TPWD 1958 F-4-R-5 #378: Experimental Control of Undesirable Species in Lakes of Region 4-B: Segment Completion Report, Dingell-Johnson Project F-4-R-5, Job E-5

--- Page 1 --- Report of Fisheries Investigations Experimental Control of Undesirable Species by Leonard D. Lamb Project Leader Dingell-Johnson Project F-4-R-5, Job E-5 November 1, 1957 - October 31, 1958 H. D. Dodgen ~ Executive Secretary Texas Game and Fish Commission Austin, Texas Marion Toole Kenneth C. Jurgens & William H. Brown Coordinator Assistant Coordinators --- Page 3 --- SEGMENT COMPLETION REPORT State of Texas Project No. F-4-R-5 Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 4-B. Job No. E-5 Title: Experimental Control of Undesirable Species in Lakes of Region L-B. _ Period Covered: November 1, 1957 - October 31, 1958 ABSTRACT: A trap to replace the floating weir used previously was constructed but proved to be no more successful than the floating weir. It is believed however that this trap may be modified to a point where gar can be taken in it. A shallow gill net was found to be quite selective on gar when floated at the surface during the warmer months. The gar come to the surface to gulp air and are taken in this net which is only three feet deep. The catch of gill nets eight feet deep was 47.8 percent gar while that of the three foot net was 72.9 percent gar. These net sets were made in the same general location and at the same time. OBJECTIVES : To develop methods of selectively controlling undesirable fish control. PROCEDURE: The floating weir constructed in the previous segment was not successful, and was not used in the work covered by this report. A new type of trap was developed, using wooden frames covered with one inch mesh poultry wire and having a removable funnel in one end to facilitate removal of fish. The other end of the trap has two openings, with a baffle between to prevent the escape of gar, but permits other species to regain their liberty at will. This is made possible by the inability of gar to negotiate ‘a right angle turn which other species negotiate without difficulty. . The second experimental development for the control of gar was 2 shailow g@iil net to be set at the surface in an effort to take gar as they come up to gulp air. It was hoped that this net would prove rather selective for gar so that the control of this species could be accomplished with little effect on other, more desirable fish. RESULTS: The gar trap did not function as expected but it is believed that better results can be obtained if the trap is properly modified. The shallow gill net did provide some control on gar and further study is needed to determine the best utilization for this type of net. --- Page 4 --- Eight months of gill netting with nets eight feet deep and 100 feet long produced 606 fish of which 55.6 percent were gar and 80.8 percent were rough fish (Table 1). Table 2 presents the comparison between the catch of the shallow gill net and the eight foot gill net. The shallow net was three feet deep. Both nets were 100 feet long and of three inch stretch mesh. The catch of gar in the deep net was 47.8 percent of the total catch while the same species represented 72.9 percent of the total catch of the shallow net. These nets were set in the same general locations as the eight foot nets and at the same time. Prepared by Leonard D. Lamb Approved by La abeo aks 7 Project Leader Date February 5, 1959 --- Page 5 --- Table 1. A Comparison of Fish Taken in Gill Nets Eight Feet Deep With Those Taken in Gili Nets Three Feet Deep, Clear Lake, Leon County, Texas, November 1, 1957 - October 31, 1958. Type nets 100 Feet by & Feet 100 Feet by 3 Feet Number 100' Nets 1 2 1 6 8 2 Year 1958 1958 1958 1958 1958 1958 Month July August September Totals July August September Totals Species No. 4% No. 9% No. % No. % No. & No. & No. .% No, % Alligator gar 20 54.1 13 22.8 5 20.0 38 31.9 15 25.4 10 14.5 ho 23.5 39 25.2 Spotted gar 2 5.4 5 8.7 1 4.o & Gs7 25 4o,4 18 26.0 2 11.8 45 29.0 Longnose gar 4 10.8 7 12.3 il 9.2 10 16.9 16 23.1 3 17.6 29 18.7 Gizzard shad 1 2.7 hk 7.0 5 4.2 11 15.9 1 5.9 12 «67.7 Smallmouth buffalo 4 10.8 5 8.7 12 48.0 21 17.6 1 1.5 1 5.9 2 1.3 River carpsucker 3 81 1 1.8 4% 16.0 8 6.7 2.6 Carp 1 1.8 1 0.9 Channel catfish L 8.7 16 28.0 3 12.0 20 16.8 11.6 Black bullhead Striped mullet White bass 1 1.8 1 0.9 1.3 Largemouth bass 1 2.7 1 1.8 2 1.7 Warmouth Redear sunfish Bluegill sunfish 1 1.8 1 0.9 2.6 White Cr oie l 2.7 2 3.5 B45 Totals 37 100 57 100 25 100 119 100 59 100 69 100 17 100 155 100 --- Page 6 --- Table 2. Number and Percentage of Various Species Taken in Gill Nets From Clear Lake, November 1, 1957 2 October 31, 1958, Year. 1957 1957 95 95S TB L958 OSS Month November December _February __ March June July August September Totals Species No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. 9% No. 9% No. 4% Alligator gar 10 16.9 22 23.1 1 7.1 5 8.6 kh 38.2 35 36.5 23 18.2 9 21.4 149 24.6 Spotted gar 10 16.9 1 21.21 6 10.5 27 28.1 23 18.2 3. «Tel 70 11.5 Longnose gar 7 11.9 16 16.8 2 3.5 53 46.1 I 14.6 23 18.2 3 7-1 118 19.5 Gizzard shad 6 10.2 19 20.0 2 14.3 17 29.3 1 1.0 15 11.9 1 2.4 61 10.1 Smallmouth buffalo 1 1.7 4h 4.2 6 4.9 13 31.0 ak ho River carpsucker 16 27.1 12 12.6 3.21.6 15 25.9 4 oe 2 1.6 6 14.3 58 9.6 Carp 1 1.7 2 2.1 1 1.7 1 0.8 5 0.8 Channel catfish hoe 1 asf 5 4.3 6 6.3 26 20.6 6 14.3 487.9. Black bullhead 1 1.7 1 0.2 Striped mullet 1 7.1 a LeT 1 0.9 3 0.5 White bass 1 7.1 1 121.7 2 1.6 1 2.4 5 0.8 Largemouth bass 2 3.4 2 2.1 1 1.7 L 1,0 1 0.8 7 1.1 Warmouth 5 5.3 1 7.1 #1 = 212.7 F Jal Redear sunfish 1 1.7 1 0.2 Bluegill sunfish 1 1.7 8 8.5 1 71 #5 86 11 9.6 3 3.1 2 1.6 32 «55.3 White crappie 5 8.5 4 4.2 4 28.6 1 0.9 1 1.0 2 1.6 17 2.8 ef { RR LL Re Ae ene es se te ns sentra nets: se sr tissue ethene -wervesntunervapuzpnacentetwacncnmeoeneaee Totals 59 100 95 100 14 100 58 100 115 100 96 100 126 100 42 100 606 100 --- Page 7 --- Figure 1. Front view of gar trap with throat in place. Figure 2. Front view of gar trap with throat in Open position to show how fish may be removed. --- Page 8 --- Figure 3. Side view of gar trap Showing throat and escape opening for fish other than gar. Figure 4+. Side view of escape opening showing baffle that prevents exit of gar by requiring a sharp turn that gar are unable to execute.