Fish Populations, Following a Drought, in the Neosho and Marais des Cygnes Rivers of KansasDeacon, James E.
Science
Fish Populations, Following a Drought, in the Neosho and Marais des Cygnes Rivers of Kansas
Deacon, James E.
Fish populations; Freshwater fishes -- Kansas -- Population dynamics -- Stocks
Gizzard shad declined in abundance from 1957 to 1959. The largest
population occurred at the middle station on the Marais des Cygnes in
1957. Shad were mainly in quiet water; often, when the river-level was
high, I found them predominately in backwaters or in the mouths of
tributary streams. Examination of nine individuals, ranging in size from
seven inches to 13.5 inches T. L., indicated that maturity is reached at
10 to 11 inches T. L. Spawning probably occurred in late June in 1959
("ripe" female caught on 26 June); young-of-the-year were first recorded
in mid-July.
#Cycleptus elongatus# (LeSueur)
Blue Sucker
The blue sucker was taken rarely in the Neosho River and not at all in
the Marais des Cygnes in my study. Cross (personal communication)
obtained several blue suckers in collections made in the mainstream of
the Neosho River in 1952; both young and adults occupied swift, deep
riffles. The species seemingly declined in abundance during the drought,
and at the conclusion of my study (1959) had not regained the level of
abundance found in 1952.
#Ictiobus cyprinella# (Valenciennes)
Big-mouthed Buffalo
Big-mouthed buffalo were found in quiet water at all stations, but were
rare. A ripe female, 21.5 inches long, was taken at the lower station on
the Neosho on 16 June, 1959.
#Ictiobus niger# (Rafinesque)
Black Buffalo
and
#Ictiobus bubalus# (Rafinesque)
Small-mouthed Buffalo
Black buffalo were not taken at the upper station on the Neosho and were
rare at other stations. Small-mouthed buffalo were taken at all stations
and were common in the lower portions of the two streams. While the
shocker was being used, buffalo were often seen only momentarily,
thereby making specific identification impossible; both species were
frequently taken together, and for this reason are discussed as a unit.
Both species maintained about the same level of abundance throughout my
study.
The two species were taken most often in the deeper, swifter currents of
the mainstream, but were sometimes found in pools, creek-mouths and
backwaters. On several occasions in the summer of 1959, buffalo were
seen in shallow parts of long, rubble riffles, with the dorsal or caudal
fins protruding above the surface. Ernest Craig, game protector, said
buffalo on such riffles formerly provided much sport for gig-fishermen.
He stated that the best catches were made at night because the fish were
less "spooky" then than in daytime. In my collections made by use of the
shocker, buffalo were taken more frequently at night (Table 9, p. 402).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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