Sampling Fish Populations in the Coosa River, Alabama

Abstract

Abstract Fish populations were sampled in two quarter-mile sections of the Coosa River near Childersburg, Alabama, during July and August, 1949. Sampling was done with hoop nets, wire baskets, and rotenone. In addition, the catch of a permanent fish trap was observed. The selectivity and limitations of each of these sampling methods are discussed. Since the methods used were to an appreciable extent complementary, it was possible to obtain significant information on nearly all important species. The most important species (by weight) taken were channel catfish, freshwater drum, smallmouth buffalo, flathead catfish, blue catfish, redhorse, and gizzard shad. None of the methods used was adequate for the sampling of game and pan species. The most important of these encountered were, however, white crappie, spotted black bass, and bluegill sunfish. Each of the methods failed completely to reveal the presence of one or more important species of fish. Since all sampling methods were selective, it was impossible...