Table 2. Comparisons of Three Series ofHybognathus,50 Specimens Each, from Different Stream Systems. Symbols:X̅ =Mean;σ =One Standard Deviation; and2 σm=Two Standard Errors. Ranges are in Parentheses. Standard Lengths of Specimens are: Walnut River, Kansas, 60.0 to 72.7 mm.,X= 67.1;Big Blue River, Kansas, 43.3 to 63.3 mm.,X= 52.0;and Chippewa River, Wisconsin, 57.6 to 74.4 mm.,X= 65.9.Count or Proportional MeasurementWalnut River, KansasH. n. placita, KU 3869Big Blue River,Kansas KU 3812Chippewa River,H. n. nuchalis, KU 2012Xσ2 σmXσ2 σmXσ2 σmLateral-line scales38.9(37-41)1.10.437.2(35-39)1.10.437.3(35-39)1.00.2Predorsal scale-rows16.8(15-19)0.90.715.9(14-17)0.80.215.1(14-17)0.50.1Scale-rows below lateral-line15.6(13-18)1.20.314.9(12-16)1.00.312.9(12-15)0.70.2Scale-rows around caudal peduncle16.2(15-19)1.10.315.8(14-18)0.80.213.8(12-15)0.60.2Orbit ÷ standard length.051(044-61).0035.0010.059(047-71).0047.0013.068(059-77).0044.0013Gape-width ÷ standard length.066(055-75).0046.0013.064(055-74).0044.0013.056(046-64).0038.0011Orbit ÷ gape-width.776(647-945).0083.0024.907(712-1.067).0080.00231.223(953-1.566).0119.0034Hybognathusfrom the Big Blue River tend to have fewer, larger scales thanH. n. placitafrom the Walnut River, Kansas, but more and smaller scales thanH. n. nuchalisfrom Wisconsin. In specimens from the Blue River, the size of the orbit divided by standard length, and the width of gape divided by standard length and width of orbit, are also intermediate between the Walnut River and Wisconsin specimens, but tend toward the former. Specimens from the Big Blue River resembleH. n. placitafrom the Walnut River in body shape, robustness, and in the embedding of scales on the nape.Pimephales notatus(Rafinesque), bluntnose minnow: Meek (1895:136); and Evermann and Cox (1896:399). Stations 2-S, 3-S, 5-G, 6-S, 8-S, 9-G, 10-G, 11-G, 12-G, 13-G, 16-G, 19-G, 27-G, 29-G, 53-S, 54-G, and 58-G.The bluntnose minnow preferred the clearer creeks, with gravel or gravel-silt bottoms, but occurred rarely in the mainstream of the Big Blue River. Males and females in high breeding condition were taken on July 14, 1958. The temperature of the water was 75.5° F.Pimephales promelasRafinesque, fathead minnow: Meek (1895: 136); and Evermann and Cox (1896:397-398). All stations excepting 1-S, 4-S, 12-G, 30-M, 43-S, 44-S, and 56-S.Small muddy streams were preferred byP. promelas; however, the fathead minnow was taken in all habitats, and in association with most other species.Canfield and Wiebe (1931:6-7) may have recordedP. promelasfrom the Big Blue River Basin, Nebraska, as "blackhead minnows."Campostoma anomalum plumbeum(Girard), stoneroller. All stations excepting 1-S, 2-S, 3-S, 14-S, 15-S, 21-G, 22-G, 28-G, 30-M, 33-M, 34-M, 35-M, 36-M, 37-M, 38-S, 41-S, 44-S, 45-M, 51-M, 52-S, and 55-M.Stonerollers were usually taken in riffles with gravel-rubble bottoms. Those individuals collected in areas with mud or sand bottoms were almost invariably in the current, or in the edge of currents.Specimens from the Big Blue River Basin have an average of 47.4 scale-rows around the body (range 42-54).Ictalurus melas(Rafinesque), black bullhead: Evermann andCox (1896:387) asAmeiurus melas(Rafinesque); and Canfield and Wiebe (1931:5-7, 10) as "bullheads." Stations 2-S, 6-S, 7-G, 11-G, 16-G, 20-G, 22-G, 23-G, 24-G, 28-G, 35-M, 40-M, 51-M, 53-S, 55-M, 56-S, 57-M, and 58-G.Black bullhead occurred in all habitats, but were less commonly taken in the Big Blue and Little Blue rivers than in other streams.Ictalurus natalis(LeSueur), yellow bullhead. Stations 7-G, 9-G, 10-G, 11-G, 17-G, 18-G, 19-G, 34-M, 35-M, 36-M, 37-M, 40-M, 47-M, 48-M, 53-S, and 55-M.The yellow bullhead inhabited the muddy-bottomed streams and the upland, gravelly creeks, usually occurring in the headwaters. I obtained only oneI. natalisin the sandy Big Blue River.Ictalurus punctatus(Rafinesque), channel catfish: Cragin (1885:107); Meek (1895:135); Evermann and Cox (1896:386); and Canfield and Wiebe (1931:6-7, 10) as "channel catfish." Stations 1-S, 2-S, 3-S, 4-S, 5-G, 6-S, 7-G, 8-S, 9-G, 11-G, 14-S, 15-S, 16-G, 18-G, 25-S, 27-G, 30-M, 35-M, 38-S, 39-S, 41-S, 42-S, 43-S, 44-S, 46-M, 50-S, 51-M, 52-S, 53-S, and 56-S.Channel catfish were most common in the larger, sandy streams, but occurred in other kinds of streams. The ages and calculated total lengths at the last annulus for 40 channel catfish were: I, no fish; II, 7.3 (16); III, 10.6 (5); IV, 12.3 (5); V, 13.3 (6); VI, 15.5 (4); VII, 18.0 (3); and VIII, 21.9 (1). These lengths are slightly lower than averages reported by Finnell and Jenkins (1954:5) in Oklahoma impoundments.The length-frequency distribution of 438 channel catfish, collected by rotenone on August 5 and 7, 1958, indicated that two age-groups were represented. Without examination of spines, I assigned 265 fish to age-group O (1.3 to 2.9 inches, average 2.5) and 173 fish to age-group I (3.1 to 5.8 inches, average 4.5). The average total length of age group I (4.5 inches) is only slightly higher than the total length at the first annulus reported as average for Oklahoma (4.0 inches, Finnell and Jenkins,loc. cit.). It seems unlikely that my yearling fish taken in August, 1958, would have reached the length at the second annulus recorded in my study of spines (7.3 inches) by the end of the 1958 growing season.From 1952 to 1956, severe drought was prevalent in Kansas, probably causing streams to flow less than at any previously recorded time (Minckley and Cross, in press). This drought must have resulted in reduced populations of fishes in the streams. The channel catfish hatched in 1956 were therefore subjected to lowcompetition for food and space when normal flow was resumed in 1957, and grew rapidly, reaching an average total length of 7.3 inches at the second annulus, while channel catfish that were members of the large 1957 and 1958 hatches suffered more competition and grew more slowly.Noturus flavusRafinesque, stonecat: Jennings (1942:365). Stations 3-S, 4-S, 6-S, 16-G, 25-S, 28-G, 38-S, 41-S, 42-S, 43-S, 52-S, 53-S, and 56-S.Noturus flavusfrequented riffles and swift currents along sandbars in the Big Blue and Little Blue rivers. Cross (1954:311) reported that "the shale-strewn riffles of the South Fork [of the Cottonwood River, Kansas] provide ideal habitat for the stonecat." In my study-area, this species was found not only on rubble-bottomed riffles, but occurred along both stationary and shifting sandbars where no cover was apparent.Pylodictis olivaris(Rafinesque), flathead catfish: Canfield and Wiebe (1931:7) as "yellow catfish." Stations 3-S, 4-S, 6-S, 8-S, 15-S, 25-S, 38-S, 41-S, 43-S, 44-S, 53-S, and 56-S.Flathead catfish were found only in the larger rivers. The species was taken rarely by seine, but was readily obtained by electric shocker. Data on the age and growth and food-habits of this species are to be the subject of another paper.Anguilla bostoniensis(LeSueur), American eel: Jennings (1942:365).American eels are now rare in Kansas, and none was taken in my survey. The specimen reported by Jennings (loc. cit.) is at Kansas State College (KSC 2916), and was taken by I. D. Graham from the Big Blue River, Riley County, 1885.Fundulus kansaeGarman, plains killifish. Station 42-S.The plains killifish was collected by me only at Station 42-S. Specimens were collected from my Station 4-S by the Kansas State College class in fisheries management in 1954 (KSC 4985). My specimens were 11 to 13 mm. in total length.Roccus chrysops(Rafinesque), white bass. Station 3-S.That the white bass is indigenous to Kansas is evidenced by records of Graham (1885:77) and Cragin (1885:111); however, since that time, and prior to the introduction of this species into reservoirs in the State,R. chrysopshas rarely been recorded in Kansas. I collected young white bass at Station 3-S in both 1957 and 1958, and I collected them also in an oxbow of the Kansas River four miles west of Manhattan, Riley County, Kansas, in the mouthof McDowell's Creek, Riley County, and in Deep Creek, Wabaunsee County, and I saw other specimens from an oxbow of the Kansas River on the Fort Riley Military Reservation, Riley County, Kansas. The apparent increase in abundance of white bass in the Kansas River Basin must be attributable to introductions in reservoirs, with subsequent escape and establishment in the streams.Micropterus salmoides salmoides(Lacépède), largemouth bass. Stations 6-S, 11-G, 43-S, and 45-M.Four largemouth bass were taken. This species has been widely stocked in farm-ponds and other impoundments in Kansas.Lepomis cyanellusRafinesque, green sunfish: Breukelman (1940:382); and Canfield and Wiebe (1931:5, 7-8, 10) as "green sunfish." All stations excepting 1-S, 2-S, 4-S, 8-S, 9-G, 15-S, 22-G, 25-S, 30-M, 32-G, 34-M, 38-S, 39-S, 41-S, 42-S, 43-S, 44-S, 45-M, 46-M, 47-M, 50-S, and 52-S.Green sunfish occurred primarily in the muddy streams. The ages and total lengths at the last annulus for 25 specimens are as follows: I, 1.1 (9); II, 2.2 (4); III, 3.1 (7); IV, 5.4 (4); and V, 6.0 (1). Male green sunfish were seen on nests on June 29, July 1, and July 9, 1958.Lepomis humilis(Girard), orangespotted sunfish: Meek (1895:137); Evermann and Cox (1896:418); Canfield and Wiebe (1931:6) as "orange spots"; and Breukelman (1940:382). All stations excepting 1-S, 9-G, 13-G, 15-G, 17-G, 21-G, 26-G, 34-M, 36-M, 38-M, 43-M, 44-S, 47-M, 50-S, and 52-S.Lepomis humiliswas most common over sand-silt bottoms. Only two age-groups were found; their calculated total lengths were I, 1.7 (15); and II, 2.4 (10). Orangespotted sunfish were seen nesting on the same dates asLepomis cyanellus.Lepomis macrochirusRafinesque, bluegill. Stations 7-G, 13-G, 16-G, 24-G, and 59-G.This species has been widely stocked in Kansas. Only young-of-the-year and sub-adults were taken, and these were rare.Pomoxis annularisRafinesque, white crappie: Canfield and Wiebe (1931:5-8, 10) as "white crappie." Stations 3-S, 6-S, 8-S, 12-G, 42-S, and 53-S.White crappie were rare, except in a borrow-pit at Station 6-S. Ages and calculated total lengths at the last annulus for 50 specimens from 6-S are as follows: I, 3.6 (22); II, 5.0 (14); III, 7.1 (5); IV, 8.3 (7); and V, 10.7 (2).Pomoxis nigromaculatus(LeSueur), black crappie. Station 6-S.One black crappie (KU 4174) was taken. Canfield and Wiebe(1931:10) noted: "The Black Crappie has been planted here [Big Blue River Basin in Nebraska] by the State, but, apparently, is not propagating itself."Stizostedion canadense(Smith), sauger. Station 56-S.Mr. Larry Stallbaumer, of Marysville, Kansas, obtained a sauger (KU 4179) while angling on May 25, 1958.Stizostedion vitreum(Mitchill), walleye.Though I failed to obtain the walleye in my survey, Dr. Raymond E. Johnson (personal communication) reported that the species occurred in the Nebraskan portion of the Big Blue River in recent years. Canfield and Wiebe (1931:6, 10) reported that "yellow pike are taken at Crete [Nebraska]," but may have referred to either the walleye or the sauger.Perca flavescens(Mitchill), yellow perch: Canfield and Wiebe (1931:5-6, 10) as "ring perch" and "yellow perch."This fish was not taken in my survey. Canfield and Wiebe (loc. cit.) reported that the yellow perch "had been planted by the State [Nebraska]."Etheostoma nigrum nigrumRafinesque, johnny darter: Jennings (1942:365) asBoleosoma nigrum nigrum(Rafinesque). Stations 10-G, 11-G, 12-G, 13-G, 16-G, 29-G, 40-M, 53-S, and 54-G.The larger pools of gravelly streams were preferred by johnny darters, but one specimen was taken from the main stream of the Big Blue River, and the species was abundant in one stream over hard, sand-silt bottom.Etheostoma spectabile pulchellum(Girard), orangethroat darter: Jennings (1942:365) asPoecilichthys spectabilis pulchellus(Girard). Stations 5-G, 7-G, 10-G, 11-G, 12-G, 13-G, 16-G, 17-G, 18-G, 21-G, 23-G, 27-G, 28-G, 29-G, 33-M, 40-M, 49-M, 53-S, 54-G, and 59-G.The orangethroat darter was less restricted in habitat than the johnny darter, occurring in all stream-types, but most often in the riffles of gravelly streams. Most specimens from muddy or sandy streams were small.Aplodinotus grunniensRafinesque, freshwater drum. Stations 3-S, 4-S, 6-S, 7-G, 8-S, 15-S, 38-S, 39-S, 53-S, and 56-S.The ages and calculated total lengths at the last annulus for 42 freshwater drum from the Big Blue River were: I, 3.0 (10); II, 5.7 (6); III, 9.4 (7); IV, 12.1 (13); V, 14.0 (3); VI, 15.1 (2); and VII, 16.3 (1).HYBRID COMBINATIONSI obtained two hybrid fishes in my study-area. One specimen ofNotropis cornutus frontalis×Chrosomus erythrogasterwas taken at Station 29-G. This combination was recorded by Trautman (1957:114) in Ohio. The other hybrid wasLepomis cyanellus×Lepomis humilis, captured at Station 24-G. This combination was first recorded by Hubbs and Ortenburger (1929:42).Hubbs and Bailey (1952:144) recorded another hybrid combination from my area of study:Campostoma anomalum plumbeum×Chrosomus erythrogaster, UMMZ 103132, from a "spring-fed creek on 'Doc' Wagner's farm, Riley County, Kansas; September 21, 1927; L. O. Nolf [collector]."RELATIVE ABUNDANCE AND DISCUSSION OF SPECIESThe relative abundance of different species was estimated by combining counts of individual fishes taken in 290 seine-hauls, 26 hours and 15 minutes of shocking, and seven samples obtained with rotenone. At some stations all seine-hauls were counted. At other stations the seine-hauls in which complete counts were recorded had been selected randomly in advance; that is to say, prior to collecting at each station. I selected those hauls to be counted from a table of random numbers (Snedecor, 1956:10-13). I did not use the frequency-of-occurrence method as proposed by Starrett (1950:114), in which the species taken and not the total number of individuals are recorded for all seine-hauls. However, the frequency of occurrence of each species is indicated by the number of stations at which it was found, and those stations are listed in the previous accounts.Table 3shows the percentage of the total number of fish that each species comprised in three kinds of streams: sandy (Big Blue and Little Blue rivers), muddy, and gravelly streams.The habitat preferences of some species affect their abundance in different stream-types.Notropis lutrensisandP. mirabilisseemed almost ubiquitous.Notropis deliciosusalso occurred in all kinds of streams (rarely in muddy streams); however, this species was represented by the sand-lovingN. d. missuriensisin the Big Blue and Little Blue rivers, andN. d. deliciosusin the clear, gravelly, upland creeks (Nelson, personal communication). Because of its widespread occurrence, and for purposes of later discussion, I refer to this minnow also as an ubiquitous species in the Big Blue River Basin.Table 3. Relative Abundance of Fishes in Per Cent of the Total Number Taken, Big Blue River Basin, Kansas. Trace (Tr.) Is Used for Values Less Than .05 Per Cent, and Dashes Signify that the Species Did Not Occur in the Counted Collections Although it May Have Occurred in Uncounted Collections from the Same Stream-type. Three Species,C. auratus,N. buchanani,andS. canadense,Were Not Taken in Counted Collections.SpeciesSandy streamsMuddy streamsGravelly streamsBig Blue RiverLittle Blue RiverN. lutrensis43.555.927.656.0I. punctatus14.07.01.24.2Carpiodes carpio11.92.05.00.5N. deliciosus8.228.23.111.1I. melas2.5—1.30.5Cyprinus carpio2.31.92.70.2P. olivaris1.80.8——L. humilis1.7—9.05.1I. bubalus1.40.1—Tr.P. mirabilis1.30.70.31.3H. nuchalis1.2——Tr.P. promelas0.81.028.74.0H. aestivalis0.70.2——A. grunniens0.5——0.2L. osseus0.51.0——C. anomalum0.40.22.74.6C. commersonnii0.4——0.7D. cepedianum0.4Tr.0.1—N. percobromus0.3———P. annularis0.3Tr.——N. flavus0.20.4—Tr.S. atromaculatus0.20.112.21.7M. aureolum0.10.2——I. cyprinella0.1—0.1—P. notatus0.1——2.2I. niger0.10.1——H. alosoides0.1———E. spectabile0.1—1.41.6R. chrysops0.1———L. cyanellus0.1—3.5Tr.H. storerianaTr.———L. platostomusTr.———M. salmoidesTr.———P. nigromaculatusTr.———I. natalisTr.—1.0Tr.N. umbratilisTr.———C. forbesiTr.———S. platorynchusTr.———F. kansae—Tr.——E. nigrumTr.—0.10.2N. rubellus———Tr.N. topeka———1.0N. cornutus———1.0C. erythrogaster———1.0L. macrochirus———1.0Carpiodes carpio,Cyprinus carpio,I. punctatus,I. melas, andL. humiliswere widespread, but each was absent or rare in one of the kinds of streams (Table 3).Carpiodes carpio,Cyprinus carpio, andI. punctatusoccurred most frequently in the sandy streams, whereasL. humiliswas most common in muddy streams. The high per cent ofI. melasin collections from the Big Blue River is a direct result of one large population that was taken with rotenone in a borrow-pit at Station 6-S. In my opinion, this species actually was most abundant in the muddy streams.Some fish were almost restricted to the sandy streams, apparently because of preference for larger waters, or sandy stream-bottoms:P. olivaris,I. bubalus,H. nuchalis,H. aestivalis,A. grunniens,L. osseus,D. cepedianum,N. percobromus,P. annularis,N. flavus,M. aureolum,I. niger,H. alosiodes, andR. chrysops. Other species that were taken only in the larger rivers, and that are sometimes associated with streams even larger (or more sandy) than the Big Blue River areH. storeriana,L. platostomus,M. salmoides,P. nigromaculatus,C. forbesi,S. platorynchus,F. kansae,N. buchanani,S. canadense, andC. auratus.Ictiobus cyprinellaalso occurred more frequently in the larger streams.The muddy-bottomed streams supported populations composed primarily ofP. promelas,N. lutrensis, andS. atromaculatus. No species was restricted to this habitat, but the following were characteristic there:P. promelas,S. atromaculatus,L. humilis,L. cyanellus, andI. natalis.Carpiodes carpio,Cyprinus carpio,C. anomalum,E. spectabile, andE. nigrumwere locally common in muddy streams, but the first two were most frequent in larger, sandy streams, and the last three in gravelly streams.In gravel-bottomed, upland streams,N. cornutus,N. rubellus,N. topeka, andC. erythrogastercharacteristically occurred; with the exception ofN. rubellus(only one specimen taken), all were common at some stations. Other species in gravelly creeks wereN. lutrensis,C. anomalum,C. commersonnii,P. notatus,L. macrochirus,E. spectabile, andE. nigrum. Although the one specimen ofN. umbratilistaken in this survey was from the Big Blue River, this species is more characteristic of the clearer creeks in Kansas.In order to illustrate the composition of the fauna in some specific streams in the Big Blue River Basin, I segregated the fishes into ecological groups, as in the above discussion: ubiquitous types; species of larger, sandy streams; fishes of muddy streams; and fishes of clear, gravelly creeks.The total number of species taken in each of the streams wasdivided into the number of species from that stream that were in each of these units, to give a percentage. The resultant data are presented graphically inFigure 3.Fig. 3.Composition of the fauna of the entire Big Blue River Basin, and of seven streams or stream systems in that basin. "Mill Creek, Wash. Co." refers to all streams in the Mill Creek System, Washington and Republic counties. "Bl. Vermillion R. System" includes all streams in that watershed excepting Clear Creek and one of its tributaries (Stations 31-G and 32-G).Fig. 4.Composition of the fauna of the Big Blue River, and of five collecting-sites on Carnahan Creek, Pottawatomie County. Lowermost sites are at the left of the figure.Figure 3gives a generalized picture of the faunal composition in different kinds of streams. However, the fauna of a small tributary becomes more distinct from the fauna of the larger stream into which the small stream flows as one moves toward the headwaters (Metcalf, 1957:92, 95-100).Figure 4illustrates this in CarnahanCreek. Station 11-G included four sampling-sites, which were approximately one, two, three, and four miles upstream from the mouth of Carnahan Creek. Station 13-G (one collection) was about four miles upstream from the closest sampling-site of Station 11-G. Applying the same methods as forFigure 3, my findings show a gradual decline in the per cent of the fauna represented by the "large-river-fishes," and an increase in the segment classified as "upland-fishes," from downstream to upstream.CREEL CENSUSFifty-three fishermen were interviewed in the 1957 creel census period, and 152 in 1958. Only those fishermen using pole and line were interviewed. In the area censused, much additional fishing is done with set-lines, that are checked periodically by the owners.In the 1958 census, 22 checks along approximately 80 miles of river were made, and seven of these trips were made without seeing one fisherman. The average fishing pressure for the entire area was estimated at one fisherman per 7.9 miles of stream, or one fisherman per 15.7 miles of shoreline.Seven species of fish were identified from fishermen's creels in 1957 and 1958. These, in order of abundance were: channel catfish; carp; freshwater drum; flathead catfish; shovelnose sturgeon; smallmouth buffalo; and river carpsucker. Shovelnose sturgeon occurred in fishermen's creels only in April, 1957, and freshwater drum occurred more frequently in the spring-census of 1957 than in the summer of 1958.Sixty-two of the fishermen interviewed in 1958 were fishing for "anything they could catch," 68 were fishing specifically for catfish, and 22 sought species other than catfish. The order of preference was as follows: channel catfish, 21.1 per cent; flathead catfish, 15.1 per cent; unspecified catfish, 12.5 per cent; carp, 9.2 per cent; freshwater drum, 1.3 per cent; and unspecified, 40.8 per cent. The kinds of fish desired by those fishermen checked in 1957 were not ascertained.Of all fishermen checked in 1957 and 1958, 165 were men, 17 were women, and 24 were children. Ninety-three per cent were fishing from the bank, five per cent were fishing from bridges, and two per cent were wading. All but two per cent of those checked were fishing "tightline"; the remainder fished with a cork.The ten baits most commonly used, in order of frequency, were worms, doughballs, minnows, liver, beef-spleen, chicken-entrails, coagulated blood, crayfish, shrimp, and corn.For purposes of later comparison the data on angler success(Table 4) have been divided according to areas: Area I, below Tuttle Creek Dam; Area II, in the Tuttle Creek Reservoir area; and Area III, above the reservoir. Areas I and III received the most fishing pressure, especially Station 4-S (in Area I), and Station 56-S (in Area III).In Area I, the success ranged from 0.91 fish per fisherman-day in 1957 to 0.26 fish per fisherman-day in 1958. The 1957 census was made in April and May, when fishing in warm-water streams is considered better than in July (Harrison, 1956:203). The 1958 census was from late June through July, and stream-flow in this period was continuously above normal. Therefore, fewer people fished the river, and catches were irregular. Catches in 1958 ranged from 0.26 fish per fisherman-day in Area I to 0.44 fish per fisherman-day in Area III. In 1951, in the Republican River of Kansas and Nebraska, the average fisherman-day yielded 0.36 fish, 0.09 fish per man-hour, and 0.06 fish per pole-hour (U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1952:13-14). The average fisherman-day in the Republican River study was 3.0 hours, whereas the average on the Big Blue River was 2.2 hours for all areas in 1958 (Table 4).Table 4. Angling Success in the Big Blue River, Kansas, 1957 and 1958.Area, Year, and Numberof FishermenAverage length of fisherman-dayNumber fish per fisherman-dayNumber fish per man-hourNumber fish per pole-hour[A]Area I, 195753 fishermen2.7 hours0.910.330.23Area I, 195884 fishermen2.5 hours0.260.100.07Area II, 195827 fishermen1.7 hours0.370.220.14Area III, 195841 fishermen2.4 hours0.440.160.11All areas, 1958152 fishermen2.2 hours0.330.140.09[A]Fishermen used an average of 1.44 poles.In the Big Blue River 47.7 per cent of all fishermen were successful in Area I in 1957, while only 13.1 per cent were successful in the same area in 1958 (Table 5). In the Republican River, 24 per cent of the fishing parties were successful (1.64 persons per party) (U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service,loc. cit.). The averagedistance that each fisherman had traveled to fish in the Big Blue River was 15.7 miles. Seventy-nine per cent of the persons contacted lived within 25 miles of the spots where they fished. In the study on the Republican River, 77 per cent of the parties interviewed came less than 25 miles to fish.Table 5. Per Cent of Total Fishermen Successful, and Distances Travelled to Fish, Big Blue River Basin, Kansas, 1957 and 1958. All Distances Were Measured in Airline Miles.1957 Area I1958 Area I1958 Area II1958 Area III1958 All areasPer cent of fishermen successful47.113.118.519.515.8Distances traveled to fish(averages in parentheses)0-121(15.6)1-197(20.5)0-124(13.5)0-60(7.4)0-197(15.7)RECOMMENDATIONSMy primary recommendation is for continued study of the Tuttle Creek Reservoir, and the Big Blue River above and below the reservoir, to trace changes in the fish population that result from impoundment.Probably the fishes that inhabit the backwaters, creek-mouths, and borrow-pits in the Big Blue River Basin (gars, shad, carpsucker, buffalo, carp, sunfishes, and white bass) will increase in abundance as soon as Tuttle Creek Reservoir is formed. Also, as in eastern Oklahoma reservoirs (see Finnell,et al., 1956:61-73), populations of channel and flathead catfish should increase. Because of the presence of brood-stock of the major sport-fishes of Kansas (channel and flathead catfish, bullhead, bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass, and white bass), stocking of these species would be an economic waste: exception might be made for the white bass. It may be above Tuttle Creek Dam, but was not found there.I do recommend immediate introduction of walleye, and possibly northern pike (Esox luciusLinnaeus), the latter species having been successfully stocked in Harlan County Reservoir, Nebraska, in recent years (Mr. Donald D. Poole, personal communication). These two species probably are native to Kansas, but may have been extirpated as agricultural development progressed. Reservoirs may again provide habitats suitable for these species in the State.If Tuttle Creek Reservoir follows the pattern found in most Oklahoma reservoirs, large populations of "coarse fish"—fishes thatare, however, commercially desirable—will develop (Finnell,et al.,loc. cit.). To utilize this resource, and possibly to help control "coarse fish" populations for the betterment of sport-fishing, some provision for commercial harvest should be made in the reservoir.SUMMARY1. The Big Blue River Basin in northeastern Kansas was studied between March 30, 1957, and August 9, 1958. The objectives were to record the species of fish present and their relative abundance in the stream, and to obtain a measure of angling success prior to closure of Tuttle Creek Dam.2. Fifty-nine stations were sampled one or more times, using seines, hoop and fyke nets, wire traps, experimental gill nets, rotenone, and an electric fish shocker.3. Forty-eight species of fish were obtained, and five others have been recorded in literature or found in museums. One species,Carpiodes forbesi, is recorded from Kansas for the first time.4.Notropis lutrensiswas the most abundant fish in the Big Blue River Basin, followed byNotropis deliciosusandIctalurus punctatus. The most abundant sport-fishes wereI. punctatus,I. melas, andPylodictis olivaris, respectively.5. The spawning behavior ofNotropis lutrensisis described.6. A creel census at major points of access to the Big Blue River, was taken in 1957 (below Tuttle Creek Dam) and in 1958 (above, in, and below the dam-site). Fishing pressure averaged one fisherman per 15.7 miles of shoreline. The average length of the fisherman-day averaged 2.2 hours, with an average of 0.33 fish per fisherman-day being caught in 1958. The average number of fish per man-hour in 1958 was 0.14 and 15.8 per cent of the fishermen were successful. Distances traveled in order to fish ranged from 0 to 197 miles (airline) and averaged 15.7 miles.7. The primary recommendation is that studies be continued, to document changes that result from impoundment. Because brood-stock of the major sport-fishes is already present, stocking is unnecessary, except for walleye and northern pike. Also, I recommend commercial harvest of non-game food-fishes.
Table 2. Comparisons of Three Series ofHybognathus,50 Specimens Each, from Different Stream Systems. Symbols:X̅ =Mean;σ =One Standard Deviation; and2 σm=Two Standard Errors. Ranges are in Parentheses. Standard Lengths of Specimens are: Walnut River, Kansas, 60.0 to 72.7 mm.,X= 67.1;Big Blue River, Kansas, 43.3 to 63.3 mm.,X= 52.0;and Chippewa River, Wisconsin, 57.6 to 74.4 mm.,X= 65.9.
Hybognathusfrom the Big Blue River tend to have fewer, larger scales thanH. n. placitafrom the Walnut River, Kansas, but more and smaller scales thanH. n. nuchalisfrom Wisconsin. In specimens from the Blue River, the size of the orbit divided by standard length, and the width of gape divided by standard length and width of orbit, are also intermediate between the Walnut River and Wisconsin specimens, but tend toward the former. Specimens from the Big Blue River resembleH. n. placitafrom the Walnut River in body shape, robustness, and in the embedding of scales on the nape.
Pimephales notatus(Rafinesque), bluntnose minnow: Meek (1895:136); and Evermann and Cox (1896:399). Stations 2-S, 3-S, 5-G, 6-S, 8-S, 9-G, 10-G, 11-G, 12-G, 13-G, 16-G, 19-G, 27-G, 29-G, 53-S, 54-G, and 58-G.
The bluntnose minnow preferred the clearer creeks, with gravel or gravel-silt bottoms, but occurred rarely in the mainstream of the Big Blue River. Males and females in high breeding condition were taken on July 14, 1958. The temperature of the water was 75.5° F.
Pimephales promelasRafinesque, fathead minnow: Meek (1895: 136); and Evermann and Cox (1896:397-398). All stations excepting 1-S, 4-S, 12-G, 30-M, 43-S, 44-S, and 56-S.
Small muddy streams were preferred byP. promelas; however, the fathead minnow was taken in all habitats, and in association with most other species.
Canfield and Wiebe (1931:6-7) may have recordedP. promelasfrom the Big Blue River Basin, Nebraska, as "blackhead minnows."
Campostoma anomalum plumbeum(Girard), stoneroller. All stations excepting 1-S, 2-S, 3-S, 14-S, 15-S, 21-G, 22-G, 28-G, 30-M, 33-M, 34-M, 35-M, 36-M, 37-M, 38-S, 41-S, 44-S, 45-M, 51-M, 52-S, and 55-M.
Stonerollers were usually taken in riffles with gravel-rubble bottoms. Those individuals collected in areas with mud or sand bottoms were almost invariably in the current, or in the edge of currents.
Specimens from the Big Blue River Basin have an average of 47.4 scale-rows around the body (range 42-54).
Ictalurus melas(Rafinesque), black bullhead: Evermann andCox (1896:387) asAmeiurus melas(Rafinesque); and Canfield and Wiebe (1931:5-7, 10) as "bullheads." Stations 2-S, 6-S, 7-G, 11-G, 16-G, 20-G, 22-G, 23-G, 24-G, 28-G, 35-M, 40-M, 51-M, 53-S, 55-M, 56-S, 57-M, and 58-G.
Black bullhead occurred in all habitats, but were less commonly taken in the Big Blue and Little Blue rivers than in other streams.
Ictalurus natalis(LeSueur), yellow bullhead. Stations 7-G, 9-G, 10-G, 11-G, 17-G, 18-G, 19-G, 34-M, 35-M, 36-M, 37-M, 40-M, 47-M, 48-M, 53-S, and 55-M.
The yellow bullhead inhabited the muddy-bottomed streams and the upland, gravelly creeks, usually occurring in the headwaters. I obtained only oneI. natalisin the sandy Big Blue River.
Ictalurus punctatus(Rafinesque), channel catfish: Cragin (1885:107); Meek (1895:135); Evermann and Cox (1896:386); and Canfield and Wiebe (1931:6-7, 10) as "channel catfish." Stations 1-S, 2-S, 3-S, 4-S, 5-G, 6-S, 7-G, 8-S, 9-G, 11-G, 14-S, 15-S, 16-G, 18-G, 25-S, 27-G, 30-M, 35-M, 38-S, 39-S, 41-S, 42-S, 43-S, 44-S, 46-M, 50-S, 51-M, 52-S, 53-S, and 56-S.
Channel catfish were most common in the larger, sandy streams, but occurred in other kinds of streams. The ages and calculated total lengths at the last annulus for 40 channel catfish were: I, no fish; II, 7.3 (16); III, 10.6 (5); IV, 12.3 (5); V, 13.3 (6); VI, 15.5 (4); VII, 18.0 (3); and VIII, 21.9 (1). These lengths are slightly lower than averages reported by Finnell and Jenkins (1954:5) in Oklahoma impoundments.
The length-frequency distribution of 438 channel catfish, collected by rotenone on August 5 and 7, 1958, indicated that two age-groups were represented. Without examination of spines, I assigned 265 fish to age-group O (1.3 to 2.9 inches, average 2.5) and 173 fish to age-group I (3.1 to 5.8 inches, average 4.5). The average total length of age group I (4.5 inches) is only slightly higher than the total length at the first annulus reported as average for Oklahoma (4.0 inches, Finnell and Jenkins,loc. cit.). It seems unlikely that my yearling fish taken in August, 1958, would have reached the length at the second annulus recorded in my study of spines (7.3 inches) by the end of the 1958 growing season.
From 1952 to 1956, severe drought was prevalent in Kansas, probably causing streams to flow less than at any previously recorded time (Minckley and Cross, in press). This drought must have resulted in reduced populations of fishes in the streams. The channel catfish hatched in 1956 were therefore subjected to lowcompetition for food and space when normal flow was resumed in 1957, and grew rapidly, reaching an average total length of 7.3 inches at the second annulus, while channel catfish that were members of the large 1957 and 1958 hatches suffered more competition and grew more slowly.
Noturus flavusRafinesque, stonecat: Jennings (1942:365). Stations 3-S, 4-S, 6-S, 16-G, 25-S, 28-G, 38-S, 41-S, 42-S, 43-S, 52-S, 53-S, and 56-S.
Noturus flavusfrequented riffles and swift currents along sandbars in the Big Blue and Little Blue rivers. Cross (1954:311) reported that "the shale-strewn riffles of the South Fork [of the Cottonwood River, Kansas] provide ideal habitat for the stonecat." In my study-area, this species was found not only on rubble-bottomed riffles, but occurred along both stationary and shifting sandbars where no cover was apparent.
Pylodictis olivaris(Rafinesque), flathead catfish: Canfield and Wiebe (1931:7) as "yellow catfish." Stations 3-S, 4-S, 6-S, 8-S, 15-S, 25-S, 38-S, 41-S, 43-S, 44-S, 53-S, and 56-S.
Flathead catfish were found only in the larger rivers. The species was taken rarely by seine, but was readily obtained by electric shocker. Data on the age and growth and food-habits of this species are to be the subject of another paper.
Anguilla bostoniensis(LeSueur), American eel: Jennings (1942:365).
American eels are now rare in Kansas, and none was taken in my survey. The specimen reported by Jennings (loc. cit.) is at Kansas State College (KSC 2916), and was taken by I. D. Graham from the Big Blue River, Riley County, 1885.
Fundulus kansaeGarman, plains killifish. Station 42-S.
The plains killifish was collected by me only at Station 42-S. Specimens were collected from my Station 4-S by the Kansas State College class in fisheries management in 1954 (KSC 4985). My specimens were 11 to 13 mm. in total length.
Roccus chrysops(Rafinesque), white bass. Station 3-S.
That the white bass is indigenous to Kansas is evidenced by records of Graham (1885:77) and Cragin (1885:111); however, since that time, and prior to the introduction of this species into reservoirs in the State,R. chrysopshas rarely been recorded in Kansas. I collected young white bass at Station 3-S in both 1957 and 1958, and I collected them also in an oxbow of the Kansas River four miles west of Manhattan, Riley County, Kansas, in the mouthof McDowell's Creek, Riley County, and in Deep Creek, Wabaunsee County, and I saw other specimens from an oxbow of the Kansas River on the Fort Riley Military Reservation, Riley County, Kansas. The apparent increase in abundance of white bass in the Kansas River Basin must be attributable to introductions in reservoirs, with subsequent escape and establishment in the streams.
Micropterus salmoides salmoides(Lacépède), largemouth bass. Stations 6-S, 11-G, 43-S, and 45-M.
Four largemouth bass were taken. This species has been widely stocked in farm-ponds and other impoundments in Kansas.
Lepomis cyanellusRafinesque, green sunfish: Breukelman (1940:382); and Canfield and Wiebe (1931:5, 7-8, 10) as "green sunfish." All stations excepting 1-S, 2-S, 4-S, 8-S, 9-G, 15-S, 22-G, 25-S, 30-M, 32-G, 34-M, 38-S, 39-S, 41-S, 42-S, 43-S, 44-S, 45-M, 46-M, 47-M, 50-S, and 52-S.
Green sunfish occurred primarily in the muddy streams. The ages and total lengths at the last annulus for 25 specimens are as follows: I, 1.1 (9); II, 2.2 (4); III, 3.1 (7); IV, 5.4 (4); and V, 6.0 (1). Male green sunfish were seen on nests on June 29, July 1, and July 9, 1958.
Lepomis humilis(Girard), orangespotted sunfish: Meek (1895:137); Evermann and Cox (1896:418); Canfield and Wiebe (1931:6) as "orange spots"; and Breukelman (1940:382). All stations excepting 1-S, 9-G, 13-G, 15-G, 17-G, 21-G, 26-G, 34-M, 36-M, 38-M, 43-M, 44-S, 47-M, 50-S, and 52-S.
Lepomis humiliswas most common over sand-silt bottoms. Only two age-groups were found; their calculated total lengths were I, 1.7 (15); and II, 2.4 (10). Orangespotted sunfish were seen nesting on the same dates asLepomis cyanellus.
Lepomis macrochirusRafinesque, bluegill. Stations 7-G, 13-G, 16-G, 24-G, and 59-G.
This species has been widely stocked in Kansas. Only young-of-the-year and sub-adults were taken, and these were rare.
Pomoxis annularisRafinesque, white crappie: Canfield and Wiebe (1931:5-8, 10) as "white crappie." Stations 3-S, 6-S, 8-S, 12-G, 42-S, and 53-S.
White crappie were rare, except in a borrow-pit at Station 6-S. Ages and calculated total lengths at the last annulus for 50 specimens from 6-S are as follows: I, 3.6 (22); II, 5.0 (14); III, 7.1 (5); IV, 8.3 (7); and V, 10.7 (2).
Pomoxis nigromaculatus(LeSueur), black crappie. Station 6-S.
One black crappie (KU 4174) was taken. Canfield and Wiebe(1931:10) noted: "The Black Crappie has been planted here [Big Blue River Basin in Nebraska] by the State, but, apparently, is not propagating itself."
Stizostedion canadense(Smith), sauger. Station 56-S.
Mr. Larry Stallbaumer, of Marysville, Kansas, obtained a sauger (KU 4179) while angling on May 25, 1958.
Stizostedion vitreum(Mitchill), walleye.
Though I failed to obtain the walleye in my survey, Dr. Raymond E. Johnson (personal communication) reported that the species occurred in the Nebraskan portion of the Big Blue River in recent years. Canfield and Wiebe (1931:6, 10) reported that "yellow pike are taken at Crete [Nebraska]," but may have referred to either the walleye or the sauger.
Perca flavescens(Mitchill), yellow perch: Canfield and Wiebe (1931:5-6, 10) as "ring perch" and "yellow perch."
This fish was not taken in my survey. Canfield and Wiebe (loc. cit.) reported that the yellow perch "had been planted by the State [Nebraska]."
Etheostoma nigrum nigrumRafinesque, johnny darter: Jennings (1942:365) asBoleosoma nigrum nigrum(Rafinesque). Stations 10-G, 11-G, 12-G, 13-G, 16-G, 29-G, 40-M, 53-S, and 54-G.
The larger pools of gravelly streams were preferred by johnny darters, but one specimen was taken from the main stream of the Big Blue River, and the species was abundant in one stream over hard, sand-silt bottom.
Etheostoma spectabile pulchellum(Girard), orangethroat darter: Jennings (1942:365) asPoecilichthys spectabilis pulchellus(Girard). Stations 5-G, 7-G, 10-G, 11-G, 12-G, 13-G, 16-G, 17-G, 18-G, 21-G, 23-G, 27-G, 28-G, 29-G, 33-M, 40-M, 49-M, 53-S, 54-G, and 59-G.
The orangethroat darter was less restricted in habitat than the johnny darter, occurring in all stream-types, but most often in the riffles of gravelly streams. Most specimens from muddy or sandy streams were small.
Aplodinotus grunniensRafinesque, freshwater drum. Stations 3-S, 4-S, 6-S, 7-G, 8-S, 15-S, 38-S, 39-S, 53-S, and 56-S.
The ages and calculated total lengths at the last annulus for 42 freshwater drum from the Big Blue River were: I, 3.0 (10); II, 5.7 (6); III, 9.4 (7); IV, 12.1 (13); V, 14.0 (3); VI, 15.1 (2); and VII, 16.3 (1).
HYBRID COMBINATIONS
I obtained two hybrid fishes in my study-area. One specimen ofNotropis cornutus frontalis×Chrosomus erythrogasterwas taken at Station 29-G. This combination was recorded by Trautman (1957:114) in Ohio. The other hybrid wasLepomis cyanellus×Lepomis humilis, captured at Station 24-G. This combination was first recorded by Hubbs and Ortenburger (1929:42).
Hubbs and Bailey (1952:144) recorded another hybrid combination from my area of study:Campostoma anomalum plumbeum×Chrosomus erythrogaster, UMMZ 103132, from a "spring-fed creek on 'Doc' Wagner's farm, Riley County, Kansas; September 21, 1927; L. O. Nolf [collector]."
RELATIVE ABUNDANCE AND DISCUSSION OF SPECIES
The relative abundance of different species was estimated by combining counts of individual fishes taken in 290 seine-hauls, 26 hours and 15 minutes of shocking, and seven samples obtained with rotenone. At some stations all seine-hauls were counted. At other stations the seine-hauls in which complete counts were recorded had been selected randomly in advance; that is to say, prior to collecting at each station. I selected those hauls to be counted from a table of random numbers (Snedecor, 1956:10-13). I did not use the frequency-of-occurrence method as proposed by Starrett (1950:114), in which the species taken and not the total number of individuals are recorded for all seine-hauls. However, the frequency of occurrence of each species is indicated by the number of stations at which it was found, and those stations are listed in the previous accounts.Table 3shows the percentage of the total number of fish that each species comprised in three kinds of streams: sandy (Big Blue and Little Blue rivers), muddy, and gravelly streams.
The habitat preferences of some species affect their abundance in different stream-types.Notropis lutrensisandP. mirabilisseemed almost ubiquitous.Notropis deliciosusalso occurred in all kinds of streams (rarely in muddy streams); however, this species was represented by the sand-lovingN. d. missuriensisin the Big Blue and Little Blue rivers, andN. d. deliciosusin the clear, gravelly, upland creeks (Nelson, personal communication). Because of its widespread occurrence, and for purposes of later discussion, I refer to this minnow also as an ubiquitous species in the Big Blue River Basin.
Table 3. Relative Abundance of Fishes in Per Cent of the Total Number Taken, Big Blue River Basin, Kansas. Trace (Tr.) Is Used for Values Less Than .05 Per Cent, and Dashes Signify that the Species Did Not Occur in the Counted Collections Although it May Have Occurred in Uncounted Collections from the Same Stream-type. Three Species,C. auratus,N. buchanani,andS. canadense,Were Not Taken in Counted Collections.
Carpiodes carpio,Cyprinus carpio,I. punctatus,I. melas, andL. humiliswere widespread, but each was absent or rare in one of the kinds of streams (Table 3).Carpiodes carpio,Cyprinus carpio, andI. punctatusoccurred most frequently in the sandy streams, whereasL. humiliswas most common in muddy streams. The high per cent ofI. melasin collections from the Big Blue River is a direct result of one large population that was taken with rotenone in a borrow-pit at Station 6-S. In my opinion, this species actually was most abundant in the muddy streams.
Some fish were almost restricted to the sandy streams, apparently because of preference for larger waters, or sandy stream-bottoms:P. olivaris,I. bubalus,H. nuchalis,H. aestivalis,A. grunniens,L. osseus,D. cepedianum,N. percobromus,P. annularis,N. flavus,M. aureolum,I. niger,H. alosiodes, andR. chrysops. Other species that were taken only in the larger rivers, and that are sometimes associated with streams even larger (or more sandy) than the Big Blue River areH. storeriana,L. platostomus,M. salmoides,P. nigromaculatus,C. forbesi,S. platorynchus,F. kansae,N. buchanani,S. canadense, andC. auratus.Ictiobus cyprinellaalso occurred more frequently in the larger streams.
The muddy-bottomed streams supported populations composed primarily ofP. promelas,N. lutrensis, andS. atromaculatus. No species was restricted to this habitat, but the following were characteristic there:P. promelas,S. atromaculatus,L. humilis,L. cyanellus, andI. natalis.Carpiodes carpio,Cyprinus carpio,C. anomalum,E. spectabile, andE. nigrumwere locally common in muddy streams, but the first two were most frequent in larger, sandy streams, and the last three in gravelly streams.
In gravel-bottomed, upland streams,N. cornutus,N. rubellus,N. topeka, andC. erythrogastercharacteristically occurred; with the exception ofN. rubellus(only one specimen taken), all were common at some stations. Other species in gravelly creeks wereN. lutrensis,C. anomalum,C. commersonnii,P. notatus,L. macrochirus,E. spectabile, andE. nigrum. Although the one specimen ofN. umbratilistaken in this survey was from the Big Blue River, this species is more characteristic of the clearer creeks in Kansas.
In order to illustrate the composition of the fauna in some specific streams in the Big Blue River Basin, I segregated the fishes into ecological groups, as in the above discussion: ubiquitous types; species of larger, sandy streams; fishes of muddy streams; and fishes of clear, gravelly creeks.
The total number of species taken in each of the streams wasdivided into the number of species from that stream that were in each of these units, to give a percentage. The resultant data are presented graphically inFigure 3.
Fig. 3.Composition of the fauna of the entire Big Blue River Basin, and of seven streams or stream systems in that basin. "Mill Creek, Wash. Co." refers to all streams in the Mill Creek System, Washington and Republic counties. "Bl. Vermillion R. System" includes all streams in that watershed excepting Clear Creek and one of its tributaries (Stations 31-G and 32-G).
Fig. 4.Composition of the fauna of the Big Blue River, and of five collecting-sites on Carnahan Creek, Pottawatomie County. Lowermost sites are at the left of the figure.
Figure 3gives a generalized picture of the faunal composition in different kinds of streams. However, the fauna of a small tributary becomes more distinct from the fauna of the larger stream into which the small stream flows as one moves toward the headwaters (Metcalf, 1957:92, 95-100).Figure 4illustrates this in CarnahanCreek. Station 11-G included four sampling-sites, which were approximately one, two, three, and four miles upstream from the mouth of Carnahan Creek. Station 13-G (one collection) was about four miles upstream from the closest sampling-site of Station 11-G. Applying the same methods as forFigure 3, my findings show a gradual decline in the per cent of the fauna represented by the "large-river-fishes," and an increase in the segment classified as "upland-fishes," from downstream to upstream.
CREEL CENSUS
Fifty-three fishermen were interviewed in the 1957 creel census period, and 152 in 1958. Only those fishermen using pole and line were interviewed. In the area censused, much additional fishing is done with set-lines, that are checked periodically by the owners.
In the 1958 census, 22 checks along approximately 80 miles of river were made, and seven of these trips were made without seeing one fisherman. The average fishing pressure for the entire area was estimated at one fisherman per 7.9 miles of stream, or one fisherman per 15.7 miles of shoreline.
Seven species of fish were identified from fishermen's creels in 1957 and 1958. These, in order of abundance were: channel catfish; carp; freshwater drum; flathead catfish; shovelnose sturgeon; smallmouth buffalo; and river carpsucker. Shovelnose sturgeon occurred in fishermen's creels only in April, 1957, and freshwater drum occurred more frequently in the spring-census of 1957 than in the summer of 1958.
Sixty-two of the fishermen interviewed in 1958 were fishing for "anything they could catch," 68 were fishing specifically for catfish, and 22 sought species other than catfish. The order of preference was as follows: channel catfish, 21.1 per cent; flathead catfish, 15.1 per cent; unspecified catfish, 12.5 per cent; carp, 9.2 per cent; freshwater drum, 1.3 per cent; and unspecified, 40.8 per cent. The kinds of fish desired by those fishermen checked in 1957 were not ascertained.
Of all fishermen checked in 1957 and 1958, 165 were men, 17 were women, and 24 were children. Ninety-three per cent were fishing from the bank, five per cent were fishing from bridges, and two per cent were wading. All but two per cent of those checked were fishing "tightline"; the remainder fished with a cork.
The ten baits most commonly used, in order of frequency, were worms, doughballs, minnows, liver, beef-spleen, chicken-entrails, coagulated blood, crayfish, shrimp, and corn.
For purposes of later comparison the data on angler success(Table 4) have been divided according to areas: Area I, below Tuttle Creek Dam; Area II, in the Tuttle Creek Reservoir area; and Area III, above the reservoir. Areas I and III received the most fishing pressure, especially Station 4-S (in Area I), and Station 56-S (in Area III).
In Area I, the success ranged from 0.91 fish per fisherman-day in 1957 to 0.26 fish per fisherman-day in 1958. The 1957 census was made in April and May, when fishing in warm-water streams is considered better than in July (Harrison, 1956:203). The 1958 census was from late June through July, and stream-flow in this period was continuously above normal. Therefore, fewer people fished the river, and catches were irregular. Catches in 1958 ranged from 0.26 fish per fisherman-day in Area I to 0.44 fish per fisherman-day in Area III. In 1951, in the Republican River of Kansas and Nebraska, the average fisherman-day yielded 0.36 fish, 0.09 fish per man-hour, and 0.06 fish per pole-hour (U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1952:13-14). The average fisherman-day in the Republican River study was 3.0 hours, whereas the average on the Big Blue River was 2.2 hours for all areas in 1958 (Table 4).
Table 4. Angling Success in the Big Blue River, Kansas, 1957 and 1958.
[A]Fishermen used an average of 1.44 poles.
[A]Fishermen used an average of 1.44 poles.
In the Big Blue River 47.7 per cent of all fishermen were successful in Area I in 1957, while only 13.1 per cent were successful in the same area in 1958 (Table 5). In the Republican River, 24 per cent of the fishing parties were successful (1.64 persons per party) (U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service,loc. cit.). The averagedistance that each fisherman had traveled to fish in the Big Blue River was 15.7 miles. Seventy-nine per cent of the persons contacted lived within 25 miles of the spots where they fished. In the study on the Republican River, 77 per cent of the parties interviewed came less than 25 miles to fish.
Table 5. Per Cent of Total Fishermen Successful, and Distances Travelled to Fish, Big Blue River Basin, Kansas, 1957 and 1958. All Distances Were Measured in Airline Miles.
RECOMMENDATIONS
My primary recommendation is for continued study of the Tuttle Creek Reservoir, and the Big Blue River above and below the reservoir, to trace changes in the fish population that result from impoundment.
Probably the fishes that inhabit the backwaters, creek-mouths, and borrow-pits in the Big Blue River Basin (gars, shad, carpsucker, buffalo, carp, sunfishes, and white bass) will increase in abundance as soon as Tuttle Creek Reservoir is formed. Also, as in eastern Oklahoma reservoirs (see Finnell,et al., 1956:61-73), populations of channel and flathead catfish should increase. Because of the presence of brood-stock of the major sport-fishes of Kansas (channel and flathead catfish, bullhead, bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass, and white bass), stocking of these species would be an economic waste: exception might be made for the white bass. It may be above Tuttle Creek Dam, but was not found there.
I do recommend immediate introduction of walleye, and possibly northern pike (Esox luciusLinnaeus), the latter species having been successfully stocked in Harlan County Reservoir, Nebraska, in recent years (Mr. Donald D. Poole, personal communication). These two species probably are native to Kansas, but may have been extirpated as agricultural development progressed. Reservoirs may again provide habitats suitable for these species in the State.
If Tuttle Creek Reservoir follows the pattern found in most Oklahoma reservoirs, large populations of "coarse fish"—fishes thatare, however, commercially desirable—will develop (Finnell,et al.,loc. cit.). To utilize this resource, and possibly to help control "coarse fish" populations for the betterment of sport-fishing, some provision for commercial harvest should be made in the reservoir.
SUMMARY
1. The Big Blue River Basin in northeastern Kansas was studied between March 30, 1957, and August 9, 1958. The objectives were to record the species of fish present and their relative abundance in the stream, and to obtain a measure of angling success prior to closure of Tuttle Creek Dam.
2. Fifty-nine stations were sampled one or more times, using seines, hoop and fyke nets, wire traps, experimental gill nets, rotenone, and an electric fish shocker.
3. Forty-eight species of fish were obtained, and five others have been recorded in literature or found in museums. One species,Carpiodes forbesi, is recorded from Kansas for the first time.
4.Notropis lutrensiswas the most abundant fish in the Big Blue River Basin, followed byNotropis deliciosusandIctalurus punctatus. The most abundant sport-fishes wereI. punctatus,I. melas, andPylodictis olivaris, respectively.
5. The spawning behavior ofNotropis lutrensisis described.
6. A creel census at major points of access to the Big Blue River, was taken in 1957 (below Tuttle Creek Dam) and in 1958 (above, in, and below the dam-site). Fishing pressure averaged one fisherman per 15.7 miles of shoreline. The average length of the fisherman-day averaged 2.2 hours, with an average of 0.33 fish per fisherman-day being caught in 1958. The average number of fish per man-hour in 1958 was 0.14 and 15.8 per cent of the fishermen were successful. Distances traveled in order to fish ranged from 0 to 197 miles (airline) and averaged 15.7 miles.
7. The primary recommendation is that studies be continued, to document changes that result from impoundment. Because brood-stock of the major sport-fishes is already present, stocking is unnecessary, except for walleye and northern pike. Also, I recommend commercial harvest of non-game food-fishes.