Observations on the life history and taxonomy of the sauger (Stizostedion canadense Smith) in
Garrison reservoir, North Dakota
by Louis H Carufel
A THESIS Submitted to the Graduate Faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree
of Master of Science in Fish and Wildlife Management Mohtana State College
Montana State University
© Copyright by Louis H Carufel (1960)
Abstract:
A study on the life history and taxonomy of the sauger (Stizostedion canadense) in Garrison Reservoir,
its tributaries, and the tailrace was initiated during June, 1959 and continued to July, 1960. A total of
1,558 sauger was used in the study. These ranged in total length from 4.0 to 26.5 inches. Scales were
read with aid of micro-projector, and a direct proportion of scale length to body length was used in
calculating the length of fish at each year of life. Average calculated total lengths for sauger from
Garrison Reservoir at annuli I-VI were 4.9, 8.8, 12.3, 15.5, 18.4, and 23.1 inches respectively while
those from the tail-race at annuli I - VIII were 4.8, 9.3, 11.3, 13.8, 16.2, 18.7, 20.8, and 25.6 inches
respectively. The number of eggs estimated for 50 sauger ranged from 10,488 to 117,058. Of the 1,466
sauger used in sex determinations 71 percent were females and 29 percent were males. The smallest
mature male was 10.6 inches in total length and the female was 12.9 inches. Only 21 percent of the
males and 19 percent of the females mature when 3 years old. All males and 63 percent of the females
were mature at 4 years. The height of the spawning season was from May 8 to May 28, 1960. A total of
564 sauger, 90 walleye, and 5 hybrids was studied for taxonomic differences. observations on the l if e history and taxonomy of the sauger
( STIZOSTEDION CANADENSE SMITH)
in garrison
Re se r v o ir , north Dakota
by
LOUIS Hi CARUFEL
A THESIS
Subm itted to th e G rad u ate F a c u lty
in
p a r t i a l f u l f i l l m e n t o f th e re q u ire m e n ts
f o r th e d eg ree o f
M aster o f S cien ce in F is h and W ild life
Management
Mohtana S ta te C o lleg e
Approved:
HeadZ5Mtffajor D ep^r^nent
Qh^IrmaM Examinihg Committee
Dean, G raduat e / D i v i sio h
1V - V -
Bozeman, Mohtana
December, 1960
tr­
i a b l e o f C ptit^nts
Page
A b s tra c t
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MethodS
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Age and Growth
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Taxdnomic C o n s id e ra tio n s
Summary
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28
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3-
A b s tra c t
A stu d y on th e l i f e h i s t o r y and taxonomy o f th e sau g e r ( S tiz o s te d io n
c a n a d e n se ) in G a rriso n R e s e rv o ir? i t s . t r i b u t a r i e s , and th e t a i l r a c e was
i n i t i a t e d d u rin g J u n e , 1959 and c o n tin u e d to J u ly , I960. A t o t a l o f
1,558 sau g er was used in th e s tu d y . These ranged in t o t a l le n g th from
4 .0 to 2 6 .5 in c h e s . S c a le s were re a d w ith a id o f m ic r o - p r o je c to r , and a
d i r e c t p ro p o rtio n o f s c a le le n g th to body le n g th was used in c a lc u la tin g
th e le n g th o f f i s h a t each y e a r o f l i f e . Average c a lc u la te d t o t a l
le n g th s f o r sau g e r from G a rriso n R e s e rv o ir a t ,a n n u l i I - V I were 4 .9 , 8 . 8 ,
1 2 .3 , 1 5 .5 , 1 8 .4 , and 2 3 .I in c h e s r e s p e c tiv e ly w hile th o se from th e t a i l ra c e a t a n n u li I - V III were 4 ,8 , 9 .3 , 1 1 .3 , 1 3 .8 , 1 6 .2 , 1 8 .7 , 2 0 .8 , and
2 5 .6 in c h e s r e s p e c t i v e l y . The number o f eggs e stim a te d f o r 50 sauger
ranged from 10,488 to 117,058, Of th e 1,466 sau g er used in sex de­
te rm in a tio n s 71 p e rc e n t were fem ales and 29 p e rc e n t were m a le s. The
s m a lle s t m ature m ale was 1 0 .6 in c h e s in t o t a l le n g th and th e fem ale was
12.9 in c h e s . Only 21 p e rc e n t of th e m ales and 19 p e rc e n t o f th e fem ales
m ature when 3 y e a rs o ld . A ll m ales and 63 p e rc e n t o f th e fem ales were
m ature a t 4 y e a r s . T h e h e ig h t o f th e spawning season was from May 8 to
May 2 8 , I960. A t o t a l o f 564 s a u g e r, 90 w a lle y e , and 5 h y b rid s was
s tu d ie d f o r taxonom ic d if f e r e n c e s .
I n tr p d u c tio n
The sau g er (S tiz b s tg d id n c an a d e h se ) i s indigenous, to th e M idsouriR iv er in N orth D akota»
The e a r l i e s t re c o rd yvas- t h a t o f G ira rd (1858) who
re p o rte d t h i s s p e c ie s from a c o lle c tio n ta k en by D r. F re d e ric k Hayden
n ep r F o rt Union.
S in c e th e n sau g e r have been c o lle c te d s e v e ra l tim e s.
P e rs d n iu s and Eddy (1955) re p o rte d i t f o r th e L i t t l e M isso u ri R iv er and
th e N orth Dakota Game and F ish D epartm ent h a s ta k e n t h i s s p e c ie s on a
number o f o c c a sio n s in t h e i r t e s t - n e t t i n g su rv ey s o f G a rriso n R e s e rv o ir.
Sauger was once re p o rte d to be o f l i t t l e im portance a s a game f is h
in th e M isso u ri R iv e r R asip (Evermann and Cox9 1894), b u t a t th e p re s e n t
tim e i t i s one o f th e im p o rta n t game f i s h in N orth D akota.
Large numbers
o f sau g er a re caught by a n g le r s each y e a r , from May to O cto b er, in both
th e d a r r is o n R e s e rv o ir and th e t a i !w a te rs o f th e dam.
A side from th e lim ite d f i s h e r i e s su rv ey s conducted on th e M isso u ri
R iv er d ra in a g e th e sauger h a s n o t been in v e s tig a te d in N orth D a k o t a A
stu d y on th e l i f e h i s t o r y o f th e sau g er in G a rriso n R e s e rv o ir, i t s t r i ­
b u t a r i e s , and th e t a i l r a c e was i n i t i a t e d d u rin g J u n e , 1959 and co n tin u ed to
J u l y , 1960.
O b se rv a tio n s were a ls o made on th e taxonOmy o f t h i s s p e c ie s
in com parison w ith th e wallp y e ( S tlz o s te d io n v itre u m ) .
Acknowledgments
The w r i t e r e x ten d s th a n k s tb th o se in d iv id u a ls and a g e n c ie s t h a t
a s s i s t e d in t h i s in v e s t i g a t i o n .
D ale L. H enegar, C h ief o f F is h e r ie s ,
N orth Dakota Game, and F ish D epartm ent su g g ested th e problem and gaye ad-r
v ic e d u rin g th e s tu d y .
D r. Ci J.- D. Brown d ire c te d , th e stu d y and h elp ed
in th e p r e p a r a tio n o f th e m a n u sc rip t.
h i s t o l o g i c a l work.
D r. E. B. Harvey a id e d in th e
Dr= Reeve M.' B iailey, U n iv e rs ity o f M ichigan, i d e n t i ­
f ie d some o f th e specim ens.
R obert Needham9 Selm ar E n g er9 Dwight M eyers9
Ralph W rig h t9 Edmund H ib b ard 9 and James Sprague a s s i s t e d in th e f i e l d ;
My w ife , C a th e rin e 9 a id ed in th e ta b u la tio n o f d a ta .
The U. S» Army9
Corps Of E n g in e e rs 9 su p p lie d photO s, maps, and te m p e ra tu re re c o rd s^
N orth Dakota H e alth D epartm ent made th e chem ical w ater a n a ly s is .
The
The
N orth Dakota Game and F ish D epartm ent p ro v id ed equipm ent and f in a n c ia l
su p p o rt under F e d e ra l Aid P r o je c ts F-3-R 7 , 8.
D e s c rip tio n o f Area
The 210 fo o t h ig h dam impounding G a rris o n R e se rv o ir was com pleted in
1954 by th e U. S. Army, Corps o f E n g in e e rs.
The sp illw a y ( e le v a tio n 1825
f e e t m . s . l . ) i s a t th e e a s t end o f th e dam and th e t a i l r a c e (e le v a tio n
1640 f e e t m . s . l . ) i s a t th e w est end.
The l a t t e r c o v ers a p p ro x im a te ly
40 s u rfa c e a c r e s and h as a maximum d ep th o f 35 f e e t (F ig . I ) .
G a rriso n R e s e rv o ir i s a m u ltip le -p u rp o s e impoundment on th e m ainstem o f th e M issb u ri R iv er in McLean and M ercer C o u n tie s.
I t has a le n g th
/
o f a p p ro x im a te ly 200 m ile s and v a r ie s in w idth fro m '0 .7 5 milfe to 14 m ile s
w ith an a v erag e o f 3 m ile s (F ig . 2 ) .
At th e maximum o p e ra tin g pool- ( e l e ­
v a tio n 1850 f e e t m . s . l . ) th e s h o re lin e i s a p p ro x im a te ly 1600 m ile s Ip n g 9
th e s u rfa c e a re a ab o u t 390,000 a c r e s and th e sto ra g e c a p a c ity 23,000,000
acre f e e t.
In an a v erag e y e a r th e r e s e r v o i r le v e l i s low ered about 16
f e e t d u rin g th e w in te r to accommodate s p rin g flo o d w a te r s .
The minimum
le v e l i s a t t a i n e d u s u a lly in F eb ru ary and th e maximum in l a t e June or
—
F ig u re I .
6—
G a rriso n Dam, s p illw a y , t a i l r a c e , and M isso u ri R iv er below dam
showing t e s t n e ttin g s t a t i o n s .
15 m i l e s
F ig u re 2 .
G arriso n R e s e rv o ir, i t s t r i b u t a r i e s , and t a i l r a c e , North Dakota showing s t a t i o n s .
—
8—
e a r ly J u ly .
The p r in c ip a l so u rce o f r e s e r v o i r w a ter i s from th e M isso u ri R iv e r,
b u t th e r e a re f iv e main t r i b u t a r i e s which e n te r th e impoundment? L i t t l e
M isso u ri R iv e r, S h e ll C reek, W hite E a rth R iv e r, Tobacco Garden G reek, and
L i t t l e Myddy R iv e r.
The maximum re c o rd e d w ater s u rfa c e te m p e ra tu re f o r th e r e s e r v o i r
d u rin g th e stu d y p e rio d was 77® F. w h ile t h a t o f th e t a i l r a c e was 65° F.
Itie' u s u a lly o c cu rs d u rin g l a t e November o r e a r ly December and d is a p p e a rs
in l a t e A p ril Or e a r ly May and may re a c h a th ic k n e s s o f 3 to 4 f e e t .
The
t a i l r a c e d id n o t co m p le tely fre e z e o v e r.
C e rta in chem ical and p h y s ic a l a n a ly s e s were made a t 16 s t a t i o n s in
th e r e s e r v o i r d u rin g th e summer p f 1959 and th e se were re p e a te d fo r 8
s t a t i o n s in th e s p rin g o f I960.
D e te rm in a tio n s were made o f t p t a l d i s ­
so lv ed s o l i d s , t o t a l a l k a l i n i t y , t o t a l h a rd n e s s , c o n d u c tiv ity , pH, t u r ­
b i d i t y , and te m p e ra tu re (T able I ) .
A t o t a l p f 45 s p e c ie s o f f i s h was found in a s s o c ia ti o n w ith sau g er in
G a rris o n R e s e rv o ir and i t s t r i b u t a r i e s (T able 2 ) .
MPst o f th e s e a re
n a tiv e ter th e d ra in a g e ; b u t brown t r o u t , rainbow t r o u t , c a r p , and la r g e mouth b a ss a r e know? to have been in tro d u c e d and s e v e ra l o th e r sp e c ie s
may have been=
The goldeye was th e m ost abundant s p e c ie s in th e r e s e r v o i r
and th e w h ite su ck er in th e t r i b u t a r y stre am s a s judged from n e t c a tc h e s .
Methods
Sauger used in t h i s in v e s t ig a ti o n were c o lle c te d w ith th e fo llo w in g
equipments, e x p e rim e n ta l g i l l n e ts (1 ,2 5 to 3 in ch m esh); fyke n e ts
(rec -
T able 1=
Ranges o f Chem ical and p h y s ic a l d a ta f o r G a rriso n R e se rv o ir and
t a i l r a c e j 1959 and 1960 (D ates in p a r e n th e s e s ) .
A n a ly sis
R e s e rv o ir
1959
.I9 6 0
T a ilr a c e
1959
1960
T o ta l d is s o lv e d s o lid s 2 9 5 .0 - 422.0
P Op oIHo
( 9 /1 1 ) ( 9 / 9 )
326.5 - 492.3 ' 395.0
( 6 /2 2 ) ( 5 /2 3 ) ( 8 / 4 )
4 7 7 .6 - 4 8 4 .8
(6 /2 5 ) ( 5 / 9 )
T o ta l a l k a l i n i t y
Pop blllo
122.0 - 166.0
( 8 /1 2 ) ( 9 / 9 )
130.0 - 185.0 106.0
( 6 /2 2 ) ( 5 /2 3 ) ( 8 / 4 )
175.0 - 180,6
( 5 /2 3 )
( 5 /9 )
T o ta l h a rd n e ss
P op oHl a
144.0 - 2 32.0
(8 /1 2 ) (9 /9 )
140.0 - 210.0 2 1 2 .0
( 6 /2 2 ) ( 5 /2 3 ) ( 8 / 4 )
205,0 - 2 1 0 .0
( 5 /2 3 ) ( 5 / 9 )
C o n d u c tiv ity
1845
1730 - 2475
1625 - 2450
(9 /9 )
(9 /1 1 ) (5 /2 3 ) ( 6 /2 2 ) ( 8 / 4 )
1650 - 1675
( 6 /2 5 )
( 5 /9 )
pH
7 .0 — 7 .7
7 .5 - 8 .6
5 .7
(
6
/2 2 ) (4 /3 0 ) ( 8 /4 )
(9 /1 1 ) (7 /2 3 )
7 .3 - 8 ,7
( 5 /2 3 ) ( 5 / 9 )
T u r b id ity
p .p .m .
0 .2 - 18.5
0 .5 - 3 .5
0 .7
(
7
/1
4
)
(7 /9 )
( 6 / l 3 ) ( 6 /2 2 ) ( 8 / 4 )
1 .2 - 6 .0
( 6 /2 5 ) ( 5 / 9 )
Tem perature
• ' ° F ”.
■
.
33 - 77
(7 /3 0 )
(l/D
33 - 74
( 1 /1 ) ( 7 /l 2 )
65
(8 /4 )
33 - 41
( 6 /2 5 )
(1 /1 )
ta n g u la r opening w ith 100 fo o t le a d fa s te n e d to th e c e n te r o f th e fram e );
p p c k et n e t s (two ty p ic a l fyke n e ts w ith a s in g le lead fa s te n e d to th e
opening Of each n e t ) ;
s e in e s ( common sen se and 100 fo o t b a g ).
Some
specim ens Were a ls o secu red by th e u se o f to x ic a n ts and from s p o rt
fish e rm e n .
M easurem ents were made on I =,558 sau g e r ra n g in g in t o t a l le n g th s from
4 .0 to 2 6 .5 in c h e s .
In O rder to compare’ m easurem ents made in th e p re s e n t
stu d y w ith th o se o f o th e r w o rk e rsg s ta n d a r d , f o r k , and t o t a l le n g th s were
ta k en to th e n e a r e s t 0 .1 in c h .
The r e l a t i o n s h i p s betw een th e s e le n g th s
were n e a r ly r e c t i l i n e a r and s in g le c o n v e rsio n f a c to r s co u ld be Used fo r
T able 2«
F ish e s a s s o c ia te d w ith sau g er in G a rris o n R e se rv o ir and t r i b u t a r y stream s (^abundant
Species)=
P a llid stu rg e o n
Shovelnose stu rg e o n
P a d d le fis h
Blue su ck er
Smallmouth b u ff a lo
xBigmouth b u ff a lo
Black b u ff a lo
xN o rth ern re d h o rse
_________ e lo n a a tu s
IC tio b u s bubalus
Ic tio b u s c y p ririe llu s
I c tio b u s n i o e f MOxostoma m acrdleoidotum
xBlack b u llh e a d
Channel c a t f i s h
xS to h e c a t
F la th e a d C a tfis h
I c ta lu r u s m elas
Ic ta lU fu s puhO tatus
NoturuO f lav u s
P v lo d ic tis o l i v a r i s
xBurbot
Lota lo ta
S h o rtn o se g a r
Rainbow t r o u t
Brown t r o u t
"xGoldeye
N orthern p ike
Salmo
___
SaImo t r u t t a
Hiodon a lo s o id e s
EsOx lu c iu s
Brook s tic k le b a c k
N orthern r e d b e lly dace Chrosomus eos
-xCarp
B rassy minnow
S ilv e r y minnow
nucha I i s
xF la th e a d chub
ira
Lake chub
3lum bea'
Golden s h in e r
Notemigohus- c rv s o le u c a s
xEmerald s h in e r
Sand s h in e r
N otropiS stra m in e u s
xFathead minnow
xLongnose dace
R h in ic h th v s ' c a ta r a c ta e
Creek chub
Sem otH us a trb m a c u la tu s
P e a rl dace
S em o tilu s m a 'rg 'a rita '
xR iver c arp su c k er
Longnose sucker
xW hite sucker
C arooides c a rp io
Catostomus- ca t o s t Omus
C atostom us conimersonl
E u c a lia in c o n sta n s
Pumpkinseed
O rangespotted s u n fis h
Largemputh b ass
xW hite c ra p p ie
xBlack c ra p p ie
Leoomis qibbosus
LeoOmis h u m ilis '
M ic ro o te ru s ' salm oides
POmoxis a n n u la r is
PoMoxis n ig ro m acu latu s
IpWa d a r te r
Johnny d a r te r
xYellow perch
W alleye
Etheostoma e x ile
Etheostoma nigrum
Perea f la v esc en s
S tiz o s te d io n v itreu m
F resh w ater drum
Aolodin o tu s qru n n ien s
?
—
a l l s iz e s o f s a u g e r,
11 “
W eights Were ta k en on a l l f i s h to th e n e a r e s t 0.0 2
pbu’n d .
Sex was d eterm in ed by exam ining th e gonads.
The r i g h t and l e f t
gonads in th e fem ale a re b lu n t o r rounded a n t e r i o r l y , and th o s e o f th e
male a re sh a rp ly ta p e re d o r p o in te d (Eschm eyer, 1950).
The gonads in
bo th sex es a r e jo in e d p o s t e r i o r l y im m ediately a n t e r i o r to th e g e n tia l
a p e r tu r e .
The unioh i s Y-shaped in th e fem ale and V -shaped in th e m ale.
In th e s p rin g o f I9 6 0 , o v a rie s were c o lle c te d f o r d e te rm in in g th e
number o f eg g s.
In a d d i t i o n , re p ro d u c tiv e t r a c t s were a ls o removed and
p re s e rv e d in B ouin1s f l u i d , A F A s o lu t i o n , and 10 p e rc e n t fo rm a lin fo r
h i s t o l o g i c a l stu d y o f gonad developm ent.
S c a le sam ples were c o lle c te d f o r age and growth a n a l y s i s .
These were
ta k en from th e l e f t s id e o f each f i s h below th e l a t e r a l l i n e p o s te r io r and
a d ja c e n t to th e p e c to r a l f i n .
P l a s t i c im p re ssio n s were made o f s c a le s
.
(S m ith, 1954) and a n n u li were d eterm in ed w ith th e a id o f a m ic ro -p r o jectO r.
S c a le m easurem ents were d eterm in ed from th e c e n te r o f th e fo cu s alo n g th e
m edian a n t e r i o r r a d iu s .
A c o n s ta n t r a t i o o f s c a le r a d iu s to body le n g th
was assumed and th e le n g th o f f i s h a t each y e ar o f l i f e was determ in ed by
use o f a nomograph.
C o e f f ic ie n ts o f c o n d itio n (C) were c a lc u la te d fo r
each f i s h .
Age and Growth
A t o t a l o f 529 sau g er was used f o r age and grow th d e te r m in a tio n s ;
318 o f th e s e were from G a rris o n R e s e rv o ir and 211 from th e t a i l r a c e .
Average t o t a l le n g th s o f male and fem ale Sauger were c a lc u la te d fo r each
-
12 -
y e a r o f l i f e and a com parison was made betw een th e sex es f o r each lo ­
c a lity .
Male and fem ale sau g er from b o th G a rris o n R e s e rv o ir and th e t a i l r a c e
showed a p p ro x im a te ly e q u al grow th in age c la s s e s I and I I , b u t fem ales
were la r g e r th a n m ales in age c la s s I I I and o ld e r (T ab le s 3 and 4 ) .
In
M innesota (C a r la p d e r9 1942) male and fem ale sau g er shotted grow th r a t e s
which were a p p ro x im a te ly th e same f o r th e f i r s t th r e e y e a r s , b u t slow er
th an th o s e o f G a rris o n R e s e rv o ir and t a i l r a c e .
In T ennessee (H a s s le r ,
1957) th e g r e a t e s t grow th r a t e o f m ale and fem ale sau g e r was a tta in e d in
age c la s s I .
T h is r a t e was f a s t e r th a n t h a t re c o rd ed from G a rriso n R e se r­
v o ir and t a i l r a c e f o r th e same age c l a s s e s .
The ran g e o f c a lc u la te d t o t a l le n g th s f o r m ale sau g e r in G a rriso n
R e s e rv o ir was 4 .8 t o 16.9 in c h e s (age c la s s e s I - V) and th o s e o f th e
t a i l r a c e 4 .6 to 18.0 in c h e s (age c la s s e s I - V I).
The range o f c a lc u la te d
t o t a l le n g th s f o r fem ale sau g er in G a rris o n R e s e rv o ir was 5 .1 to 23 .1
in c h e s (age c la s s e s I - VI) and th o s e o f th e t a i l r a c e 4 .9 to 2 5 .6 in c h e s
(age c la s s e s I - V IT I) .
In o rd e r to compare sau g er from G a rriso n R e s e rv o ir and t a i l r a c e w ith
th o s e o f o th e r w a te rs th e c a lc u la te d t o t a l le n g th s o f b o th sex es were com­
b in ed f o r each age c la s s (p ig .
3 ).
The sau g er from G a rriso n R e s e rv o ir
grew a t a f a s t e r r a t e th a n th o s e from th e t a i l r a c e .
The o p p o site o f t h i s
was r e p o rte d f o r sau g e r from F o rt R an d all R e s e rv o ir, South D a k o ta ^ where
^
S h ie ld s , James T. 1955. R ep o rt o f f i s h e r i e s in v e s t ig a ti o n s d u rin g th e
second y e a r o f impoundment o f F o rt R an d all R e s e rv o ir, South Dakota,?
1954. D in g e ll-Jd h n so n P r o je c t F - l- R - 4 , 100 pp. mimeo.
—
T able 3 o
13 —
Average c a lc u la te d t o t a l le n g th in in c h es o f male and fem ale
sau g e r from G a rris d n R e s e rv o ir, 1959 and I960.
Sex
Number
of fis h
I
Male
Female
96
222 ■
4 .9
4 .8
' II
Male
Female
.91
215
4 .7
4 .8
8 .9
8 .9
III
Male
.Female
65
201
4 =6
-4,7
8 .8
8,-8
11.8
1 2 .5
IV
Male
Female
39
156
4 .9
4i8
9 .1
9 .1
11.8
1 1.7
14.1
15.5
V
Male
Female
3
64
4^9
5<j2
8 .1
8 ,8
1 1 .7
12.9
14.8
16.2
16.9
18.8
VI
Male
Female
.6
6 .5
1 0 .9
1 4.6
18.1
2 1 .0
23.1
Age c la s s
Average c a lc u la te d t o t a l le n g th in in ch es
a t each an n u lu s
6
. 2
5
4
. 3 •.
f
Grand
av erag e
Male
Female
4 .8
5 .1
8 .7
9 .3
11.8
12.9
14.4
16.6
1 6 .9
1 9 .9
23.1
Average
annuaI
increm ent
Male
Female
4 .8
5 .1
3 .9
4 .2
3 .1
3 .6
2 .6
3 .7
2 .5
3 .3
3 .2
-
Table, 4d
14 -
Average c a lc u la te d t o t a l le n g th in in c h e s o f male, and female
sau g er from t a i l r a p e , i960=,
Sex
Number
o f fis h
I
Male
FetoaIe
81
130
4v7
4^8
II
Male
fem ale
81
130
4 ,7
4 .8
8 .4
8 .4
III
■ Male
Female
■
69
122
4 .7
4 .8
8 .3
8 .3
13.1
Male
Female
45
103
4 .5
4 .9
8 .2
8 .4
11.2
13,-6
Age c la s s
• .......... v
v
tv
Male
Female
na
..
1.
V
A verage c a lc u la te d t o t a l le n g th in in c h es
•
a t each, an n u lu s ,■
- I . 2 ■: 3 4
- 5 6
■' 7- ■ : 8 %
10
79
13.4
14,0
.
.
:■
4 ,5
5*9
8 .1
8*5
11.2
13*5
1 3 .4
1 4 ,5
15,1
16.6
.
VI
Male
Fema ie
2
42
4 .6
4 .8
8 .2
8 .3
11.2
,11,7
14.3
14.2
16,6
16*6
18.0
18.8
VII
Male
Fema Ie
20
4*9
8 .2
11.5
14,0
1 6 ,2
18*6
2 0 ,7
: '■
V III
Male
Female
2
.5^3
8 ,5
11.5
14.4
17.5
2 0 .5
2 3 ,0
2 5 ,6
4 .6
4 .9
8 .2
8 ,4
11,2
12.5
1 3 ,7
1 4 ,2
15,8
1 6 ,7
1 8 .0
1 9 ,3
2 1 ,8
2 5 ,6
2*5
1 .7
2 .1
1,5
2 ,2
2 ,6
2 .5
3 ,8
,
Grand
av erag e
,
. .
Male
Female
. . . .
.
r -
•
Average
an n u al
Male
in crem en t Female
(in c h e s )
■ 4 b6
4 .9
3 ;6
3*5
3 .0
4a
- ■1
-
Garrison R eservoir
15 -
S3-
Ta il r a c e
C
12
vl I I
M N
IN I I
I
2
3
Kl I I
4
U I I
5
6
M______
7
8
Year of life
F ig u re 3.
Average c a lc u la te d t o t a l le n th o f sauger from G a rriso n R e s e rv o ir
and t a i l r a c e a t each y e ar o f l i f e .
•“ • I
6 *"
grdw th r a t e s in th e r e s e r v o i r were slo w er th a n th o se from th e ta ilr a c e ^
Growth r a t e s and lo n g e v ity (IX ) were a ls o g r e a te r foy sau g e r from South
2/ 3/
D akota"'
th a n th o se from N orth D akota.
Growth r a t e s o f sau g e r from G arrison, R e se rv o ir and th e t a i l r a c e were
a p p ro x im a te ly th e same a s th o se o f F o rt Peck R e s e rv o ir, M ontana-^ f o r th e
f i r s t fo u r y e a rs o f l i f e , b u t N orth Dakota grow th r a t e s were more ra p id in
age c la s s e s V to V III i
Sauger from F o rt Peck R e s e rv o ir a tta in e d a maximum
age o f 8 y e a rs which i s th e same a s t h a t o f G a rriso n R esO rvoir and t a i l ra c e.
Sauger from th e T.V.A. R e s e rv o irs ( Eschmeyer and J o n e s , 1941; S tro u d ,
1949; H a s s le r , 1957) grew a t a f a s t e r r a t e (age c la s s e s I - V II) thah th o se
from G a rris o n R e s e rv o ir and th e t a i l r a c e .
Annual grow th in crem en ts f o r
th e T.V.A. R e s e rv o irs (age c la s s e s I - I I I ) exceeded th o se o f G a rriso n
R e s e rv o ir and th e t a i l r a c e e x ce p t t h a t th o se from N o rris R ese rv o ir
(H a s s le r , 1957) were l e s s a f t e r age c l a s s I I I .
The maximum age c la s s
a t t a i n e d by sau g e r from T.V.A. R e s e rv o irs (age V II) was g r e a t e r than t h a t
o f G a rriso n R e s e rv o ir b u t l e s s th an t h a t o f th e t a i l r a c e .
- / S h ie ld s , James T. 1956. R eport o f f i s h e r i e s i n v e s t ig a ti o n s d u rin g th e
t h i r d y e a r o f impoundment o f F o rt R an d all R e s e rv o ir, South D ak o ta, 1955,
D in g e ll-Jo h n so n P r o je c t F - l-R -5 , 91 pp. mimeo.
S h ie ld s , James T. 1957. R eport o f f i s h e r i e s i n v e s t ig a ti o n s d u rin g th e
fo u r th y e a r o f impoundment o f F o rt R an d all R e s e rv o ir, South D akota,
1956. D in g e ll-Jo h n so n P r o je c t F - l-R -6 , 60 pp. mimeo.
A lv o rd , W illiam . 1957. F o rt Peck R e s e rv o ir i n v e s t i g a t i o n s . N o rth e a st
Montana F is h e ry S tudy. Montana S ta te D ept, o f F ish and Game. D in g e llJohnson P r o je c t F - ll- R - 4 , 4 pp. mimeo.
-
17 -
The growth r a t e s o f sau g e r from b o th G a rriso n R e s e rv o ir and th e t a i l ra c e were g r e a te r tfiart th o se re p o rte d f o r w a ters o th e r th an r e s e r v o i r s s
O n ta rio (H a rt9 1928) 9 Manitoba" (B ajk o v 9 1930; Kennedy9 1 9 4 9 )9 Ohio
(D eason9 19(33; Roach9 1949) 9 and M innesota - e x ce p t fo r age c la s s I (G ar-'
Ia n d e f9 195.0)t
The maximum age o f sau g er from G a rriso n R e s e rv o ir and th e
t a i l r a c e was le s s th an t h a t re p o rte d by H art (1 9 2 8 )9 Bajkov (1 9 3 0 )9
Kennedy (1 9 4 9 )9 and C a rla n d e r (1 9 5 0 ), b u t g r e a te r th an th o s e from Ohio
(D eason9 1933; Roach9 1949).
The s m a lle s t sau g e r ta k en from G a rriso n R ese rv o ir was 4 .0 in c h es in
t o t a l le n g th (0 .0 2 pounds) and t h a t from th e t a i l r a c e 8 .4 in c h e s (0 .1 6
p o u n d s).
The l a r g e s t in d iv id u a l ta k en from G a rriso n R e s e rv o ir was 2 6 .5 ■
in c h es in to ta l., le n g th (6 .7 pounds') and t h a t from th e t a i l r a c e 2 6 .4 in c h es
(4 .5 po u n d s). .
--
Male sau g e r from G a rriso n R e s e rv o ir ranged in w eight from 0.0 8 to
2 .2 0 pounds (av erag e 0 .6 6 ) and th o se from th e t a i l r a c e 0 .1 6 to 1.90
(a v e rag e 0 .6 4 ) .
.
Female sau g e r from G a rris o n R ese rv o ir had a w eight, range
o f 0.-16 to 6 .7 0 pounds (a v e rag e 1 .4 3 ) and th o se from th e t a i l r a c e 0 .1 5 to
4 .5 0 (av erag e 1 .4 4 ).
The youngest sau g e r appeared in th e s p o r t f is h e r y o f G a rriso n R eser­
v o ir and th e t a i l r a c e when 2 y e a rs o f age w h ile th e o ld e s t was 8 y ears
o ld .
The s m a lle s t sau g er ta k e n in th e s p o r t f is h e r y was 7 .0 in c h es in
t o t a l le n g th (0 .1 2 pounds) w hile th e l a r g e s t sau g er was 2 6 .5 in ch es (6 .7
pounds).
The l a r g e s t sau g e r e v er re c o rd e d from t h i s a re a was 3 0 .0 in c h es
in t o t a l le n g th and weighed 8 .2 pounds.
-
18 -
The 249 sau g e r e x a m in e d 'in a p a r t i a l c r e e l census f o r 1959 and I960
had an av erag e le n g th o f 15,6 in c h es and w eight o f 1,12 pounds.
c re e l re p o rts
s/
P rev io u s
(4 ,6 3 7 s a u g e r) showed s im ila r av erag e t o t a l le n g th s and
w e ig h ts.
C o n d itio n
A t o t a l o f 552 sau g e r was used f o r c o e f f i c i e n t o f c o n d itio n (C) d e­
te rm in a tio n s ;
ta ilra c e .
332 o f th e s e were from G a rris o n R e se rv o ir and 220 from th e
The c o e f f i c i e n t o f c o n d itio n (C) was a p p ro x im a te ly th e same
f o r b oth male and fem ale sau g er f o r b o th l o c a l i t i e s (T ab le 5 ) .
The C
f a c to r f o r male sau g e r from G a rriso n R e s e rv o ir averaged 2 8 .7 (ran g e 17.0 3 0 .0 ) and th e fem ale 3 0 .3 (ran g e 2 1 .3 - 4 8 .0 ) .
The C f a c to r fo r male
sau g er from th e t a i l r a c e averaged 28=4 (ran g e 15.0 - 4 3 .8 ) and th e fem ale
3 0 .0 (ran g e 11.5 - 46=7).
F e c u n d ity
The number o f eggs was e stim a te d f o r 12 sau g er from G a rriso n R eser­
v o ir and 38 from th e t a i l r a c e by c o u n tin g th e eggs from known p o rtio n s
(5 p e r c e n t) o f each ovary and c a lc u la tin g th e t o t a l based on th e w eight o f
o v a r ie s .
T his method was checked by making t o t a l co u n ts on 6 f is h p r e v i­
o u sly s tu d ie d a s d e s c rib e d above.
The e stim a te d number o f eggs based on
p a r t i a l co u n ts ranged from 1 .5 to 6=0 p e rc e n t le s s th a n t o t a l c o u n ts.
Good e s tim a te s could be made when sam ples were tak en from th e c e n tr a l p a r t
^
C a r u f e l, L. H= (1954-1958) C re el Census A n a ly sis - T a ilr a c e f is h in g
a re a o f G a rriso n Dam. N orthw est F is h e r ie s D i s t r i c t . N orth Dakota Game
and F ish Dept= D in g e l!-Jo h n so n P r o je c ts F-3-R -2 to F-3^R -6, I to 11
pp. mimeo.
-
. Sex
Olass
. V
"iv
CD
L o catio n
Average c o e f f i c i e n t o f c o n d itio n (G) f o r male and fem ale sau g er
from G a rriso n R e s e rv o ir and th e t a i l r a c e , 1959 and 1960 (number
o f f i s h in p a r e n th e s e s ) .
£
T able 5 ,
19 -
I
II
. Ill '
2 8 ,0
(9 8 )
2 8 .0
(77)
VI.
VII
v i i i . ■' ""‘ '
G a rriso n
R e s e rv o ir
Female
30.1
(13)
3 0 .4
(3 )
O
3 3 .0
(6 )
^
3 0 .8
(74)
M
2 8 ,8 28.9 2 8 .8 2 8 .8
(231) (230) (214) (2 0 9 )
CO
O
30 .0
(4 )
t-"
2 8 .0
(44)
O
t— '
Male
T a ilr a c e
Male
2 8 .0
(8 2 )
2 8 .0
(71)
2 8 .5
(4 8 )
CO ^
2 9 .7 2 9 .5 3 0 .0 3 0 .4
(138) (134) (1 2 3 ) (108)
O
CO
CO ^
Fema Ie
2 8 ,0
(8 2 )
32 „5
(4 2 )
3 2 .0
(18)
2 7 .4
(2)
.
o f th e ovary away from th e e x t r e m i t i e s ^
There was no im p o rta n t d if f e r e n c e
betw een th e a v erag e number o f eggs from each l o c a l i t y .
Female sauger used
f o r egg co u n ts ranged in t o t a l le n g th from 12,9 to 2 4 ,6 in c h e s and weighed
betw een 0 ,6 0 and 4 ,6 2 pounds.
The av erag e number o f eggs p e r pound o f f is h was c a lc u la te d , th en
averaged fo r a l l f i s h in each le n g th group (T able 6 ) .
The number of eggs
ranged from 10,488 (1 2 ,9 inch sa u g e r) to 117,058 (2 4 ,6 in c h s a u g e r),
C ar-
la n d e r (1942) re p o rte d a h ig h e r av erag e number of eggs f o r M inhesota
sau g e r (1 4 ,0 - 14,2 in c h e s in t o t a l le n g th ) th an was found f o r f is h o f
s im ila r le n g th in G a rris o n R e se rv o ir and t a i l r a c e °
The av erag e number o f eggs fo r N orth Dakota sau g er was g r e a te r th a n
th o se re p o rte d by H a s s le r (1958) f o r T en n essee, b u t was ap p ro x im a te ly th e
-2 0
T able 6.
E stim a te d number o f eggs f o r Sauger from G a rriso h R e s e rv o ir and
t a i l r a c e s i9 6 0 .
Number
of
T o ta l le n g th - in c h e s
fem ales
Range
Average
. ■■
____ ■
■ ■.
.
Average
w eig h t
Number o f eggs
of fis h
Minimum Maximum Average (pounds)
■
________
___
Average
number o f
eggs p e r
pound o f
f is h ■ .
2
I2 i0 - 12.9
1 2 .9
10,448
10,925
10,685
0 .6 0
15,130
3
13.0 - 1 3 .9
13.5
15,888
25,437
20,662
0.71
26,654
13
1 4 .Q - 14.9
14.-4
14,092
25,893
20,774
0 .8 8
23,282
4
15.0 - 15,9
15,3
21,194
34,847
2 8 ,9 6 6
1.13
25,316
7
16.0 — 16;9
16.6
24,510
47,035
34,672
1.34
25,887
4
17.0 - 17,9
17.5
30,-117
54,778
4 1 ,9 6 9
1.6 4
25,517
3
18.0 - 18.9
18.3
42,861
5 7 ,4 1 5
49,854
2 .0 9
2 4 ,1 0 8
9
19.0 - 19.9
19,4
48,634 116,641
78,759
2 .3 2
■34,441
I
2 0 .0 - 2 0 .9
2 0 ,1
64,400
64,400
6 4 ,4 0 0
2 .6 6
2 4 ,2 1 0
I
2 1 .0 - 2 1 ,9
2 1 .5
152,110 152,110 152,110
3 .9 2
38,803
2
2 2 .0 - 2 2 .9
2 2 ,2
89,457
4 .1 6
21,688
0
2 3 .0 - 2 3 ,9
I
2 4 .0
117,058 117,058 117,058
' 4 .5 4
25,784
2 4 .9
24*6
86,395
92,520
-
21 -
sa'me a s th o s e giv en by Smith (1941) f o r th e same a r e a .
Simon (1946) r e ­
p o rte d 50,000 eggs f o r a 3 pound sau g e r from Wyoming which i s le s s than
t h a t found in f i s h o f s im ila r w eight from G a rriso n R e s e rv o ir and t a i l r a c e .
The number o f eggs produced by N orth Dakota sau g er f o r th e fo llo w in g age
c la s s e s was:
101,115.
age I I I - 13,168; IV - 25*932; V - 45*330; VI - 8 5 ,465; V I I -
The w eight o f o v a rie s in c re a s e d in p ro p o rtio n to th e t o t a l
le n g th and w eight o f fem ale sau g er from G a rris o n R e s e rv o ir and t a i l r a c e .
The number o f eggs ( t o t a l d ia m e te rs ) p e r l i n e a l in ch ranged from 15 to 21.
I n d iv id u a l egg d ia m e te rs ranged from 1 .0 to 1 .8 m illim e te r s (0 .0 4 - 0.07
in c h e s ) .
Sex R atio's
A t o t a l o f 1,466 sau g e r was used f o r sex d e te r m in a tio n s ; 721 o f
th e s e were from G a rriso n R e s e rv o ir and 745 from th e t a i l r a c e ^
d eterm in ed f o r an a d d itio n a l 92 immature sa u g e r.
p e rc e n t) fem ales and 419 (29 p e r c e n t) m ales.,
Sex was p o t
There were 1,047 (71
The sex r a t i o o f male to
fem ale (age c la s s e s I - T I!) in G a rris o n R e s e rv o ir was 1 :1 .2 and th e t a i l ra c e 1 :2 .3 .
The m ale to fem ale sex r a t i o o f sau g er from b o th l o c a l i t i e s
(age c la s s e s IV - VI) ranged from 1 :4 .0 to 1 :2 2 .0 .
Female sau g er were
more abundant th a n m ales in th e o ld e r age c la s s e s ,,
Ih o rd e r to d eterm in e s iz e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f male and fem ale sa u g e f,
le n g th s were a rra n g e d in I inch i n t e r v a l s (T able 7 ) .
Male sau g er from
G a rriso n R e s e rv o ir had a range in t o t a l le n g th o f 6 .7 to 18.6 in c h es and
th o se from th e t a i l r a c e 8 .4 to 1 8.4 in c h e s .
Female sau g e r from G a rriso n
R e s e rv o ir had a ran g e in t o t a l le n g th o f 5 .0 to 2 6 .5 in c h e s and th o se from
22 -
Tabi$ 7= S iz e freq u en cy ,Of male arid fem ale sau g er (1*466) from G arrison'
■ . ..
R e se rv o ir, and ta ilr a c e * - 1.959 a#d I9 6 0 .
■
■■ .
G a rriso n R e s e rv o ir
T a ilr a o e
T o ta l le n g th '
in inches. ^ V - ''
Male . Male
' '■ Female - 1;
Female
5 .0 - 5 ,9
3
6 .0 - 6=9
2
I
7 .0 - 7 .4
'l
I
8 ,0 — 8 .9
6
6
I
I
9 .0 - 9 ,9
3
6
8
2
IOdO r 10.9
' 10
6
16
25
11.0 - 11*9
24
16
35
47
1 2 .0 - 12,9 .
45
43
47
62
13,0 - 13,9
71
65
27
83
1 4 .0 - 14.9
37
83
34
113
15:0 - 15.9
20
67
7
100
1 6 .0 - 1 6.9
7
52
7
52
17.0 - 17.9
4
39
19%0 - 18.9
6
.
26
I
29
16
1 9 .0 - 1 9 .9
28
15
2 0 ,0 - 2 0 .9
25
8
21 d-0 - 21.9
8
6
2 2 .0 - 22.9
I
2
2
2 3 .0 ^ 23.9
2 4 .0 - 24.9
5
I
2 5 ,0 - 2549
26 i 0 T-. 2 6 ,9 .
T o ta l
.
■236
......
•. - I
485
rV
, ' : -I .
. .
.183
562
•: ' ,
-
th e t a i l r a c e 8 .9 to 2 6 .4 in c h e s .
23 -
No male satiger exceeded th e 18 inch
group and th e r e were o nly 13 fem ale sau g er in th e 22 in ch group and
la rg e r.
The male sau g e r from G a rriso n R e s e rv o ir were most numerous in th e
13.0 inch group w h ile th o se from th e t a i l r a c e were m ost numerous in th e
12.0 inch g ro u p .
The fem ale sau g er were m ost fre q u e n t in th e 14.0 in ch
group in bo th G a rris o n R e s e rv o ir and t a i l r a c e .
M a tu rity
M a tu rity o f sau g er was determ in ed by unaided v is u a l ex am in atio n o f
th e gonads and in a few in s ta n c e s by h i s t o l o g i c a l s tu d y .
The d eg ree o f
m a tu rity based upon g ro s s exam in atio n was d e sig n a te d a s fo llo w s :
im­
m ature - gonads sm all and undev elo p ed , no eggs o r sperm a p p a re n t; g reen gonads w e ll d e v elo p e d , eggs o r sperm a p p a r e n t, n o t lo o se in th e gonads;
r ip e - gonads la r g e , egg o r sperm a p p a r e n t, lo o se in gonads;
sp en t -
gonads' f la c c id w ith m ost eggs o r sperm r e le a s e d .
A h i s t o l o g i c a l exam in atio n o f th e gonads from 13 sau g er (5 m a le s, 8
fe m a les) was made to a s c e r t a i n t h e i r developm ent.
'“Immature" m ales (2 )
had t e s t e s which were sm all w ith th e lo b u le s only p a r t l y f i l l e d w ith
sperm.
" Immature" fem ales (4 ) a l l had d e v elo p in g ova in th e o v a r ie s .
A
"g reen " male had sw ollen t e s t e s and m ost Of th e lo b u le s c o n ta in e d sperm
w h ile a "g reen " fem ale had O varies w ith eggs o f n e a r ly maximum d ia m e te rs
(l.O - 1.3 m i l li m e t e r s ) .
A " r ip e " m ale had t e s t e s packed w ith sperm and
th e v e s s e ls in th e d o r s a l groove were e n la rg e d .
A " r ip e " fem ale c o n ta in e d
O varies w ith eggs o f maximum s iz e (1 .8 m illim e te r s ) and d ia la te d t r a n s -
-
y e rs e blood v e sse ls=
24 -
Gohads o f a " sp e n t" m ale Were re c e s s e d and had
broken blood v e s s e ls a s w e ll a s clumps o f sperm=
!’Spent", fem ales (2) had
re c e s s e d o v a rie s w ith la r g e amounts o f v a s c u la r t i s s u e and empty egg
fo llic le s d
D uring th e Spawning season (i9 6 0 ) th e s m a lle s t m ature male sauger
(g re e n apd r i p e ) frdm G a rrisp h R e s e rv o ir was 12=5 in c h e s in t o t a l le n g th
w h ile t h a t from th e t a i l r a c e was 10=6 inches=
The s m a lle s t m ature fem ale
from G striison R e s e rv o ir was 14=0 in c h e s in t o t a l le n g th and t h a t from th e
t a i l r a c e was 12=9 inches=
Deaspn (1933) and Roach (1949) re p o rte d op Ohio
sau g er and found th e s m a lle s t m ature m ales were 9=0 in c h e s and fem ales
11=5 inches=
H art (1928) gave 14=0 in c h e s a s th e s m a lle s t fem ales fo r
M anitoba sauger=
Ages were d eterm in ed f o r sau g er from G a rriso n R e s e rv o ir and th e t a i l race=
Only 21 p e rc e n t o f th e 3 -y e a r-o ld m ales and a l l o ld e r in d iv id u a ls
were mature=
N in e te e n p e rc e n t o f th e 3 -y e a r-o ld fe m a le s, 63 p e rc e n t o f
th e 4 - y e a r - o ld s , and a l l o ld e r th an 4 y e a rs were mature=
Kennedy (1949)
re p o rte d t h a t th e l a r g e s t number o f m ature male sau g er from M anitoba were
4 y e a rs Old and th e l a r g e s t number o f fem ales were 5 y e a rs = H a ssle r
(1958) found t h a t m ost m ature male and fem ale sau g er from Tennessee were
3 y e a rs old=
C a rla n d e r (1950) re p o rte d t h a t some m ature fem ale sauger
from M innesota were 4 y e a rs old=
The spawning season f o r sau g er in G a rriso n R e s e rv o ir and th e t a i l r a c e
p ro b a b ly e x ten d s from l a t e A p ril to th e end o f June =
ripe male was observed May 2 and fh e l a s t June 25=
In 1960$ th e f i r s t
The f i r s t r ip e fem ale
-
25 -
was found May 15 and th e l a s t on Ju h e 11.
season was from May 8 to May 2 8 .
The h e ig h t o f th e spawning
D uring th e spawning season w ater
te m p e ra tu re s ranged from 39° to 53° F.
Eschmeyer and Smith (1943) re p o rte d t h a t sauger d id n o t spavm when
w a ter te m p e ra tu re s were below 50° F.
They a ls o re p o rte d t h a t eggs in
o v a rie s were deformed when cold w ater te m p e ra tu re s m a in ta in e d .
T his con­
d i t i o n was h o t observed f o r saug er from G a rriso n R e s e rv o ir and th e t a i l race.
Taxonomic C o h s id e ra tib n s
D uring t h i s in v e s t ig a ti o n d i f f i c u l t y was en co u n tered in s e p a ra tin g
some o f th e s a u g e r 'and w a lle y e .
An e f f o r t was made to e s t a b l i s h c r i t e r i a
■fo r s e p a ra tin g saUger and w allbye and h y b rid s o f th e s e .
A t o t a l o f 564
s a u g e r, 90 w a lle y e , and 5 h y b rid s was s tu d ie d f o r tax,Onomic d if f e r e n c e s
and th e fo llo w in g c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s were O bserved:
s p o ttin g bn spinous
d o r s a l fin '; b la c k b lo tc h a t b ase o f l a s t two d o rs a l f i n s p in e s ; number o f
s o f t ra y s in second d o r s a l f i n ; sp o t a t b ase o f p e c to r a l fin # w hite sp o t
on low er p a r t o f caudal f i n ; a re a o f cheek covered by s c a le s '; number o f
l a t e r a l lin e s c a le s ; number o f p y lo r ic c a e c a ; number o f d ark sa d d le s on
b a ck .
The taxonom ic c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s used w ith some e x c e p tio n s were th o se
d e s c rib e d by B a ile y (1 9 5 6 ).
The sau g er c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f h y b rid s w ere:
sp o t a t b ase of p e c to r a l
f i n ; number o f p y lo r ic c a e c a ; number o f d ark sa d d le s on b ack .
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f h y b rid s w ere:,
The w a lley e
s p o ttin g on sp ip o u s d o r s a l f i n ; b la ck
b lo tc h a t b a se o f l a s t d o r s a l f i n s p in e ; w h ite sp o t on low er p a r t of
—
caudal f i n (T ab le 8 ) .
26 "*
O ther c h a r a c te r s were Abt d ia g n o s tic f o r h y b rid s .
Strdvid (1948) r e p o rte d t h a t h y b rid s from T ennessee g e n e r a lly ap p ear to
have w a lle y e - lik e h ead s and s a b g e r - lik e b o d ie s .
H ybrids from G arrispA R e se rv o ir and th e ta i l r a 'c e grew a t a p p ro x i­
m a tely th e same r a t e a s th e sau g er from th e same a re a .'
S tro u d (1948). r e ­
p o rte d th e grow th r a t e o f h y b rid s to be in te rm e d ia te betw een th a t Of th e
p a re n t s p e c ie s in T ennesseeSummary
I='
A stu d y On th e l i f e h i s t o r y and taxonomy o f sau g er in G a rriso n R eser­
v o i r , i t s t r i b u t a r i e s , and th e t a i l r a c e was i n i t i a t e d d u rin g Ju n e ,
■1959 and co n tin u ed tp J u l y , 1960.
2.
G a rriso n R e s e rv o ir i s a m u ltip le -p u rp o s e impoundment on th e mainstem
o f th e M isso u ri R iv er in N orth Dakota w hich, a t maximum p o o l, h a s a
le n g th o f a p p ro x im a te ly 200 m ile s , a S h o re lin e o f I* 600 m ile s , an a re a
p f 390,000 s u rfa c e a c r e s , and a s to ra g e c a p a c ity o f 2 3 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 a c re
fe e t.
3,
A t o t a l o f 1,558 saUgef was used in th e s tq d y .
These ranged in t o t a l
le n g th from 4.0 to 26.5 in c h e s .
4»
Age and grow th d e te rm in a tio n s were made on 529 sa u g e r.
5,
Male end fem ale sau g e r from G a rriso n R e s e rv o ir and th e t a i l r a c e showed
a p p ro x im a te ly eq u al grow th a t age c la s s e s I and I I , b u t fem ales were
la r g e r than, m ales in age c la s s e s I I I and o ld e r .
6.
The Overage c a lc u la te d t o t a l le n g th f o r sau g e r from G a rris o n R ese rv o ir
a t a n n u li I
VI. was 4 .9 , 8 .8 , 1 2 .3 , 15.5,- 1 8 .4 , and 2 3 .1 in c h e s r e -
27 -
-
T able 80
Taxonomic c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f 564 S au g er5 90 w a lle y e , and 5
sau g e r and w alley e h y b rid s from G a rriso n R e se rv o ir and t a i I r a c e 5
1959 and I960,
D ia g n o stic
c h a ra c te ris tic s
Sauger a n d '
w a lley e h y b rid s •
- i
«
-Same a s w alleye
Sauger
W alleye
S p o ttin g on spin o u s
d o rsa l fin
2 o r 3 rows o f
b la c k s p o ts
Some pigm enta­
tio n on s p in e s
B lack b lo tc h a t base o f
l a s t two d o r s a l f in
s p in e s
A bsent
P re s e n t
Black b lo tc h a t
base o f l a s t d o r­
s a l f i n sp in e
Number o f s o f t ra y s in
second d o r s a l f in
15 - 22
19-22
19 - 20
Spot a t b ase Of
p e c to r a l f i n
Dark sp o t
p re s e n t
L ig h t sp o t
p re s e n t
Dark s p o t p re s e n t
W hite sp o t on low er
p a r t o f caudal f in
A bsent "
P re s e n t
P re s e n t
Area o f cheek covered
by s c a le s
Naked to f u l l y
s c a le d
Naked to 75
p e rc e n t s c a le d
10 p e rc e n t sc a le d
Number o f l a t e r a l
l i n e s c a le s
79 - 91
80 - 89
83 - 92
Number Of p y lo r ic
caeca
4 - 6 unequal
le n g th
3 eq u al
le n g th
4 - 5 unequal
le n g th
Number o f dark sa d d le s
on ba ck
4
8
4
-
28 «
s p e c tiy e ly ? w h ile th o se from th e tax ! r a c e a t a n n u li I
V III were 4 /8 ,
9 0'3 9 I lo S s, 1 3 ,8 , 1 6 ,2 , ISs-T9 2 0 ,8 , arid 2 5 ,6 in c h e s r e s p e c tiv e ly ,
7,
There was l i t t l e d if f e r e n c e in th e c o e f f i c i e n t o f c o n d itio n (G) b e­
tween male and fem ale sau g er in b o th G a rriso n R e s e rv o ir and th e t a i l ra c e ,
8,
The number o f eggs e stim a te d f o r 50 in d iv id u a ls ranged from 10,488 to
I l7 j0 5 8 ,
9,
Sex d e te rm in a tio n s made on 1,466 sau g e r showed t h a t 71 p e rc e n t were
fem ales and 29 p e rc e n t m ales,
I O',
Only .21 p e rc e n t o f th e m ales and 19 p e rc e n t o f th e fe m a le s'w e re m ature
a t 3 y e a rs w h ile a l l m ales and 63 p e rc e n t o f th e fem ales were m ature
a t 4 y ears,
11«,
The spawning seaso n extended from May 8 to May 28 i.n 1960,
12,
A t o t a l Of 564 s a u g e r, 90 w a lle y e , and 5 h y b rid s was s tu d ie d fo r
taxonom ic d if f e r e n c e s .
L i te r a tu r e C ite d
Ba I l e y , Reeve M.
195.6,
id e n tific a tio n ,
B ajkov, A lex an d er,
R evised l i s t , o f th e f is h e s o f Iowa, w ith keys fo r
IoWa F is h and F is h in g ,
1930.
F is h in g in d u s try and f i s h e r i e s in v e s tig a tio n s
In th e p r a i r i e p ro v in c e s .
C a rla n d e r, Kenneth P»
IoWa .Cohs» Com.s327-377,
T ra n s, Am, F is h , S o c ., 60s 215.-237,
1942,. An i n v e s t ig a ti o n o f Lake o f th e Moods9 Minne­
so ta , w ith p a r t i c u l a r re fe re n c e to th e commercial f i s h e r i e s .
Minn,
B ur. F is h . R es. I n v e s t. R ep t. 42s. 534 pp„
...?-... .
1950.
Growth r a t e s tu d ie s o f s a u g e rs , S tiz o ste d iO n
-
29 -
canadense canadense • (S m ith) and y ello w p e rq h 9 Perea • f laves'cens
(M itc h e ll) from Lake o f th e Woods9 M innesota,
T ran s. Am. F is h . S d c .9
79 (1949 )$.. 3 0 -4 2 .
IDeason9 H ila ry J .
1933.
P re lim in a ry r e p o r t on th e growth r a t e 9 dom inance,
and m a tu rity o f p ik e -p e rc h e s ( S ti z o s te d io n ) o f Lake E r ie .
T ran s. Am.
F is h . S o c ., 63$ 348-360.
Eschm eyer9 Paul Hd
1950.
The l i f e h i s t o r y o f th e w a lle y e , S tiz o s te d io h
v itre u m v itre u m (M itc h e ll) in M ichigan.'
Michd D ept. C o h s., B uild
I n s t , F is h . R e s ., 3$ 1-99.
Eschm eyer, R, W, and Alden M, d o p es.
1941.
The grow th o f game f is h e s in
N o rris R e s e rv o ir d u rin g th e f i r s t f iv e y e a rs o f impoundments
T ran s,
Ns Am, W ild lif e C o P f 6$ 220-240.
Eschm eyer9 R. Wh apd G. G. Sm ith.
1943.
F is h spawPing below N o rris Dam,
JO ur. Tenn.. Aoad. S c id 9 18 ( l ) s 405,
Evermann9 B arto n S, and UlySs.es 0 , Cox.
th e M isso u ri R iv er B a sin .
G ir a r d 9 C h a rle s .
1858.
1928«
R eport upOP th e f is h e s .pf
R ep t. U, S» F is h . Comm. (1894)$ 325-429,
The f is h e s o f th e P a c if ic R a ilro a d S u rv ey s.
P a c if ic R a ilro a d R e p o rt.
H a r t9 John L,
1896=
VI (4 )s 9 -3 4 ; Xs 1-400.
Data on th e r a t e o f grow th o f p ik e p e rc h ( S tiz o -
s te d io P v itre u m ) and saUger (S tiz o s te d io n can ad en se) in O n ta rio ,
U niv, o f T oronto S t u d .9 B io l, S e r. 3 1 , P u b l, Opt, F is h . R es. L ab,,
34» 45-55.
H a s s le r 9 W illiam W.
1957.
Age and grow th o f sa u g e r, S tiz o s te d io P cana­
d e n se canadense (S m ith) in N o rris R e se rv o ir^ T en n essee.
Acad, S c i« 9 32 ( I ) , 5 5 -7 6 .
J o u r. Tenn.
' ''
^
146807
—
-T"'"'':'"' : '
.a -V-
o
1958.:
30 —
The f e c u n d ity s sex T atlQ 9 m a tu rity o f S auger9
S tlzo stQ d iO n canadense canadense (S m ith) in N o rris R ese rv o ir^
Tennesseea
Kennedy, W. A>
Jo u r’. Tenn. Acad. S c i . , 33 ( l ) s 32^-38.
1949.
R e la tio n s h ip 'o f le n g th , w e ig h t, and sex u a l m a tu rity
to age in th r e e s p e c ie s o f Lake M anitoba R ish4
B u ll. 81.8 1 -5 .
'
R e rs p n iu s , R obert G. and Samuel Eddy.
R iv e r.
Roach, Lee =
Can F is h . R es. Bd»
1955.
F is h e s o f th e L i t t l e M issp u ii
C p p eia, 1955 (l) s . 4 1 -4 3 .
1949.
S augers S tiz o s te d io h can ad en se.
Ohio Cons. B u l l . , 13
(2 ) s 13.
Simoh, Jamps R.
1946.
Wyoming f i s h e s ,
Wyoming Game and F ish D epartm ent.
B u ll. 4s 129 pp.
S m ith, C. G.
1941.
Egg p ro d u c tio n o f w a ll eye ..pike and s a u g e r.
N o rris
R e s e rv o ir f i s h d i f f e r frp'm some s p e c ie s in o th e r l o c a l i t i e s .
Prpg.
F i s h - C u l t ., 54§ 32-34.
S m ith, S . H.-
1954,
Method o f p ro d u cin g p l a s t i c im p re ssio n s o f f is h s c a le s
w ith o u t u sin g h e a t .
S tro u d , R ichard H=
1948,
P rog. F i s h - C u l t ,, 16 ( 2 ) s 75-78»
N otes on grow th o f h y b rid s betw een sau g er and
th e w a lley e ( S tiZ o s te d io n canadense canadense X S tiz O s te d io n v itreu m
v itre u m ) in N o rris R e s e rv o ir, T en n essee.
i- r",r :,iil
. - ' <i
1948,
C opeia, 1948 (4).s 297 t298»
R ate Of grow th and c o n d itio n o f game and p a n fis h
in CherOkee and D ouglas R e s e rv o irs , T ennessee apd H iw assee R e s e rv o ir,
N orth C a ro lin a .
J d u r » Tdnn= Acad. S c i , , 24 ( l ) s 60-74,
MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
CM
CO
CM
CO
Illllll
III IOC
111Il III 2Ill l3l
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L A.
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