Fishing for Sale 261 



1959, and continued until October 6, and 5 catfisli and 3 bass represented 

 a limit for a permit. Feeding in 1959 was continued at a somewhat lower 

 rate than in 1958 ( 16 pounds per acre per day in 1959 as compared with 

 an average of about 20 pounds in 1958). Fishing in March, 1959 was poor, 

 but it picked up in April and was very good in May and June. Late in 

 June the fishing again became poor and remained so for the rest of 

 the season. 



In the experiment extending from September of 1958 to October of 

 1959, 579 fishermen per acre caught 1241 channel catfish weighing 1292.5 

 pounds per acre, plus an additional poundage of bass and miscellaneous 

 other fish, making a total of 1356.4 pounds per acre. The rate of catch 

 of channel catfish by months ranged from 0.58 to 0.08 pound per hour, 

 averaging about 0.30 pound per hour (about the same as in the first 

 experiment). When the pond was drained in December, it contained 180 

 additional channel cats per acre, weighing 391.2 pounds. Bass, bluegills, 

 and other fish raised the total to 508.3 pounds per acre. 



Fishing permits furnished income of $593.37 per acre. Sale of dressed 

 catfish remaining (234.7 pounds dressed weight at $.60 per pound) was 

 $140.82, making a total income of $734.19. Total cost for fertilizer, feed, 

 and fingerlings was $481.46, leaving a return of $252.73 per acre for labor 

 and capital. 



Some possibilities for the spread of diseases and parasitic infestations 

 are present in ponds where fish are fed artificially, but they probably are 

 not as great as in catch-out ponds. In both types of ponds the concentra- 

 tion of fishes is abnormally high. However, fish receiving artificial food 

 are well-nourished and are not under the stresses of adjustment to a lower 

 carrying capacity; therefore they might be expected to show greater 

 resistance to some diseases, and to the effects of heavy parasitic in- 

 festations. 



Floating Fishing Docks 



Floating fishing docks that are heated in winter have revolutionized 

 wdnter fishing on many of the large reservoirs, particularly in the south- 

 west. These docks originated in the 1950's on 46,000-acre Grand Lake O' 

 The Cherokees and on 92,000-acre Lake Texoma in Oklahoma where 

 there are now more than 100 of these enterprises.^^ 



A floating fishing dock (Figure 9.1) usually consists of a rectangular 

 floating barge with a rectangular opening in the center surrounded by 

 a waist-high railing. The entire barge is covered by a structure which 

 completely encloses it. Windows along the sides and ends let in light 

 during the day. At night electric lights are turned on, and during cold 

 w^eather the pier is heated. Some barges are supplied with television and 

 lunch counters to serve the guests. Fishermen stand, or sit on upholstered 



