lee) 0 jw § q Cyprinus carp Lo 205 206 207 268 269 320 361 B02 33 Bok --- Page 13 --- 2 Ictalurus punctatus factors be} males in females L Morone chrysops Hagtors 2ol 202 203 eli 205 206 207 208 209 300 Bol 302 303 ol) 305 ORE EEN AACR NCEA males 1 5 1, 2 3 2 2 h 2 « = 1 es és “ females 3 3 5 5 5 1 2 1 1 = 2 3 2 2 Micropterus Salmoides Pomexis annularis CC CE oe miles =e -» 1 5 3 8 3 .»- «» « 1 22 4. i. « i 2 2 va = 2 © 2 = 1 = i i Aplodinotus grunniens factows bot te8 heD 200 Zod 202 203 Zo) 205 206 207 208209 cy as o o oe = 3 6 females 1 h 3 h h iH 2 7 5 2 o 1 2. ea NCC cmc PATHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS During the past project year we kept a close wateh for diseased and abnormal fishese However, fewer were found than during the preceding year. We suppose that the better ecological conditions » Mors water in lakes and streams, is at least partially responsible for this, Saprolignea parasiticass=- Several dead fish that were covered with one of the saveral SpecLas Se Saarol ites were found in the Wichita River below the Lake Kemp Date We suspect that most, perhaps all, of these represent secondary infections of the fungus on injured or dead fish, No living, funguseinfected fish were noted. --- Page 14 --- Ly Crappie Tail Funguses= This disease wa: Sairly common last yeare Not one ease was seen or reported this yeare ; Parasitic wormsee= Nematodes, acanthocephalans and cestods were common in the intestines and occasionally in the stomachs of larger fishes, but the only coelomic parasites noted were a few Contracaecum spiculigerum found in two black bullhead catfishes. No intramuscular parasitic worms were found. Gizazard Shad Eye Disease.e= Less than five large gizzard shad from Lake Wichita and none from the Big Wichita River had their eyes sealed over by an opaque Layer of ossified mucous. Abnormalities Of Development.== One smalimouth buffalo, taken February 1, 19555 Ske WTS Ra See hump just above and to one side of the caudal fin but was fat and otherwise healthy. On October 29, 1954, we took a gizzard shad, along with 13 other, normal, gigzard shad, that was so deformed that it resembled a carp or sucker, The body | was shortened arid greatly humped, with a deep notch or cleft just back from the dorsal Pine It seemed fat and healthy. Aceidental Abnormalities,e= Several smalimouth buffalos and river carpsuckers were taken that were blind in one eye, and one carpsucker was blind in both eyes. In Lake Wichita we took two gars, one longnosed and one shortnosed, that had lost their upper jaws. There remained only the elongated lower "beak" and a healsd stump of the upper jaw. In both cases the wounds had completely healed and the fish were apparently managing to find food enough to sustail Life, though both were in poor condition. We suppose the upper jaws were broken off by angry fishermen who thought this would cause the death of the fish. SUMMARY The determination of the age of fishes from northecentral Texas by the annuli markings on their seales appears wmreliable. Food habits of several species of fishes were determined by examination of stomach contents. Gars had fed mostly on sunfishes and gizzard shad. Buffalos (Ieticbus) had fed entirely on entomostracan orustaceanse One goldeye had eaten insects only. Grass shrimp and glgzard shad constituted most of the food items found in the stomachs of game fishes, Spamming, reproductive success and the number of eggs produced by the yger species of fishes is discussed, The comparative physical condition ("Ku bors) are given for all Larger fishes taken. ‘The fishes from Lake Wichita in mich better physical condition than those from the Big Wichita River. Logical conditions were rarely encountered in the past year.