The Food and Growth Rate of Young White Bass (Morone Chrysops) in Lake Texoma

Abstract

Abstract A study of the food and growth rate of the young white bass (Morone chrysops) was made from specimens collected between June and October, 1950 and 1951, in Lake Texoma, Texas. The major food organisms eaten by 125 young white bass in 1950 and 168 in 1951 were crustaceans (chiefly Cladocera and Copepoda), insects (chiefly Chironomidae), and gizzard shad. White bass ranging from 23 to 125 millimeters, standard length, ate all three organisms during the 5-month periods. Shad made up the largest percentage of volume of food eaten. Measurements from 349 young white bass in 1950 and 380 young fish in 1951 showed the 1951 fish grew much faster than those in 1950. The average standard length at the end of October 1950 was 74 millimeters, whereas on the same date in 1951, it was 126 millimeters. The accelerated growth of the 1951 white bass was due to the prolonged high-water level in the spring of that year and their continued heavy diet of fish.