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Fw: Flier Newsletter Goes out tommorrow to @2500 folks...with pics
Hope no one is to offended by the use of bandwidth. Figured there would be
something for everyone in here.
Sam
-----Original Message-----
From: robert a rice <robertrice@juno.com>
Subject: NFC: Flier Newsletter Goes out tommorrow to @2500 folks...with pics
>FLIER NEWSLETTER VOLUME 1 - NUMBER 2 SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 1998
>
>
>MANY APOLOGIES for not living up to the FLIER's name and tarnish
>ing its reputation by being tardy. However, the editor has been
>distracted and detoured by an insane fall survey schedule and a
>serious illness in the family. Please bear with me and I am
>confident the next issue will be back on track. This will be a
>quarterly issue and larger than usual to use up the backlog of
>material growing higher everyday. Finally, always remember
>articles, announcements, discoveries, or anything related to fish
>and aquatic species are welcomed for upcoming issues. Please
>"snail" mail or email them to the addresses provided on the last
>page of the newsletter.
>
>PRESIDENT'S REPORT - Thanks to all of you who are inaugural
>members of the NFC. We have done a great deal together. We have
>navigated all the red tape that comes with a new nonprofit agen
>cy. Without the considerable efforts of our volunteers, we would
>never have come this far or this fast. Once again, I thank you.
>While administrative work is important work, it is not why we are
>here. We are here to support the conservation of native fishes
>in practical ways. In this country, only a few dollars are spent
>and few people care about our nongame species. As a result,
>common species are ignored and uncommon ones are written off. We
>seek to change this. We are taking a simple approach to these
>problems. First, we are collecting and sharing information. Our
>website, <http:// nativefish.interspeed.net/> is a clearing house
>for articles, life histories, photos, and the like. This site is
>already one of the largest information sources about nongame
>native fishes on the web and is constantly growing. With in
>creased public awareness will come greater public involvement.
>Secondly, we are getting involved locally. We are supporting
>projects like classroom aquariums, stream cleanups, or taking
>kids fishing or collecting. When I say, "WE," I really mean -
>"YOU!" When you see an opportunity to help locally - DO IT! If
>you need equipment or expertise in some way or another, please
>ask! I can be reached by email: <robertrice@juno.com>, or at
>2213 Prytania Circle Navarre, Florida 32566. I'll be happy to
>help you get started. You, however, must supply the drive and
>desire - SO ASK AWAY! With our extensive conservation agenda, we
>have already taken on several projects. This includes stocking a
>new aquarium at the Lowery Park Zoo in Tampa, Florida, setting up
>a blackbanded sunfish life history study in partnership with the
>Florida Fresh Water Fish Commission, and our Exotics Removal
>Program (ERP) harvests exotics from southern waterways, destroy
>ing most, returning none, and selling the rest to aquarists. The
>proceeds are used to fund other NFC conservation efforts. We
>will also be setting up a special fund for conservation easements
>and land purchases. In my opinion, this is the single best way
>to preserve our aquatic heritage by protecting our watersheds.
>As you can see, we have just begun to work locally. The job is
>immense and we will need many more to join us. So get involved,
>give gift memberships to friends, start a 4H or scout troop
>project. Do what excites and is of interest to you. Let us help
>you help your local waterways. Whether a passive member or a
>project leader, you are important and needed. Your membership
>fees allow these grass roots projects to occur. So any kind of
>help is beneficial. Whether it's a dollar or an hour of your
>time, it all makes a difference. Remember, we are here for one
>purpose - the conservation of our aquatic heritage. As such, we
>are a niche organization. Not that many people know or care much
>about darters, killies, pygmy sunfishes, and the like. Someday,
>through our efforts, they will. So be prepared because, often
>times, our efforts will be lonely ones. It does not make them
>any less important or right. It does however make them a bit
>more difficult. Because of our special focus, we will never be
>as big as the "MAIN STREAM" conservation organizations. That's
>just fine, we know our niche - those unloved little fish. We are
>here to serve and to partner with any organization that shares
>common ground. For example, our land purchases will probably
>never be huge, however, if we partner with other conservation
>organizations, together we can help identify and preserve signif
>icant land that benefits our fishes and the wildlife around it.
>Conservation does not occur in a vacuum. One can not save elk
>without saving everything required to live and reproduce. That
>simply will be our approach. To act locally and partner national
>ly. Have a great Holiday and please take some time this season
>to spend with your family in the great outdoors. Robert Rice,
>President, Native Fish Conservancy
>
>TOPEKA SHINER TRICK OR TREAT - In late October, the Flier Editor
>joined biologists and professors from Iowa, Nebraska, and Minne
>sota who met in Luverne, MN to collect in area streams and ex
>change information about the Topeka shiner (Notropis topeka)
>which has been proposed for federal endangered status. Perhaps
>the most single important factor revealed during the two day
>excursion was the species' preferred habitat was not clear,
>flowing streams (often reported in literature), but seasonally
>flooded, turbid and mucky oxbows, old channels, and cut-offs.
>One awful looking site yielded over 200 specimens from one short
>seine haul. Even more bizarre was the species' presence in a
>pond dug for livestock. One participant remarked, "So that's why
>its also called the Shit Hole Shiner!"
>
>KEEPING IN TOUCH AND CURRENT - The Native Fish Conservancy has a
>new website: <http://nativefish.interspeed.net> and is under the
>very talented direction of Tim Ayers (St. Paul, MN). Web page
>highlights include articles on almost any topic regarding native
>fishes, large gallery of photographs, bulletin board to post
>announcements and inquiries, and a chat room which meets on
>Sundays at 8 PM CST. There is also a general email list which
>automatically sends messages about native fishes to all subscrib
>ers who can either reply or just read and discard. To subscribe
>to this list, send an email to: <NFC@actwin.com>. For those that
>do not have Internet access at home, check the public library.
>Many have computers dedicated solely for this purpose, and for
>the faint at heart, a very helpful and friendly staff who are
>happy to provide assistance. Finally, images, articles, an
>nouncements and advertisements are always welcomed. Please
>contact Tim for submission formats and instructions at:
><tayers@bridge. com>.
>
>RARE FISH AND MUSSEL NEWS - The July/August 1998 Endangered
>Species Update reported: (1) Six new Gulf Sturgeon (Acipenser
>oxyrynchus desotoi) spawning areas have been located in the
>Choctawhatchee River system (AL&FL). Previously, only two spawn
>ing sites were known in the Suwannee River (FL). The species
>preferred spawning habitat consisted of rivers with limestone
>bluffs or outcroppings of hard substrates.
>(2) Proposed for federal endangered status: The Devils River
>minnow (Dionda diaboli) was once the most abundant species in
>several Rio Grande tributaries (TX), but is now one of the rarest
>due to habitat loss and possibly predation from the introduced
>smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieui). The Cowhead Lake tui
>chub (Gila bicolor vaccaceps) is known only from Cowhead Lake, CA
>where 98% of the species' range has been lost to irrigation and
>dams. (3) Final Listings: Seven mussels have been listed as
>endangered or threatened in AL, GA, and FL. Endangered mussels
>include the fat threeridge (Amblema neislerii), shinrayed pocket
>book (Lampsilis subangulata), Gulf moccasinshell (Medionidus
>penicillatus), Ochlockonee moccasinshell (Medionidus simpsonia
>nus), and oval pigtoe (Pleurobema pyriforme). Threatened include
>the Chipola slabshell (Elliptio chipolaensis) and purple bank
>climber (Elliptio sloatianus). All these species have declined
>due to habitat loss from reservoirs, channel maintenance, and
>erosion.
>
>ONCE CAUGHT, ONCE BOUGHT, NEVER RETURNED - NFC has launched the
>Exotics Removal Program to collect exotic fishes for sale to
>tropical fish wholesalers. Collectors involved acknowledge the
>impact on established exotic populations, especially in open
>systems, is negligible, but their efforts have reaped a signifi
>cant windfall in generating revenues to fund other NFC projects.
>These invaders are here to stay and many more will arrive in the
>future. Perhaps it's time to view these fishes in a different
>light as another renewable and harvestable natural resource. For
>more information on the program and a price list, contact Daryl
>Roche, 425 NE 12th Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301
>
>A NOTEWORTHY RECORD - In September 1998, NFC member, Mark Hove,
>was looking in the St. Croix River (MN&WI) for potential fish
>hosts of the federally endangered winged mapleleaf (Quadrula
>fragosa) when he seined up a significant surprise - crystal
>darters (Crystallaria asprella). The locality, near St. Croix
>Falls, WI, represents the most northerly latitude reported for
>this species. Unfortunately, the species was later ruled out as
>a suitable host for the winged mapleleaf.
>
>EXOTIC FISHES WEBSITE - A never seeming end of non-native species
>are being introduced into North America and hundreds have estab
>lished permanent populations. The Nonindigenous Species Program
>in Gainsville, FL is tracking the spread of exotics and maintains
>a very informative website <http://nas.nfrcg. gov/>. Highlights
>includes a searchable database and charts illustrating the
>sources of introductions. One feature which NFC members can
>play an active and helpful role in is electronically reporting
>occurrences of exotics whenever encountered. However, voucher
>specimens or photographs provide an additional "body of proof"
>for local ichthyologists to verify identification or can be
>forwarded to Gainesville. For more information on submitting
>"hard copy" data contact the Nonindigenous Fishes Program, USGS,
>Florida-Caribbean Science Center, 7920 NW 71st St., Gainesville,
>FL 32653. Editor's Note: The program's staff recently completed
>a book on exotic fishes which should be available early next
>year. Species accounts will include a range map showing states
>with native populations and nonnative occurrences, identifica
>tion, means of introduction, status, and impacts.
>
>RECREATIONAL COLLECTOR'S LICENSE? At present, many aquarists,
>students, and even some ichthyologists bypass the mountain of red
>tape associated with applying for and keeping scientific and
>educational collector's permits for a much simpler angling li
>cense. Several states have provisions for taking many nongame
>fishes as bait for personal, non-commercial purposes. However,
>more often than not, the red flags go up in the faces of natural
>resources officials when the "C" word is used when requesting
>rules and regulations. Collecting, as an activity, is perceived
>as being just too far out of the "main stream." NFC President,
>Robert Rice, would like to change this prevalent attitude and has
>been conferring with biologists in the Freshwater Fish Commission
>and legislators in his home state of Florida. So far, his pro
>posals have been cordially received and they are providing help
>ful input and assistance on those which show potential and are
>politically viable.
>
>NATIVE NOT EXOTIC - That was the final word on crayfish collected
>this summer in the Mississippi River near the MN-IA line. NFC
>members, Ray Katula (Genoa, WI), Josh Fye (Winona, MN), and the
>Flier Editor were slogging through the muddy sloughs in search of
>state listed fish when we collected several large, dark red
>crayfish. Since, none of us had never seen anything like this
>before, we assumed it was yet another exotic. Specimens were
>sent to the MN Department of Natural Resources where biologists
>identified them as White River crayfish (Procambarus acutus
>acutus) which had only been found once before in Minnesota wa
>ters. Finally, some good news for a change!
>
>STATE WEBSITES - Many state natural resource agencies maintain
>websites where vast amounts of environmental and recreational
>information are only a mouse click away. Here are a few to check
>out:
>Florida = http://www.state.fl.us/gfc
>Kansas = http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us
>Minnesota = http://www.dnr.state.mn.us
>Missouri = http://www.conservation.state.mo. us
>Wisconsin = http://www.dnr.state. wi.us
>
>GALLOPING GOBIES - The September 1998 Seiche reported the round
>goby (Neogobius melanostomus) was introduced into the Greats
>Lakes from ballast water of transoceanic ships and was first
>found in the St. Clair River near Detroit in 1990. Reports of
>the alien invader from the Duluth - Superior Harbor (MN&WI) had
>been few and far between since the exotic's discovery in 1995.
>However, this summer two teenage anglers caught 83 in July near
>Barker's Island Marina. The Minnesota Department of Natural
>Resources also reported a commercial fishermen using pound nets
>in the harbor caught several gobies during April and May. The
>Seiche article included discouraging news that, as of September,
>the invaders have now spread to all the Great Lakes when gobies
>appeared in Lake Ontario, and this year was also the first time
>gobies had been reported in two North American inland lakes. On
>yet another front, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported
>1998 surveys found gobies in the Little Calumet River and Cal Sag
>Channel which is 14 miles from the species point of introduction
>in southern Lake Michigan and a two mile advance downstream since
>the 1997 surveys. This expanding population is of concern be
>cause it has the potential of spreading downstream to the Missis
>sippi River.
>
>BUY A BOOK AND SUPPORT THE NFC - Amazon.com is an Internet book
>dealer which carries an incredible array of topics on fishes and
>many other nature related subjects as well. Ordering is easy.
>Simply access the Amazon web page from the NFC link. Use the
>searchable database to find a specific book or browse several
>under a topic. Remember, NFC receives a percentage of every sale
>(including videos and music CDs), so fill up that shopping cart!
>
>A SECOND CHANCE FOR SURVIVAL? Rumors continue to persist that
>the blue pike (Stizostedion vitreum glaucum) may still exist in
>lakes of Minnesota, Tennessee, Ontario, and Quebec. Long before
>extinction was believed to have occurred around 1970 in the
>eastern Great Lakes, both fisheries agencies and anglers may have
>played Johnny Appleseed and spread this cousin of the walleye to
>inland lakes. For decades, anglers have reported catching blue
>cast walleyes and DNA samples have been analyzed from many suspi
>cious specimens. Unfortunately, tissue from preserved blue pike
>specimens cannot be used as a match, but DNA samples have been
>collected from the mucous on scales removed for age and growth
>studies during the 1940s and 1950s. Meanwhile, other biologists
>are searching for archived and often misplaced fish stocking
>records which just might lead them to the real thing.
>
>AUTHORS WANTED - NFC is holding an amateur writer's contest which
>is open to members who subscribe to the NFC email list and have
>not published anything within the last 36 months. Topics are
>limited to species' life histories, primary and secondary school
>programs, and general conservation projects. Please no editori
>als or political essays. Readable and factual articles will be
>added to the NFC website. The Writer's Contest Team will judge
>the articles and select the winners. Non-members are welcomed,
>but will need to submit a $2 entry fee. Articles will be accept
>ed through March 15, 1999 and can be sent on disk to Robert Rice
>or emailed directly to the NFC list at NFC@actwin.com. Prizes
>include: Three third prizes of a 1 year membership plus a Tomel
>leri print of the winner's choice. The second prize includes all
>of the above plus a new filter. And the first prize includes all
>of above plus $25 and assistance to get the winner's article
>published in Tropical Fish Hobbyist or Freshwater and Marine
>Aquarium.
>
>BOUNTY HUNTERS - The November 1998 Field & Stream reported a
>bounty program has been in place since 1991 to reduce the popula
>tion of native northern squawfish (Ptychocheilus oregonensis) in
>the Columbia and Snake Rivers (ID, OR, WA). Anglers are paid $3-
>$5 for each squawfish and a few of the best make $12,000-$15,000
>a year. Research has shown this species is a major predator on
>young endangered salmon and steelhead. The Bonneville Power
>Association (BPA) used the data to successfully lobby for the
>program as a stopgap measure until decisions can be made regard
>ing BPA hydropower dams which have been blamed for the lion's
>share of losses in anadromous fishes. The squawfish's name is
>also under attack by some Native Americans who find it offensive.
>In 1999, the name will be officially changed to northern pikemin
>now. Kind of loses something in the translation!
>
>ADOPT AN AQUARIUM - One simple, easy, and enjoyable way to turn
>kids on to native fishes is setting up an aquarium in a classroom
>or nature center. No need to be extravagant when a small ten
>gallon aquarium will suffice. Besides learning about natives,
>kids can also be responsible caretakers helping with feeding and
>maintenance. The Flier Editor maintains three aquariums in an
>elementary school where the kids notice every little thing that
>goes on in the underwater world, and in one classroom, elections
>decided who would be the lucky one to take care of the fish.
>Finally, if a lack of equipment or expertise is an issue, contact
>Robert Rice, 2213 Prytania Circle, Navarre, FL 32566.
>
>RESEARCH PROPOSAL TEASER - The Flier Editor has two darter popu
>lations in mind for future NFC funded research studies. The
>first is a johnny darter (Etheostoma nigrum) population, which at
>this time, appears restricted to the Artichoke River in St. Louis
>County, MN. Specimens exhibit a unique and very distinctive
>brown blotching primarily from the chin to the abdomen. The
>second is the only known Minnesota lake population of rainbow
>darters (E. caeruleum). Larry Page at the Illinois Natural
>History Survey has examined specimens of both species and agrees
>they look odd when compared to most other populations. He de
>scribes the johnny's darker appearance as the "northern effect"
>which may be caused from matching the darker substrates present
>in the streams or an effort to absorb more heat from sunlight.
>The rainbows possessed bands in the dorsal fin that were unlike
>those of most populations, but the most interesting trait was the
>variation in the banding exhibited in this single collection.
>Behaviorally, the rainbows are also different, Ray Katula (Genoa,
>WI) spawned the "lakers" in 1998 and he observed they act more
>like Iowa darters (E. exile) in showing a distinct aversion to
>any type of current. Larry's final comments on the oddballs
>were, "Until someone looks at the geographic variation over the
>range of the species, we won't know how odd they really are."
>
>LOST PRINTS? A few inquiries have come in from members who paid
>for postage, but never received their free Joe Tomelleri fish
>print when joining the NFC. If you are one of the lost, please
>send your top three choices to the Flier Editor. Once again, the
>choices were paddlefish, rosefin shiner, redbelly dace, longear
>sunfish, and redfin darter. We apologize for the inconvenience.
>
>THE JOURNEY BEGINS - In August, NFC received its first of six
>organizational scientific collector's permit for a life history
>and propagation study of the bluehead shiner (Pteronotropis
>hubbsi) in Arkansas. The species has a small range in the cen
>tral U.S. and its life history is poorly known. Results of this
>study will be reported on the NFC website and it is hoped these
>endeavors are only the beginning of many to come.
>
>EDITORIAL: LAND ACQUISITIONS - Should the NFC be directly in
>volved in purchasing land to protect aquatic habitats? There are
>some very important things to consider. In streams, the entire
>watershed upstream of the preserve would also have to be protect
>ed either through purchase or easements. One factor often over
>looked is streams serve as transport channels of not only water,
>but also sediment and pollution. Even in headwater streams this
>could be a monumental task and financially prohibitive. Protect
>ing only a parcel is not good enough. Spring habitats face
>another threat beyond the immediate vicinity - irrigation and
>groundwater contamination. Perhaps projects should be scaled
>down and restricted to small closed basin lakes and ponds, but
>still after purchase, sites will require management and monitor
>ing. Cooperative projects with government agencies and organiza
>tions have been mentioned before and are likely the best and only
>way to go. Experience gained from these masters of the profes
>sion will reveal if the NFC really has what it takes to become a
>land baron.
>
>FEMINIZED FISH - The September-October 1998 River Crossings
>reported male fish studied downstream of sewage treatment plants
>in 8 UK rivers had feminized reproductive tracts. Culprit chemi
>cals could not be identified due to the mix found in sewage
>effluent, however, suspects include pesticides, cosmetics, and
>plastics. These products contain chemicals called endocrine
>disrupters which mimic estrogen and block testosterone. This
>study's significance and also concern is the first documented
>occurrence of widespread sexual disruption in wild vertebrate
>populations.
>
>FISH QUIZ - NFC member, Karen Kobey is a naturalist for Hennepin
>Parks (MN) at the Coon Rapids Dam Visitor Center. She has de
>veloped a short quiz to test our fish IQ. How well can you do?
>
>1. Which two fish are closely related?
> A. walleye, B. bluegill, C. catfish, D. sauger
>
>2. Fish use this to detect vibrations in the water:
> A. tail fin, B. nostrils, C. lateral line, D. gills
>
>3. Johnny darter refers to.
> A. a lure, B. a species of minnow, C. a species of perch.
>
>4. Which fish eats zebra mussels?
> A. freshwater drum, B. lamprey, C. northern pike.
>
>5. What family contains the most species in Minnesota?
> A. sunfish, B. sucker, C. pike, D. minnow.
>
>6. Which of the following are not native to Minnesota?
> A. smallmouth bass, B. carp, C. brown trout, D. rainbow
>trout.
>
>7. Fish are aged by their
> A. fins, B. bones, C. scales, D. B&C.
>
>ANSWERS: 1. A&D, 2. C, 3. C, 4. A, 5. D, 6. B,C&D, 7. D
>
>MINNESOTA'S AQUATIC EXOTICS - Fortunately, harsh winters will
>assure Minnesota will never become the permanent home to a flood
>of exotic fishes like Florida has. However, there is concern what
>impact exotic temperate fishes may have on the native species.
>The MN DNR has a new publication to address these issues: Nonin
>digenous Fish in Inland Waters: Response Plan to New Introduc
>tions - Special Publication No. 152. Species considered poten
>tial invaders include ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernuus), white perch
>(Morone americana), round goby (Neogobius melanostomus), rudd
>(Scardinius erythrophthalamus), and three-spine stickleback
>(Gasterosteus aculeatus). Sections include a brief account of
>each species, response plan, suggested collecting gears, and
>descriptions of fish toxicants commonly used for control meas
>ures. The publication is free and available from MDNR Fisheries,
>Box 12, 500 Lafayette Rd., St. Paul, MN 55155.
>
>GOING AGAINST THE FLOW - The October 1998 Field&Stream reported
>why many fish instinctively orientate their bodies into the
>current. The behavior is called rheotaxis and fish do it for
>different purposes. Trout use it to more efficiently catch food
>items coming downstream while minnows in still pools cruise about
>in a school, but when entering current immediately disbands to
>orientate individually into the flow.
>
>RESISTANCE IS FUTILE - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's
>Fisheries Resources Office in La Crosse, WI has been conducting
>an ongoing studying of paddlefish in the Wisconsin, Mississippi,
>and Chippewa Rivers. The results to date have provided invalu
>able information on migration patterns and scores of occurrence
>records for the Minnesota Natural Heritage Program's database.
>In September 1998, the Flier Editor was invited to ride along
>with a survey crew on the Chippewa River near Carryville, WI. A
>large mesh gillnet was set in a deep hole, but before dropping
>off the last float, several upwellings appeared on both sides of
>the net. One fisheries biologist casually remarked, "PADDLE-
>FISH." In two hours of effort, 13 "spoonbills" were captured,
>weighed, measured, and first timers, tagged in the jaw, and also,
>in the rostrum with a magnetically coded wire. The most amazing
>and unexpected reaction to this ordeal was total passivity.
>These gentle giants merely rolled over and "played dead" in the
>nets and again mustered only a half-hearted wiggle or two when
>lifted into the livewell. The other welcomed surprise was the
>absence of body slime which made them a pure pleasure to handle.
>Overall, a very unique and memorable day. Can't wait to go
>again!
>
>FLESH EATING AQUARIUMS - The MayJune 1998 Health reported the
>Royal Sussex County Hospital in England has treated a "rash" of
>stubborn skin infections which stumped the specialists. However,
>when it was finally realized all the patients were hobby aquar
>ists, doctors identified the culprit pathogen as Mycobacterium
>marinum. The cure calls for two months of antibiotics, but
>prevention is preferable by wearing rubber gloves in the aquari
>um.
>
>COLLECTING AND FISHING CODE OF ETHICS - Harold Rice (Olathe, KS)
>wrote up the following "Commandments" for collecting and fishing
>on private lands. These are only suggestions, but using them can
>go a long way in gaining and keeping access to a favorite stream
>or lake.
>
>1. Obtain permission prior to using private property.
>
>2. Leave gates the way you found them.
>
>3. Unless otherwise notified, drive only on marked roads.
>
>4. Report any damage or illegal activities.
>
>5. Invite the landowner to join you.
>
>6. Observe the landowner's request regarding areas that are not
>to be entered.
>
>7. Say good-bye when leaving.
>
>8. Always be courteous to the landowner and remember you are a
>guest on their property.
>
>HEART - FRIENDLY FISH - The June 1998 Seiche reported many Lake
>Superior fishes (e.g., Siscowet or "fat" lake trout and lake
>herring) have fairly high levels of omega 3 oils which helps them
>survive in cold water by lubricating the membranes around the
>fish's cells. These oils can also reduce the risk of heart
>disease in humans and work a lot like aspirin. The discovery has
>created a new and booming business in fish oil capsules for most
>who cannot eat a pound of fatty fish per day.
>
>A PERSISTENT EXOTIC - Kokanee salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) is a
>much smaller landlocked form of the sockeye salmon which is not
>native east of the Rocky Mountains. Sockeye stockings in the
>Great Lakes basin have had little success. However, very limited,
>but reproducing populations persist in Drew Creek and Florence
>Lake (Langlade County) and Upper Bass Lake (Menominee County) of
>northeastern Wisconsin. Kokanee were believed introduced in the
>late 1950s, but none have been reported anywhere else in the Wolf
>River system. The impact Kokanee have on the native communities
>is not known, but introductions in western lakes and reservoirs
>have radically altered zooplankton composition and growth rates
>of game fishes. One final fish note. The first recognized
>Wisconsin state record for the species was in 1982 and weighed a
>whopping six ounces.
>
>THE INFAMOUS EXPLODING WHALE - Yes, a whale is a mammal, but this
>is a fishy tale to tell nevertheless. A large, dead whale washed
>up on an Oregon beach where is continued to rot and really smell.
>All levels of government attempted to disown responsibility for
>dealing with the messy matter, but the highway department came
>forward with the solution of a half a ton of dynamite to blow it
>to pieces back into the ocean. A news crew was on hand to film
>the event along with hundreds of spectators. When the charges
>went off, no one expected the shower of blood, blubber, and body
>parts to go inland and rain down on the spectators. No injuries
>were reported, but some vehicles were heavily damaged from fall
>ing whale blubber. A short video segment is available for your
>viewing pleasure on the Internet at:
><http://www.perp.com/whale/>. It takes a long time to download,
>but worth the wait!
>
>PUTTING BACK THE PISCES - In 1989, Knife Lake and River (Kanabec
>County, MN) were treated with rotenone to remove carp from the
>system. Unfortunately, over 40 native fishes, the mudpuppy, and
>now it appears, most of the mussel fauna also had to be sacri
>ficed. For almost a decade, many game and nongame fishes have
>been successfully reintroduced. The MN DNR Fisheries office in
>Hinckley reestablished the shorthead redhorse (Moxostoma macrole
>pidotum) early in the restocking efforts, but the golden (M.
>erythrurum), and silver (M. anisurum) rehorse never took hold.
>In April, 1998, just over 30 gravid adults of each species were
>stocked again and it is hoped juveniles will begin appearing in
>future surveys. The final group to tackle will be the mussels
>and surveys began this year in the only untreated reach of the
>Knife river to determine what the historical mussel community
>likely contained.
>
>TAIL END: WASTED EFFORTS - The northern redbelly dace (Phoxinus
>eos) is common as dirt in Minnesota, but ironically listed
>threatened just across the border in South Dakota where some
>unusual measures were taken to "save" the species. The Nature
>Conservancy (TNC), Ducks Unlimited (DU), and South Dakota Game,
>Fish, and Parks Department cooperatively constructed an impound
>ment on the TNC Crystal Springs Preserve near the town of Gary.
>Because a threatened species inhabited the stream where the dam
>was being constructed, a minnow fish ladder was incorporated into
>the design. The Flier Editor visited the preserve in April of
>1990 hoping there would be some water flowing through the ladder
>and just maybe see a few fish actually making the "climb," but
>the spillway was bone dry because the impoundment was far from
>full. The metal fish ladder made two switch backs to clear the
>dam's height of about four feet and had a series of alternating
>baffles in the channel to reduce the flow's velocity and also
>create eddies where fish could rest during the ascent. I regret
>ted that I couldn't see it in action and the preserve had no
>staff at that time. However, I did notice a farmer working on
>his fence line a short distance away and thought it sure wouldn't
>hurt to ask. He grinned at my questions and eventually broke
>into a chuckle. He found the efforts to save the minnow not only
>pure folly, but also very funny. However, he saved the best for
>last when he added, "And the darn thing doesn't even work!"
>Puzzled, I asked him to explain. He recalled with delight how
>the surveyors took their precise measurements and the inspectors
>kept a watchful eye on construction, but still the entire struc
>ture was not level. When water does run over the dam, it's on
>the wrong side and the ladder is always high and dry. I could
>only sum it up as the best intentions gone awry.
>
>
>
>Robert Rice
>Help Preserve our Aquatic Heritage join the NFC
>email us at NFC@actwin.com or Sunfishtalk@listbot.com
>website http://nativefish.interspeed.net/
>