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E. W. Surber

Publications and source records attributed to E. W. Surber.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS1947

Results of varying the ratio of largemouth black bass and bluegills in the stocking of experimental farm ponds

During the period 1943 to 1946, several combinations of largemouth black bass (Micropterus salmoides) and bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) were stocked in ponds on the station grounds at Leetown, West Virginia. These ponds were fertilized with 12–5–5, inorganic fertilizer, but when water blooms failed to control the submerged vegetation, sodium arsenite or copper sulfate was occasionally used for this purpose. Bluegill‐bass ratios varying from 8:1 to 15:1 were used. Inventories of ponds showed that approximately 199 pounds of edible fish per acre could be produced annually in well managed ponds at Leetown regardless of the stocking ratio employed. The average size of bluegills varied inversely with the number stocked. The smallest bluegills, produced in the 15:1 bluegill‐bass ratio, averaged about 5.7 inches in fork length, compared with about 6.5 inches from the 8:1 ratio. Largemouth bass failed to make good growth in the 15:1 ratio, averaging only 9.3 inches compared with 10.2 inches in the 8:1 ratio. The fact that in two ponds 71 percent of the largemouth black bass in the original stocking were removed during a brief period suggests that good pond management may include removal of the fish in the same ratio as the original stocking, to assure maintenance of a balance of species.

Transactions of the American Fisheries Society↗
USGS1946

Relative toxicity of suspension and oil formulations of DDT to native fishes in Back Creek, West Virginia

On July 23, 1947, a 1‐mile section of Back Creek, treated the previous year with a DDT suspension with little damage to fish, was re‐treated with an oil spray at the same rate (1 pound per acre). The oil spray killed about six times as many fish as the suspension formula. Fish began dying within 3 to 4 hours after treatment, whereas several days elapsed before mortality began with the suspension formula in 1946. In addition to larger numbers of the minnow species, some adult game fish were killed. Losses of fish were not as great below the sprayed section as when a suspension formula was used, probably because a good part of the DDT was drifted ashore by breezes or by water currents. Some species of fish such as bluntnose minnows (Hyborhynchus notatus), chub suckers (Erimyzon oblongus), and pickerel (Esox niger), although numerous, were relatively unaffected. Considerable mortality of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) occurred in liveboxes placed in the sprayed section, particularly at the lower stations. Largemouth bass nearly 4 inches long survived at a station where 54.0 percent of the 2‐inch bass were killed. This fact supplied some positive evidence that fish of larger size are better able to withstand DDT.

West Virginia↗
USGS1944

Variations in nitrogen content and fish production in smallmouth black bass ponds

Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and organic nitrogen were determined at 10‐day intervals for 24 ponds at Leetown, West Virginia. These ponds were stocked with 15,000 smallmouth black bass fry per acre and all fish reared in them were counted individually and weighed when the ponds were drained after an average season (during 1943) of 105 days. The purpose of the study was to determine what correlations, if any, existed between fish production and the nitrogen content of the water. Correlations between ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate nitrogen and fish production were not evident. Larger quantities of these forms of nitrogen were present during the first half of the pond season than during the latter half. A positive correlation was found between the organic‐nitrogen content of the water and fish production. This form of nitrogen, probably as a result of plant decay, was present in larger quantities during the latter half of the season than during the early season. Ponds which averaged 0.56 and 0.65 pounds of bass per acre per day had average organic‐nitrogen contents of 0.494 and 0.434 p.p.m. Ponds averaging 1.69 and 1.79 pounds of bass per acre per day averaged 0.811 and 0.746 p.p.m. of organic nitrogen, respectively.

Transactions of the American Fisheries Society↗
USGS1942

Scyphidia tholiformis, a peritrichous protozoan found on the gills and external surfaces of Micropterus dolomieu and Micropterus salmoides

Scyphidia tholiformis is an urn‐shaped peritrichous protozoan measuring about 59 microns in length and 35 microns in width. It possesses a double row of cilia about one‐third of the distance from the anterior end of the body and has a large scopula which is variable in shape and provides a large surface for attachment. The macronucleus is long and band‐like, and makes a semicircle beneath the peristome from which it extends into the lower part of the body. The small, ovoid micronucleus is located near the middle of the body. The organism is found on the external body surfaces and the gills of large‐mouth and smallmouth black bass. Its relationship to its host is probably that of an ecto‐commensal, but there is further evidence that these organisms may indirectly cause mortality among bass. The organism is interesting because of the manner in which it becomes dome‐shaped when it leaves its host, causing it to resemble Trichodina. In this form, locomotion is accomplished by means of the central cilia. It reproduces by longitudinal binary fission and cojugation of anisogametes.

Transactions of the American Fisheries Society↗
USGS1942

Observations on the natural and artificial propagation of the smallmouth black bass, Micropterus dolomieu

Counts of smallmouth black bass nests in the same sections of the South Branch of the Potomac, the Cacapon, and the Shenandoah Rivers are reported over a period of several seasons. The 4‐year record for the South Branch of the Potomac indicates little change in the smallmouth black bass population. The number of nests varied between 50.7 and 73.2 and averaged 58.1 for each mile of stream. The results of fry counts from wild nests showed an average of 2,159 fry in each nest in the South Branch of the Potomac, 2,210 in the Cacapon River, and 1,998 in the Shenandoah River. One important characteristic of natural propagation in these rivers is the simultaneous occurrence of spawning in any section of stream having similar conditions. Evidence is supplied to support the theory that a long, drawn‐out spawning season in artificial ponds is due to annoyance of the brood fish. The importance of attendance by the male fish at the nest is pointed out. Examples in pond culture are given to demonstrate that there are other factors involved in the spawning of smallmouth black bass besides temperature. These factors are annoyance, over‐crowding of the brood fish, and lack of provision for greater individual privacy among the brood bass during their spawning season. In general, productivity of fry apparently increases with age and size of the brood fish.

Maryland↗
USGS1940

Scyphidia micropteri, a new protozoan parasite of largemouth and smallmouth black bass

A small urn‐shaped peritrichous protozoan, apparently an undescribed species, was found on the gills and bodies of largemouth and smallmouth black bass in ponds at Leetown, West Virginia. A heavy mortality among a lot of fingerling largemouth bass probably resulted from suffocation due to the organisms on the gills. Specimens of the parasite, preserved in formalin, measured about 57 microns in length and 24 microns in maximum width. The base of the animal consists of a circular disc about 6 microns in diameter. No evidence was found that the sucker‐like attachment disc penetrated the epidermal cells of the host causing necrotic tissue. The anterior or upper end of the animal has a ciliary disc and two rows of cilia. The body is without cilia and is annulared. The macronucleus is very large, has the shape of an inverted cone and occupies much of the lower half of the body. The small micronucleus apparently lies in the slightly concave surface of the upper part of the macronucleus, although there is doubt on this point. This new species was named Scyphidia micropteri after Micropterus, the generic name of the smallmouth black bass, one of its hosts. The species recently was found by Dr. H. S. Davis on gills of largemouth black bass collected in Radnor Lake, Tennessee, which indicates a wide geographical distribution of the parasite.

Transactions of the American Fisheries Society↗