Fisheries Section annual report, fiscal year 1979

FISHERIES SECTION ANNUAL REPORT FY 79
July 1, 1978- .June 30, 1979
Game and Fish Divislon Department of Natural Resources
Atlanta, Georgia
!r
July 198()

TABLE OF CONTENTS

. . EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

I. INTRODUCTION II. PRIVATE WATERS MANAGEMENT

. . .

II I. PUBLIC WATERS MANAGEMENT Fishing Laws and Regulations

. . .

Pollution and Fish Kills Investigated

Fish Surveys Aquatic Plant Control Boat Ramp Program

. . .
. . . .

Management and Development

Technical Assistance to Other Agencies

Environmental Reviews and Assessments
. . . . . . Information, Education and Training . . . . . . State Park Lakes

Other Publicly Owned Small Lakes

. . . Fish Attractors

. . .

Other Activities

IV. TROUT PRODUCTION V. WARMWATER HATCHERIES

. . . . . . . .

VI. PUBLIC FISHING AREAS

VII. RESEARCH AND SURVEYS

VIII. HATCHERY RENOVATION AND FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS

. . ii 1
.... 3
6 6 6 7
.... 8
8 8 11 12 12 13 13 13 14 14 16 25 27 31

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The role of the Fisheries Section of the Game and Fish Division is to preserve, enhance, and provide for the utilization of the freshwater fishery resources of Georgia. To accomplish this goal, the Fisheries Section operates a number of programs including private waters management, public waters management, trout production and stocking, warmwater hatchery production, operation of public fishing areas, and research and surveys.
The statewide fisheries program continued to be quite successful in FY 79. Approximately 1.36 million fishermen fished about 30.1 million days, generating considerable economic impact on the State. The Fisheries Section expended $2.596 million in FY 79, of which $362,206 were federal funds. License sales generated $2.2 million and freshwater fishermen spent about $229 million resulting in state revenues of $6.9 million from sales tax. These figures provide good evidence of the overall cost effectiveness of the Section's program.
In the area of private waters management, a program which provides technical assistance to pond owners, field investigations were conducted on 1,066 ponds in FY 79. Additionally, over 5,000 pond owners received assistance by telephone and office consultations.
Expenditures totalling over $660,000 were directed towards the management of public waters in FY 79 making this program the most important in terms of money and manpower expended. The breadth of services and activities covered by this program suggests its significance. The formulation of fishing laws and regulations, management of state park lakes, pollution and fish kill investigations, fish surveys, aquatic plant surveys and treatment, boat ramp
i i

construction and maintenance, management and development, technical coordination with other agencies, and environmental reviews and assessments are all activities comprising this program.
Fifty public water fish kills were investigated, aquatic plant surveys were conducted in three regions and chemical treatments applied on six bodies of water. Also, 91 boat ramps were inspected and construction of eight new ramps was begun. Technical assistance was provided to the Parks and Historic Sites Division regarding the management of 13 lakes on 10 parks, and 82 environmental reviews and assessments were conducted.
The trout production and stocking program is one of the most visible and popular programs of the Fisheries Section. Over 900,000 catchable (approximately 9 inches) trout were stocked into waters open for public fishing to accommodate approximately 115,000 trout fishermen who annually spend about 2.6 million days trout fishing. The sale of trout stamps generated $171,382 in license year 1979 which paid 46% of the overall trout program.
The warmwater hatchery production program provides bluegill, redear sunfish, largemouth bass, channel catfish, striped bass, hybrid bass and other species for stocking new or renovated private ponds and to meet management objectives of public waters. Approximately 28.4 million fish were distributed from the state's 7 warmwater hatcheries in FY 79. Of this total, 29% went into 2525 private ponds and 69% (comprised of striped and striped x white bass hybrids) went into public waters and to other fisheries agencies. Georgia was second only to Texas in the number of striper and hybrid fingerlings produced in 1979. The production and stocking of these species have produced popular, new fisheries in most of the state's large impoundments with catches exceeding 100,000 pounds annually from some lakes.
iii

Eight public fishing areas with 27 lakes totalling 599.6 acres were managed by the Fisheries Section in FY 79. Over 53,000 fishing trips were provided at the six areas requiring daily use permits. Data available from four areas show a harvest of 115,447 fish weighing 80,747 pounds for an average of 2.61 fish weighing 1.59 pounds per fisherman trip. Sixty-seven percent of the fishermen were required to purchase the daily-use permit, generating $35,544 in state revenues. The total operating cost of the program was $165,580, or a net cost of $2.46 per fishing trip provided.
The research and surveys program is essential in that it provides information regarding the condition of the state's fishery resources, indicates when management activities are needed, and provides an evaluation of management techniques and program effectiveness. In FY 79, 5,273 man-days were devoted to 31 studies at a cost of $446,042. The Dingell-Johnson Federal Aid to Sport Fish Restoration Program supplied $292,031 of this total and the Anadromous Fish Federal Aid Program supplied $7,550.
Capital improvements were completed at Richmond Hill Hatchery where 27 ponds and a new deep well were constructed. Improvements were also completed at Burton Hatchery where a new wastewater facility and raceways were built. At Williams Public Fishing Area, new restrooms and a \-Jell were installed in FY 79, and major repairs were made to the dam. At McDuffie Hatcheryand Public Fishing Area, a new fish holding house was constructed.
iv

INTRODUCTION
Georgia fishery habitats include 29 major reservoirs (282,179 acres), 60,000 farm ponds and small lakes, 21,252 miles of warmwater streams wid~r than 10 feet and 3,987 miles of primary and secondary trout streams and a significant estuarine resource.
Fishermen represent the largestgroup of wildlife-oriented recreationists in Georgia. Approximately 1.36 million fishermen, representing almost half the state's households, fish about 30.1 million days each year.
Recreational fishing has considerable economic value to the state. The 747,977 fishing licenses and permits sold during the license year ending March 1979 generated revenues of $2.2 million. Total expenditures by freshwater fishermen amount to about $229 million annually and result in additional state revenues of $6.9 million from state sales tax. In FY 79, the Fisheries Section expended $2.596 million, of which $362,206 were federal funds, to manage this valuable resource. This amounted to approximately $0.086 per fishing day or $1.91 per fisherman.
The statewide fisheries program is administered from a central office in Atlanta, seven regional offices, and ten district offices (Figure 1). Services are provided primarily at the regional and district levels by 31 fishery biologists, 44 fishery technicians, 11 clerical positions, and 5 construction/maintenance positions. Forty-two non-merit seasonal laborers served as supporting staff.
Active programs in FY 79 included private waters management, public waters management, trout production and stocking, warmwater hatchery production, state operation of public fishing areas, research and surveys, hatchery renovation,
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* Centra 1 Office Atllnta D Regional Offices 1 Calhoun 2 Gainesville 3 Walton 4 Ft. V11ley 5 Al b.any 6 Waycross 7 Detneries Creek

<:) District Offices
1 Calhoun 2 Gainesville 3 Wa1ton Hatchery 4 McDuffie Hatchery 5 Kanchester 6 Ft. Valley 7 Steve Cocke Hatchery 8 Bowens Mill Hatchery 9 Metter 10 llenleries Creek

<:) Stlte Hat,~cties

z1 lurton
S~~~~~~erv 111 e

3 Arrowhead

4 lufor4

5 Walton

6 McDuffie

a 7

Steve Cocke Cordele

' Bowens Mi 11
10 IUciiiiOnd Hi 11

6.. Pu!:>lic Fishing Areas

1 Arrowhead

2 Elbert County

3 McDuffie

4 Baldwin Forest

5 Webster County

6 WilliaMS

a 7

Treutlen County Evans County

Figure 1. M1p of fisheries regions in Georgi and location of regional offices, district offices. state hatcheries. and public fishing areas.

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weed control, boat ramp construction and maintenance, and a few lesser programs. Most of the FY 79 expenditures went to public waters management, hatchery production and research and surveys (Table 1). Region IV had the largest program expenditure primarily because of the capital outlay projects administered there.
This annual report summarizes the fishery management activities of the section in FY 79 and quantifies where possible the level of service provided through various programs. Cost analyses are provided where appropriate and where accounting records allow.
PRIVATE WATERS MANAGEMENT The primary objective of this program is to provide technical assistance to pond owners in the management of their oonds and lakes. Fisheries personnel provide this service at the district level upon request from the pond owner. Assistance is directed at pond management needs or problems relating to fish population balance, aquatic vegetation, fish kills, and general management. Pre-stocking checks are performed to verify information on fish applications. Fisheries personnel conducted 1,066 field investigations during FY 79 (Table 2), down from 1,175 field checks in FY 78. Also, an estimated 5,000 pond owners and managers were provided technical assistance by telephone and office consultations. In addition, 2,535 applications for fish were reviewed and forwarded to the appropriate hatchery for fish distribution. This program required 1,854 man-days of work at a cost of $75.19 per man-day. The cost assigned to this program declined significantly from FY 78, as did the man-days of effort applied to it. For comparison 2,824 man-days of effort and $190,000
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Table 1 Fisheries Section expenditures in FY 79 by location and major program. Costs in dollars are given to nearest 0.1 thousand.

Program

Atlanta office

Region

11 Ill IV

v VI VII Tota1b

Public Waters Mgt. 33.0 57.0 85.3 112.2 165.2 64.0 83.8 61.3 662.6

Private Waters Mgt. 6.9 15.9 3.8 31.3 11.1 18.4 33.7 18.3 139.4

Warmwater Hatcheries 16.4 52.3

84.7

124.9 47.9 104.7 430.9

Trout Production/ Stocking

14.7 53.1 308.7

376.5

Public Fishing Areas

6.9 39.5

43.3 41. 8 l1 1 22. 9

165.5

Federal Aid Surveys/

Research

32.0 7.9 97.3 25.4 2~.6 134.3 92.7 24.1 438.2

Weed Control

1.7

44.9

46.6

Facility t-'.aint.

0.9

17. 1

18.1)

Hatchery Renovation

c.o. Funds

Administration

4.3

89.5

89.5

27.3

8.6 40.2

Boat Ramp Const.

c.o. Funds

Administration

3.5

57.9

57.9

0.7

4.2

Boat Ramp Repair c.o. Funds Administration

24.9

24.9

5.0

5.0

Other Capital Outlay

c.o. Funds

11.3 25.6

19.3

56.2

Administration

2.6

29.5

32.2

Y.A.C.C.

0.9 1.5

0.2

0.3 1Q. 2 1. 7 o. 1 0.1 15.0

Total

123.8 227.2 506.5 322.8 550.8 373.6 281.2 217.1 2603.1c

a Expenses of the Atlanta office were prorated among all state funded programs after aoply-
ing federal aid coordination costs solely to the federal aid research &survey program.
b The figures in this table do not necessarily add to the totals given because of rounding costs to the nearest 0.1 thousand.
cRegion I spent S210.7 thousand from FY 79 funds and carried forward ~7.4 thousand in supplies from FY 78. Consequently, the total sho1"n for the Section is 57.4 thousand over the FACS total of 525~5.6.

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Table 2. Field investigations carried out on private waters in each district during FY79.

Region

District

Balance

General management

Type of pond check (Number)
Aquatic Fish vegetation ki 11 s

Pre-stock in~ checks

Total

I

Calhoun

12

-

II

Gainesville

4

9

I
(J1

III

I

Walton Thomson

68

5

38

10

IV

Hi con

48

8

Minchester

55

13

v

Albany

Cordele

32

22

55

28

VI

Waycross

Metter

35

7

22

28

VII

Richmond Hi 11

56

18

Total

425

148

Percent of total

40

14

-

12

2

4

5

29

37

22

15

9

11

5

1

16

4

17

22

45

38

51

28

11

163

221

15

21

80

104

8

27

-

107

3

110

--

80 84

-

71

6

110

3

112

1

140

8

121

109

1,066

10

were spent in FY 78. Surveys have shown that 40-50% of the fishing pressure in the state is
exerted on small lakes and ponds which verifies the importance of this program. These waters provide much recreation to the public even though most are privately owned.
PUBLIC WATERS MANAGEMENT This program covers a broad spectrum of services and activities aimed toward the conservation of Georgia 1 s vast and diverse aquatic resources. It is an active program which encompasses fishing laws and regulations, management of state park lakes, pollution and fish kill investigations, fish surveys, aquatic plant surveys, boat ramp construction and maintenance, management and development, technical coordination with other agencies, en vi ronmenta 1 reviews and assessments~, ,-..~p1oyee training, speci a1 services, and general administration. Fishing Laws and Regulations The Fisheries Section, in conjunction with the Law Enforcement Section, Information and Education Section, and the DNR Legal Staff, developed, reviewed, and printed the fishing laws and regulations for the 1979 fishing season. Assistance was provided periodically to the Law Enforcement Section and regularly to the general public in the interpretation of fishing laws and regulations. Pollution and Fish Kills Investigated Fisheries personnel investigated 50 public water fish kills during FY.79. The cause was determined for 30 kills with municipal and industrial pollution being the most common. Eighteen pollution reports not involving fish kills were also investigated and reported to the Environmental Protection Division.
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Fish Surveys This section of public waters' management involves fish sampling not
covered by research and survey studies which are discussed later in this report.
Fisheries personnel surveyed the fish population in the Oconee River immediately below Sinclair Dam in response to public complaints about poor fishing. Population samples were also taken from the Oconee River basin as part of a pre-impoundment study for the new Lake Oconee. Lake Allatoona was sampled to determine the relative abundance of threadfin shad after a winter kill. Fisheries biologists and technicians collected white bass x striped bass hybrids in Bartletts Ferry to monitor stocking success and growth. Lake Sinclair and Lake Allatoona were surveyed to determine the relative abundance and distribution of the principal sport fishes. The Flint River between Lakes Blackshear and Worth was examined by electrofishing to determine the relative abundance of shoal bass.
Biologists sampled Carters Reservoir and Clark Hill to determine walleye and sauger spawning sites, respectively. Three native brook trout streams were electrofished to provide additional data on recruitment as a follow-up to a completed federal aid project. A survey of Henson Creek was made to assess the feasibility of using this rainbow trout stream for a proposed research project. Electrofishing samples were taken from the Suwannee River to assess the structure of the fish population, particularly bowfin and largemouth bass. A plan for clearing stream-way blockages along the Ogeechee River was developed. The tailwaters of Lake Lanier were electrofished to determine the status of trout immediately below Buford Dam during poor water quality conditions associated with stratification in the reservoir. Predation
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on stocked trout was monitored on Clark Hill Reservoir. Aquatic Plant Control
Aquatic plant surveys were conducted in three regions in FY 79 to locateand identify aquatic weed problems. Nineteen warmwater streams and seven reservoirs were included in these surveys. Chemical treatments were made at lakes Blackshear and Worth, Radium Springs and Ebenezer Creek and at a privately owned pond in Worth County (Table 3).
On August 1, 1978, approximately 1,400 alligator weed fleabeetles (Agasicles hygrophila) were stocked in the South River arm of lake Jackson to control an alligator weed infestation. The beetles provided some control locally but were not stocked in sufficient numbers to affect a large area. Beetles could not be located in the spring of 1979 indicating mortality during the previous winter. Boat ramp Program
Ninety-one boat ramps were inspected for general condition and maintenance needs. Minor maintenance activities were performed on five ramps. Approximately $24,900 in capital outlay funds were used in boat ramp repairs statewide. Fisheries personnel consulted local governmental officials in planning two new ramps. Numerous directional signs were installed throughout the state. Boat ramp construction contracts and expenditures totalled $57,463 (Table 4) and resulted in eight new ramps being started in FY 79. Management and Development
During FY 79, a total of 28 trips were made to Sapelo Island by Coastal Region personnel to perform management functions on four freshwater lakes on the island. Management activities included fish population assessments, stocking, liming, fertilization, herbicidal treatments, a fish kill investigation, and transport of support equipment to and from the island. Twelve trips were made
' -8-

Table 3. Chemical treatments applied by statewide Aquatic Weed Control Program in FY 79.

Reservoirs

Target species

Number of treatments

Lake Blackshear Lyngbya

5

II

II

Bacopa

1

Lake Worth

Water hyacinth

2

II

II

Variable-leaf

mil foil

1

II

II

Coontail

1

Streams

Radium Spring

Hydrilla

6

Ebenezer Creek

A11 i gator Weed

1

Publicly owned

small lakes

Baldwin Forest Pond

#3

Lyngbya

2

Privatel,y owned

Cornell Pond

Hydrilla

2

Mean acreage per treatment
24
10 15
10 10
6.5
1

Mean success of treatments
61% Unknown*
93% 50% 50%
72% 0

7.8

48%

l

100%

*Water level fell and exposed treated area before complete evaluation could be made.

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Table 4. Boat Ramp Construction Contracts and Expenditures for FY 79.

Local Government
Clay County
Wilcox County Clinch County
City of Woodbine (Amendment to previous year contract)
Brantley County
Washington County Upson County Floyd County DNR (In-house
construction) TOTAL

Location

Amount

Sandy Branch on Walter F. George Reservoir
Ocmulgee River at Abbeville
Suwannee River at u. S. Highway
441
Satilla River

$ 19,980.00 6,666.50 6,006.00 340.00

Satilla River at Warner Landing Oconee River at Oconee Flint River at Po Biddy Rd. Oostanaula River at Hwy. 140 George L. Smith State Park

2,650.00
5,250.00 5,875.00 6,560.00 4,135.68
$ 57,463.18

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to the Altamaha Waterfowl Management Area in performing management activities on the five lakes open to public fishing. Activities included the renovation and restocking of the 50-acre East Champney Lake and initiation of a creel survey for all five lakes on the area.
Preliminary work on the Savannah River from the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam to Port Wentworth was conducted for a sport fishing survey.
Fisheries personnel made a field reconnaissance of the Grand Bay-Banks Lake complex with the Atlanta Staff to evaluate its suitability as a public hunting and fishing area.
Data on Allatoona, Blue Ridge, and Carters Reservoirs were compiled and sent to the National Reservoir Program (USDI-USFWS).
A literature survey to determine the feasibility of an electrophoretic study for examining gene pools and defining various races of ~1orone fish species in Georgia reservoirs and streams was conducted and a report prepared. Technical Assistance to Other Agencies
Fisheries personnel participated in a task force field evaluation of the wildlife resources of the Lake Alma project on Hurricane Creek for the purpose of preparing a mitigation report.
Extensive guidance and assistance was provided to the South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department in completing the Georgia-South Carolina Sea Island Characterization Study and the Georgia-South Carolina Anadromous Fish Management Plan Study.
Recommendations concerning the newly developed Habitat Evaluation Procedures were prepared. Assistance was provided to University of Georgia Fisheries staff pertaining to striped bass tracking studies on the lower Savannah River. Fish survevs were conducted on Tribble Mill Creek for the
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Soil Conservation Service and on Big Haynes Creek for the Atlanta Regional Commission. Fisheries personnel also met with the USFWS concerning mitigation measures for the Richard B. Russell Project.
Meetings were held with the Corps of Engineers regarding development of a project to monitor the fish population in the Chattahoochee River below West Point Dam, clearing and planning for Lake Richard B. Russell, and concerning recreational data for the Chattahoochee River.
Northeast region personnel served on an interagency task force investigating water quality conditions in the Buford Dam tailrace. A report was prepared summarizing the work of the various agencies as part of a contract obligation to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Assistance to the U.S. Forest Service involved several areas including the Roadless Area Review and Evaluation (RARE II) on national forest land and planning a project to evaluate stream alteration structures on National Forests. Environmental Reviews and Assessments
In FY 79, the Fisheries Section reviewed and commented on 82 projects and programs which involved aquatic habitats. The purpose of these comments is to provide for protection, enhancement, and/or mitigation of fishery resources. Assessments of projects that are major in scope or can significantlyalteraquatic habitats often require extensive field review, data analysis, and comment. Comments are sent through the Game and Fish Division and DNR to the State Clearinghouse in the Office of Planning and Budget. Comments on applications for water quality permits are sent to the Environmental Protection Division. Information, Education and Training
Fisheries personnel presented 57 talks to organized clubs, groups, and educational classes. We also handled numerous requests from individuals and
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media representatives for information on laws, pollution, fishing outlooks, species life histories, andother topics.
Personnel attended 30 short courses, workshops, or training sessions throughout the year to increase their technical knowledge and their productivity to the Section. State Park Lakes
The Parks and Historic Sites Division received technical assistance in the management of 13 lakes on 10 parks.
Comprehensive management plans for 8 lakes located on six parks as well as a pesticide use plan for one of the lakes at James 11 Sloppy 11 Floyd State Park, were developed in FY 79. Shad reproduction was monitored in lakes at Fort Vargo, Hard Labor Creek and Sweetwater Creek State Parks, and at Stone Mountain Park. A one acre pond at A. H. Stephens State Park and a 3 acre pond at Stone Mountain Park were renovated to enable the culture of catfish. Relative abundance and distribution of major sport fishes at High Falls State Park was determined by electrofishing and gill netting. Lake Brantley (Hard Labor Creek State Park) was sampled to determine species abundance and distribution after a massive toxaphene kill in 1977. Also, personnel coordinated the draining and public harvest of fish at George L. Smith State Park. Other Publicly Owned Small Lakes
Management plans were also developed for 3 city or county owned lakes, 4 lakes located on Sapelo Island, and for a small pond located at the Thomas County Correctional Institute in Thomasville. Fish Attractors
The section maintained fish attractors in Clark Hill Reservoir and Lake Bl~ckshear. New fish attractors were placed in Lakes Jackson (5), Sinclair
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(15), Tobesofkee (5), and Burton (6). Fish attractors were also placed in the following state parks: Fort Vargo (2); Hard Labor Creek (3); and Sweetwater (2). Other Activities
Fisheries personnel served on the Striped Bass, Reservoir Trout, Fish Disease, Po11 uti on and the Warmwater Streams Committees of the Southern Division of the American Fisheries Society (AFS). Also, assistance was provided to the Reservoir Committee of the Southern Division of AFS in sampling a large embayment of Lake Barkley, Kentucky.
Specimens of several fish species from around the state were collected for Universities doing electrophoretic and other scientific studies.
TROUT PRODUCTION Georgia's native trout populations cannot sustain the pressure exerted annually without a severe decline in fishing quality. Approximately 115,000 trout fishermen spent about 2.6 million days trout fishing in FY 79. To buffer this pressure on the trout resource and to maintain the quality of native trout fishing, trout are reared to a catchable size (about 9 inches long) at Lake Burton, Summerville, and Buford Hatcheries (Figure 1) for stocking into selected public trout streams, tailwaters, and impoundments. These fish are grown from fingerlings provided by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Catchable trout are also produced at federal hatcheries for stocking Georgia's trout waters, a great portion of which occur on federally owned lands. The State's three coldwater hatcheries produced a net weight of 122,538 pounds of trout in FY 79 at an average cost of $2.13 per pound (Table 5). This cost is derived from the annual operating expense of each facility and
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Table 5. Trout production and costs at state hatcheries in FY 79.

Net weight gain (lbs)

Production costs

Hatchery

Rainbow

Brown

Brook

Total

Total

Per 1b

_I_.

01 I

Buford

36,878

13,632

2,176

52,686

$151,407 $2.87

Burton

56,585

-

-

56,585

75,029 1.33

Summerville'

13,197

70

-

13,267

34,486 2.no

Total

106,660

13,702

2,176

122,538

260,922 2.13

from salaries and fringe benefits paid to hatchery and administrative personnel through the regional level. Production costs were higher than normal because of reduced production at Burton Hatchery due to hatchery renovation and mortality from weather related power outages at Buford. Trout were produced at a feed conversion ratio (pounds of feed required to produce one pound of fish) of 1.74.
Despite the hatchery problems mentioned above, a slight increase occurred in catchable trout stocked in FY 79, compared to FY 78. A total of 916,889 catchable trout were stocked into waters open to public fishing during FY 79 (Table 6), compared to 887,665 in FY 78. State hatcheries reared and stocked 57% of this total. The remainder were produced at federal hatcheries and stocked by federal and state fisheries personnel. Trout were distributed by state personnel at a cost of $0.21 per pound. The State's cost for rearing and distributing trout to Georgia's public waters then was approximately $2.34 per pound or $0.71 per catchable fish, up from $1.92 per pound or $0.64 per fish in FY 78.
Sixty-three percent of the trout were stocked into streams, 19% into tailwaters, 15% in reservoirs, and 3% in small lakes (Table 7). In addition, 114,576 fingerling brown trout (3-5 inches long) were stocked into public streams and tailwaters, down from the 176,983 stocked last fiscal year.
The sale of resident and non-resident trout stamps in license year 1979 generated a revenue of $171,382. Trout stamps, in effect, paid 46% of the State's cost of the trout program. Trout stamp revenues increased substan- tial1y over the $147,134 generated in license year 1978.
WARMWATER HATCHERIES The Fisheries Section routinely operates seven state hatcheries for
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Table 6- Number and weight of each species of trout stocked i Georgia 1 s oub~ic waters from state and federal hatcheries during FY79.

Facility

Brook Number Weight
(1 b)

Rainbow Number Weight
(1 b)

Brown Number Weight
(1b}

Total Number Weight
(1b)

State hatcheries Buford Catchables

24,812 8,581 139,797 46,206 107,313 37,190 271,922 91,977

_I_.
'-I

Burton Catchab1es

I

Su.erville Catchables Fingerlings

145,952 46,540 99,555 30,997

2,150 3,000

145,952 226 101,705 75 3,000

46,540 31,223
75

Federal hatcheries Catchibles Fingerlings

367,310 105,387 30,000 6,919 397,310 112,306 111 ,576 1,227 111 ,576 1,227

Total Catchables Fi nger1ings

24,812 8,581 752,614 229,130 139,463 44,335 916,889 28?,046 114,576 1 ,302 114,576 1,302

Tab1e 7 Q Number and weight of catchable trout stocked by species in each habitat type from all hatcheries in FY79.

Habitat

Brook

Rainbow

Brown

Total

Number Weight(lb} Number Weight{1b} Number Weight{1bJ Number Weight(16J

Streams by County

Bartow Catoosa Chattooga Cherokee Dade Dawson Fannin Floyd
Gilmer Gordon Habersham Haralson Lumpkin
Murray Paulding
Pickens Polk Rabun
Stephens Towns Union wal ker
White Whitfield

1,400 468
2,293
2,620 2,620 1,200 3,892

Total

14,493

483 161 860
911 905 408 1,446 5,174

300 10,200
5,150 800
2,134 6,500 56,260
17,990 13, l 00
3,306 12,800 12,900 56,000 11 ,050
11,500 3,900 7,950 64,185 15,876 23,765 58,352 13,375 41,725
900

114 3,202
1 '165 172 494
1 ,914 15,375 6,016
3,720 921
3,701 4,063 16,349 3,551
3,573 1,144 2,700
19.810 4,574 6,891
16,500 4,235 12,598
212

450,018 132,994

1 '150

121

3,600 1,600 1 ,000 7,600
11 ,884
11 '700

1,067 373 105
2,411
4,043
3,459

2,600
23,432 4,200 14,237 12,900
16,429

773
8,262 1 ,397 4,451 3,976
5,193

112,332 35,631

1,450

235

10,200 3,202

5,150 1 '165

800

172

2,134

494

10,100 2,981

57,860 15,748

18,990 6,121

22' 100 6,614

3,306

921

I .

25,152 7,905

12,900 4,063

69,993 20,668

11,050 3, 551

11 ,500 3,573

6,500 1,917

7,950 2,700

90,237 28,983

20,076 5,971

40,622 12,247

72,452 20,884

13,375 4,235

62,046 19,237

900

212

576,843 173,799

Tailwaters
Buford dam Lake Hartwell Lake Blue Ridge Morgan Fa 11 s
Total

5,949 3,970
9,919

1. 912 1,357 3,269

119,354 38,225 10,600 2,914 8,266 2,840
138,220 43,979

18,225 5.,406 23,631

5,796 2,0015 7,802

125,303 32,795 8,266
5,406
171,770

40,137 10,067 2,840
2,006
55,050

Reservoirs
Blue Ridge Burton Chatuge Clark Hill Lanier
Total
Small Lakes
Conasauga Dockery Edmondson Fort Mountain Nancy Town Rock Creek Vogel Winfield Scott
Tot111
Grand Total

400
400 24,812

138
138 8,581

3,000 5,000 2,000 20,813 109,363
140,176

1 ,040 1,984
692 5,231 36,046
44,993

2,000 12,900 2,200
1,000

580 3,820
609
346

1 ,000 1,700 3,400

333 448 1,028

24,200 7,164

752,614 229,130

2,000

435

1,500

467

3,500

902

139,463 44,335

3,000 5,000 2,000 20,813 109,363
140,176

1,040 1,984
692 5,231 36,046
44,993

2,000 12,900
2,200
1,000 2,000 1,000
3,600 3,400

580 3,820
609 346 435 333 1 ,053 1,028

28,100 8,204

916,889 282,046

-18-

warmwater fish production (Figure 1). These fish are produced for stocking newly constructed or renovated private ponds and to meet management needs of public waters.
Bluegill, redear sunfish, and largemouth bass are generally produced at all hatcheries. Channel catfish are produced only at Arrowhead, McDuffie, and Cordele Hatcheries. These species are hatched annually from spawning stocks maintained at the hatcheries and reared to fingerlings for distribution to pond owners that have applied for fish. Bluegill, redear sunfish, and channel catfish are distributed from October to March with bass issued the following spring. To provide the best possible fishing, these fish are stocked in combinations at rates proven through years of research.
The above spec1es are also stocked in public waters as dictated by management needs, but striped bass and striped bass x white bass hybrids are the primary warmwater species used in public water stockings. Using intensive culture methods, as well as double cropping, fisheries personnel artificially propagate these latter species at Richmond Hill Hatchery from wild fish collected during their natural spawning runs. Dingell-Johnson federal aid funds are used in this production phase. Most of the fry produced are stocked into ponds at all hatcheries and reared to fingerlings. Walton Hatchery was scheduled to be closed in FY 80, therefore the complete facility was devoted to striper and hybrid production. Approximately three million striperand hybrid fingerlings were stocked in Georgia's public waters in FY 79, more than double the 1.4 million stocked in FY 78. Georgia was second only to Texas in the production of fingerlings of these species in 1979. Some fry are also stocked directly into public waters and surpluses were issued to state and federal
-19-

fish agencies for research and management purposes. Small numbers of other warmwater species are occasionally produced to meet specific management needs.
In FY 79, the hatcheries produced approximately 44.26 million fry and fingerling fish (Table 8), a 76% increase over FY 78. Average production cost per fish varied from $0.002 for striped bass and striped-white bass hybrid fry (same as in FY 78) to $7.07 for sub-adult bluegill, which are produced in limited numbers at Arrowhead Hatchery. Fingerling fish cost $0.063 or less per fish. Production by species and associated costs at each hatchery appear in Tables 9 and 10. The Tables do not include forage species maintained at hatcheries. Eighty-eight percent of the numbers produced were distributed in FY 79 (Table 8). The differ.ence in the production and distribution totals resulted from natural mortalities, handling, holding and transporting mortalities, and use of surplus fish as forage to maintain spawning stocks.
Twenty-n-ine percent of the .fish distributed went to private pond owners in FY 79 (Table 11). Bluegill, redear sunfish, channel catfish, and largemouth bass were stocked in 2,525 ponds in 154 counties. In FY 79, thirty-five percent of the fish distributed went to private waters, and 2,053 ponds were stocked. Public waters received over 13.7 million fish from state hatcheries that included 10.3 million fry, 3.4 million fingerlings, and 22.3 thousand sub-adults or adults. These were stocked in fifteen reservoirs, ten rivers or streams, six lakes, seven public fishing areas, and fourteen publicly owned small lakes. This represents more than a 80% increase over the 7.6 million stocked in public waters in FY 78. Striped bass and striped xwhite bass hybrids made up69% of thewarmwater fish stocked in FY 79. The remaining fish,
-20-

Table 8. Total numbers and cost per fish of warmwater species produced at and distributed from state hatcheries in FV 79.

Species
Bl uegi 11 fingerling sub-adult adult
Redear sunfish fingerling
Largemouth bass fry fingerling sub-adult

Production

NumhP.r

Avg. no per acre

Acres (Thousands)

(Thousands)

Cost per fish (S)

Distribution Percent of Cost per tota1 produced fish ($)

36.6 6.0 1.08

7,106
2.66 0.603

14.6 2,204.2

2.52 21.76 22.2

280.0 1,332.0
16.27

194.2 0.44 0.56
151.0
111.1 61.2
.73

0.013 7.07 0.478
0.020
0.063 0.048 2.91

89

0.'016

100

7.07

99

0.485

76

0.032

0

0

66

0.071

100

2.91

Striped bass fry fingerling
Striped-white hybrid bass fry fingerling
Channel catfish fry fingerling adult
Shoal bass fingerling

NAa 14,060.0

21.3

836.8

NA 14,796.0 21.4 2,231.7

6. 1

780.0

19.5

796.6

4.3

9.126

3.7

49.3

NA 39.3
NA 104.29
127.9 40.8
2.122
13.3

.002 0.027
.002 0.010 0.023 0.062 1.14 '1.299

100

0.002

97

0.029

100

0.002

93

0.011

NA

NA

99

0.063

100

1.14

99

0.299

Brown bullhead fingerling
Total

1.3 182.4

24.5 44,525.659

18.8 61.38h

0.056

82

0.069

87

aNot available. booes not include striped and hybrid bass fry.

-21-

Table 9. Number of each warmwater species produced at state hatcheries in FY79.

Species

Arrowhead Walton McDuffie Cordele

Steve Cocke

Bowens Mill

Richmond Hill

Bluegill Fingerling Sub-adult Adult
Redear sunfish Fingerling
Largemouth bassll Fry Fingerling Sub-adult

316,945 2,659
279,273 90,700
582

967.550 630

963,369

301,000 284,713

85,330 397,000 130 14,485

200,000

1 078.162 1711

2,480,660

1,099,279

177,687

653,000

508,553

280,000

273,700

370,281b

115,055

561

515

Striped bass Finqerling Fry
Striped-white hybrid bass Fingerling Adult Fry
Channel catfish Fry Fingerling Car.chable
Shoal bass Fingerling Adult
Brown bull head Fingerling

67,538 116,984

358,800

86,528

521,847 56

124,254 9,126 24,489

780,000 555,405 48,800
45

197.720 488

410,442 14,060,000

601,602 41

823,965 14,796,000

a Does not ioc;lude approximately 525 surplused hatchery brood bass. blncludes 9,721 advanced fingerlings.

-22-

Table 10. Cost per fish of each warmwater species oroduced at state hatcheries in FY79.

Soeci es

Arrowhead Walton

McDuffie Cordele

Steve Cocke

Bowens Richmond

Mill

Hi 11

Blueoill Fingerling Sub-adult Adult
Redear sunfish Fingerling
Largemouth bass Fry Fingerling Sub-adult

$0.016 $7.070
$0.020
so. 119
$24.79

$0.010 $0.478
$0.008
$0.051 $8.846

so. 014
$0.018
$0.018 $0.469

$ 1).003 $0.018 $0.009

$0.049 $0.013

$23.373

$0.063 $0.065
$23.122

$0.041

$0.021
$0.029
$0.072 $3.539

Striped bass Fry Fingerling
Stri ped-v1hi te hybrid bass Fry Fingerling
Channel catfish Fry Fingerling Catchable
Shoa 1 bass Fi ngerl i nga
Brown bull head Fingerling

$0.053 $0.032

$0.054

$0.021

$0.056

$0.002 $0.019

so. 010
$0.023 $0.064 $1.139
$0.254

$0.017 $0.005 $4.848

$0.002 $0.011
$0.062

aThese figures include the production costs of adults used as brood stock (Table 9).

-23-

Table 11. Numbers of warmwater fish distributed from state hatcheries in FY 79. Totals include fish provided by federal hatcheries, surplus brood stock and fish available as by-products of other programs.

Species

Private waters Reservoirs

Streams

Other

Publicly owned Public fishing fisheries

small lakes

areas

agencies

Tota 1

Bluegill fingerling sub-adult adult
Redear sunfish fingerling adult
Largemouth bass fingerling sub-adult adult
Striped bass fry fingerling
Striped-white hybrid bass fry fingerling adult
Channel catfish fingerling sub-adult
Shoal bass fingerlings
Grass carp
Total

5,659,057 ., ,304,650

7,000 4,042
105
589

690,619

56,500 1,706
704

502,737

4,916,000 2,067,849

597,129

8,251,455 7,557,232

40,000 29,717 1,140 5,18(),000 312,610
6,000 415a
49,050 5,318,932

44,800
2,200 50
9,675 600 55
12,500 41
11.500 750a
82,171

48,410 1,005
13.127 140
6,500 14,485
358

5,759,257
4,011~
1 '111
1,360,566 190
793,011 17,931 1 ,11/
2,150,000 7,530,0()0b 815,347

56 90,240 9,216
182 (adu1ts) 183.720

4,330,000 9,246,0()0 2,080,349c 97
704,869 10.381 49,050
182 6,480,000 28,373,510

~eared at Skidaway Institute of Oceanography for research purposes ederal hatcheries supplied 337,925 of this total.
cFederal hatcheries supplied 84,078 of this total.

-24-

consisting of striped and striped xwhite bass hybrid fry, went to other fishery agencies. These fish were ultimately stocked into public waters after they were reared to fingerling size.
The hatchery production and stocking of striped bass and striped x white bass hybrids by the Section and by bordering states, have resulted in new fisheries in most of the states large impoundments. These fisheries are becoming very popular with yearly catches exceedinglOO,OOO pounds from some lakes. Striped bass fisheries are now present in Lakes Sinclair, Burton, Nottely, Jackson, Allatoona, and Lanier. Striped x white bass hybrids are well established in Lakes Clark Hill, Hartwell, W. F. George, West Point, Bartlett's Ferry, and Seminole. These fisheries are being maintained by periodic stockings.
PUBLIC FISHING AREAS The Fisheries Section managed eight public fishing areas with 27 lakes totaling 599.6 acres in FY 79 (Table 12). Four areas are owned by the state, with the other four leased from private owners. All areas except Arrowhead are managed for largemouth bass and bream fishing. Channel catfish are stocked and grown for one year at Arrowhead, Baldwin Forest, and McDuffie Public Fishing Areas before being fished. All areas except Treutlen County and \~illiams County require a $1.00 daily-use permit for fishermen ages 16 to 65. A total of 53,106 fishing trips (just slightly higher than the 52,417 trips in FY 78} occurred in FY 79 on the six areas requiring daily-use permits for an average of 140 trips per acre (Table 12). This is an indication of this programs popularity. Sixty-seven percent of the fishermen were required to purchase the daily-use permit, generating $35,544 in state revenues. A total of $34,398 were generated by this program in FY 78. The total operating cost
-25-

Table 12. Public fishing areas operated by Fisheries Section in FY 79, their operating cost and use.

Region

Area

Number Tctal Operating Total (h.mership of lakes acreage cost ($} trips

Gross Cost/trip Trips/acre ($}

I

Arrowhead

State

2

25.3 39,509 11,484

455

3.44

III

fkDuffie

State

13

12B.O 41,108 17 ,86'0

1~t)

2.30

III

Elbert County

Privatea 2

21.0 2,162

1,488

71

1.45

I

N

0'1 I

IV

Ba1d\'lin Forest State

5

51.3 41,820 14,169

276

2.95

v

Webster County Private a 1

70.0 8,303

1,439

21

5.77

v

Williams

State & 1

3l.Ob 2,829c

closed due to dam failure

Private

VI

Evans County

Private a 2

84.0 19,567

6,666

79

2.93

VI

Treutlen County Private a 1 '

1:39 .o 3,382

closed for renovation

TOTAL

27

539.6 158,680d 53,106

140

3.14

aThese lakes were leased from private Oitners and managed as public fishing areas.

bAcreage open to public fishing. Lake totals approximately 48 acres. Average was erroneously

reported as 100 i~ FY 78 report.



CThis does not.inc1ude $9,908 capital outlay funds for a new restroom and well.

dThfs total does not include $6,900 for Atlanta office expenses charged to Public Fishing

Areas on Table 1.

of all public fishing areas was $165,580, down from $171,776 the previous year. The average gross cost per trip of those areas with use records was $3.14. The average net cost per fishing trip was $2.46 when permit revenues were deducted. Compared to FY 78, cost per trip was essentially the same.
Records available for four areas show a harvest of 115,447 fish averaging 0.70 pounds each (Table 13), up from 68,034 fish at 0.65 pounds each in FY 78. Fishermen caught 2.61 fish weighing 1.59 pounds per trip. Bluegills were the primary species taken at those areas managed for bream and bass and averaged 0.27 pounds per fish. Channel catfish averaged 1.24 pounds per fish.
RESEARCH AND SURVEYS The Fisheries Section has an ongoing comprehensive research and survey program to provide factual information about Georgias fisheries resources. This program is our primary means of assessing the condition of fish populations, determining the amount of fishing oressure on various waters, and developing and testing new management techniques. Statewide direction and control is provided in the central office through the Dingell-Johnson Federal Aid Coordination Project. Each region has one or more projects consisting of one or more studies. Research and survey studies may be short-term or long-term depending on their nature and the information sought. Research studies generally aim at testing hypotheses, evaluating management techniques and determining program effectiveness. Surveys generate data on the status of fishes, their environments, and fishermen use. The research and survey process basically consists of problem or need identification, proposal development and approval, sampling design, data collection and analysis, report preparation, and dissemination
-27-

Table 13. FY79 species harvest and overall catch rate from public fishing araas with creel information.

Harvest

Channel catfish

Largemouth bass

Bream1

Other

Total

Catch rate

Avg

Avg

Avg

Avg

Area

No Wgtb No Wgt No

Wgt No Wgt

No Wgt No/trip Lb/trip

I
cN o

Arrowhead

- 16,009 0.98 531 1.35 1,156 0.19

-

17,696 16,627 1.54 1.45

I

- - Baldwin Forestd 21,679 1.37 74 1.07 4,027 0.31

25,780 31,122 1.80 2.20

Evans County

10 1.29 354 1.88 25,632 0.27 6,379c 0.28 32,375 !J,353 4.90 1.40

McDuffie

7,967 1.32 1,576 1.82 26,946 0.33 3,107 o. 51 39,596 23,645 2.22 1.32

Total

45,665 1. 24 2,535 1. 53 57,761 0.28 9,486 0.40 115,447 80,747 2.62 1. 59

aaluegill, redear sunfish, and other panfisn species. bpounds.
CMainly black crappie. d3 of the 5 ponds were open only 4 months

of findings. The information gained from these studies is necessary to continue to provide high quality fishing experiences and to maintain a cost effective fisheries program.
In FY 79, the section devoted 5,273 man-days to 31 studies at a cost of $446,042. Included in this cost are $292,031 from the Dingell-Johnson Federal Aid to Sport Fish Restoration Program and $7,550 from the Anadromous Fisheries Federal Aid Program. In FY 78, considerably more man-days {7,277) were devoted to this program at a slightly higher cost ($459,000). The mandays and costs of all studies conducted in eath region in FY 79 appear in Table 14. Twelve studies dealt with reservoir fisheries, ten with warmwater streams, three with coldwater streams, five with ponds and lakes, and one with tailwaters.
Final reports, available as public information, were completed on six studies during the year and are listed below:
(1) Relationships Between Striped Bass x White Bass Hybrid and Largemouth Bass in Clark Hill Reservoir;
{2) Evaluation of the Upper Yellow River Basin; Fish, Macroinvertebrates and Water Quality;
{3) Management Regulations for Native Brook Trout Streams; {4) 1975 Blue Ridge Reservoir Creel Survey; (5) Evaluation of Supplemental Stocking of the Shoal Bass as a
Management Technique; and (6) Evaluation of Stocking Finqerling Largemouth Bass in Lake
Blackshear. Cooperative projects were continued with three major universities as part of the research and surveys program. Auburn University rendered educational and diagnositc services to fisheries personnel in identification and control
-29-

lcth t t It1. M~m-d,*V') , o>" t .uHI fundi nc1 "ourct n t f'P ....~,l n:h Jnd 'i ur'YPV stud; t~S in
"'"h 1'1!'1 iun uuriny I Y 7'1. Cu> t does not inc Iude Y.A. C. C. labor.

Region

Han-days

Cost

Studies

Fund Source

Northwest

80

11

Northeast

562

292 85 44 Eastcentra1 215

3

3

40

102

Wes tcentra1 388

24
378 80

18

Southwest

156

157

170

331

281

Southcentral 120

200 190 110

168

520

61')

Coastal

272

63

$ 7,948 1,100
47,812 13,401') Yl,462 8,000 4,132 22,177
1,620
1,621') 2,050 4,600 24,605 2,625 9,800 8,000 1,820 19,438 19,523 21'),260 35,335 39,703
6,000 16,464 12,564 8,240 13,440 35,960 4,200 15,11')0 8,044

Trout stream survey

Evaluation of the fish DO~ulation of Carters Reservoir

State

Evaluation of predatory fish po~u

DJ

lation in Lake Burton

Survey of trout streams for classify DJ ing trout waters

Sport fish populations of Lake

DJ

Lanier

Trout stream development

DJ

Fish population survey of Lakes Nottely and Chatuge

State

An evaluation of the fisheries re-

DJ

sources of the Chattahoochee River

(Buford Dam Tailwaters)

Evaluation of fishing pressure and harvest from the Marbury Creek water shed impoundment

State

Evaluation of fishing pressure and harvest from Lake Rutledge

State

Evaluation of some important river system in the Walton District

State

Relationships between hybrids and

State

largemouth bass fn Clark Hill Reservoir

The largemouth bass fishery at Lake

DJ

Tobesofkee

Fishery survev of the Oconee River

State

Sport fishery Survey of Lake Sinclair State

Effects of winterki11 of threadfin shad in Lake Jackson

State

Effects of threadfin shad introductions in small impoundments

State

Creel survey on the Flint River between DJ Lakes Blackshear and Worth

Creel survey of three Chattahoochee

DJ

River Reservoirs

Georgia reservoir fish populations

DJ

statistics

A survey of the Lake Wa1ter F. lleorge DJ fishery

A <;urvey of the Lake Seminole fishery OJ with emphasis on the effects of stocking
~spp.

A sport fishery survey of the Satilla DJ River.

A fisheries survey of the Ocmulgee River OJ

A fisheries survey of the Altamaha River OJ

Fish communities of public lakes in

OJ

Southeast Georgia

Population dyna111ic~ of n:ilureut S'J:'!fhh flJ in the Satilla River

Exploitation of largemouth bass in the OJ Ocmulgee River

Pond stocking evaluation survey

State

Impact of stocking striped bass finger AFb lings in the Ogeechee River

Effects of direct sunlfqht on survival of striped and/or strinecl x white bass fry DJ

~OJ projects are 75:'< funded by Dinqell-Johnson fecleral Aid to Fish Restoration. Af projects are sn~; A11adromous Fish federal aicl funds.
-30-

of pathogens responsible for fish kills. Technical assistance was provided by N. C. State University to state biologists in designing research and survey studies and in the computer processing of data. The section is also a cooperator with the University of Georgia in supporting the U. S. Fish and \~ildlife Service's Cooperative Fisheries Research Unit located at the University. A contract was also let in FY 79 to Auburn University to provide continuing education workshops to our staff.

HATCHERY RENOVATION AND FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS

Improvement and expansion of existing hatchery facilities are accomplished

with capital outlay funds. In addition, regular operating funds are used to

repair or maintain hatcheries and other facilities.

Hatchery renovation personnel completed construction of 27 ponds at

Richmond Hill hatchery. Also, the construction of a new deep well was contracted

and completed in FY 79. Hatchery renovation expenses totalled $89,489 in capital

outlay funds.

Improvements at Burton Hatchery were completed during FY 79 with capital

outlay funds obligated in FY 78. A new wastewater facility was installed and

new raceways were built. Additional water supply lines and drains were also

installed. A 100 foot section of a dam at Williams Public Fishing Area was

replaced following damage caused by flooding. Work on a new fish holding house

was initiated at McDuffie Hatchery with capital outlay costs of $25,419. New

restrooms and a well were built at the Williams Public Fishing Area at a cost

of $9,908.

~m~~ REPORT APPROVED: Richard M. Gennings Chief of Fisheries

-31-