252 fish hatchery management 



Table 28. typical spring-summerfall supplemental feeding schedule for 

 channel catfish in ponds, based on stocking rates of 2,000-3,000 fish per 



acre.'' (SOURCE: STICKNEY AND LOVELL 1977.) 



DATE 



April 15 

 April 30 

 May 15 

 May 30 

 June 15 

 June 30 

 July 15 

 July 30 

 August 15 

 August 30 

 September 15 

 September 30 

 October 15 



The feed allowances are based on rations containing 36"ii protein and approximately 2.88 

 kcalories of digestible energy per gram of protein. If feeds of lower protein and energy con- 

 centrations are used, daily allowances should be increased proportionally. 



Fish are fed 6 days per week. 



LARGEMOUTH AND SMALLMOUTH BASS 



As long ago as 1924, fish culturists attempted to increase yield and survival 

 of smallmouth bass by providing a supplemental feed of zooplankton. 

 Ground fresh- fish flesh also was successfully used but costs were prohibi- 

 tive. These early attempts were discouraging but culturists have continued 

 to rear bass fry to fingerling size on naturally occurring foods in fertilized 



Table 29. feeding rates (percent body weight fed per day) for channel 



CATFISH fed a COMPLETE FEED (25% FLOATING, 75% SINKING FEED) IN RACEWAYS. 

 (SOURCE: KRAMER, CHIN AND MAYO 1976.) 



SIZE (INCHES) 

 1-2 2-5 5-1- 



WEIGHT (POUNDS) 

 WATER 

 TEMPERATURE 0.001-0.004 0.004-0.04 0.04 



Below 55°F 1% 1% 1% 



At 55°F 3% 2% 1.5% 



Above 55T 5% 3% 2% 



