Barry W. Smith

Artificial midwater structures constructed primarily with fiberglass panels and automobile tires were placed in an oligotrophic storage reservoir to determine the extent of fish association witb these structures. SCUBA observations were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the structures. Comparisons were made between these and previous structures used by Reeves et al. (1977). Six species of game fish were attracted; however, Alahama spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus henshalli) and bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) were the predominant species. Concentrations of harvestable...

Midwater artificial structures were placed in a freshwater reservioir to determine if fish would associate with these structures. SCUBA observations were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the structures. Alabama spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus henshalli) and bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) were attracted to structures suspended over water depths up to 33 m and as far as 250 m from the shoreline. Behavioral observations of fish on structures and the development and subsequent association of spotted bass fry spawned on a structure are discussed.

The digestibility of nutrients in six semi-purified rations containing variable levels of protein, cellulose and starch by channel catfish in troughs was evaluated by using chromium oxide as an inert reference in the feeds. Excreta were collected using an indirect trough collection method and a direct intestinal collection method. Digestibility coefficients determined on excreta collected in troughs were higher than coefficients determined from excreta collected from the intestine. There was no significant difference in protein Or fat digestibility from the six rations when the trough...