NEW MEXICO (Cont. ) 



A comparison of the catch of trout taken by day and night angling on the 

 Rio Grande is made to determine whether opening the trout season to night 

 angling would be detrimental. 



North central New Mexico; began April 1956, to close 1959; $9, 500; W. H. 

 Wolfrum, Leader. 



Address inquiries to: As in No. 1 above. 



3. Food Habits of Mergansers 



The objective of this project is to obtain information on the food habits of 

 the merganser with particular reference to ratio of game to non-game fish 

 entering the diet. Large numbers of these birds accumulate on certain New 

 Mexico Reservoirs. 



Statewide; began February 1954, to close 1957; $3,400; Austin A. Roberts, 

 Leader. 



Address inquiries to- As in No. 1 above. 



4. Fisheries Investigations of District No. 3 



A basic survey is under way concerning waters in Socorro, Bernalillo and 

 McKinley Counties south of Highway 66 and those waters in Catron, DOna Ana 

 and Sierra Coxxnties that are tributary to the Rio Grande River. This basic 

 fisheries survey is to determine the carrying capacity, food content, water 

 quality, and to provide a basis for readjusting the fish stocking policy. The 

 investigation also concerns waters requiring extensive management for trash 

 fish removal, stream and lake improvement, and reservoir development. 



An investigation is under way to determine a practical means of removing 

 rough fish from Elephant Butte Lake. This experimental work is to be done 

 with baiting or finding concentrations of rough fish in coves around the lake 

 and then using rotenone as the agent to kill the rough fish. Carp are principally 

 the fish to be removed in these experiments. 



Southwestern New Mexico; began 1954, to close 1957; $1,500; Earl H. 

 Huntington, Leader. 



Address inquiries to: As in No. 1 above. 



5. Fisheries Investigations of District No. 1 



A basic survey of the following drainage areas: Chama River, San Juan 

 River, Rio Los Pinos and Santa Clara Creek and that portion of the Rio Grande 

 between Otowi and Velarde. This survey determines the carrying capacity, food 

 content, water quality, and provides a basis for readjusting the fish stocking 

 policy. The investigation concerns waters requiring extensive management 

 for trash fish removal, stream and lake improvement, and reservoir develop- 

 ment. The cause of dorsal lesions on rainbow trout in some of the State trout 

 hatcheries is being investigated to determine whether solar radiation or basic 

 chemical composition might be a causing factor, as well as turbidity of the 

 water. A bacterial investigation of dorsal lesions is made to see whether any 

 of the antibiotics or sulfas might effect a cure. 



Northwestern New Mexico; began April 1956, to close 1959; $10,800; Alfred 

 W. Hill, Leader; reports available. 



Address inquiries to: As in No. 1 above. 



U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Branch of Game-fish and Hatcheries 



1. Development and Tests of Fish Loading Devices 



The objective is to procure, fabricate, and test equipment for loading fish 

 into tank trucks from production units, thereby reducing manual labor. Equip- 

 ment includes a modified California conveyor belt loader, a boom and container 



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