Research Items

Abstract

Management of Small Artificial Lakes GEORGE W. BENNETT gives a "Summary of Fisheries Investigations, 1938–1942" on this subject (Bull Illinois Nat. Hist. Surv., 22; 1943). The primary objective of fish management is to produce and maintain good fishing. The author defines 'good fishing' as including the element of numbers of fish caught for unit of time or effort, as well as that of size of individual fish. There is much to be done in maintaining these small artificial lakes, and this report gives a valuable summary of researches. The best fishes for these Illinois artificial lakes are large-mouth bass Huro salmoides, white and black crappies Pomoxis nigro-maculatus, bluegills Lepomis macrochirus and black and yellow bullheads Ameiurus natalis natalis. Other fish are apparently of little value in hook-and-line fishing. The chief causes for poor fishing are past improper stocking, large population of rough fish or other fishes of little use for angling, and stunting as a result of over-population. Lakes should be cropped in order to produce and maintain good yields. A cropping plan should include measures to control the numbers of fish of small size as well as the total poundage of large fish taken by anglers. Simple combinations of fishes tested to determine their value for angling shows the bass-bluegill combination to be one of the most satisfactory.