-14- 



than redears in the 3 to 6 inch range (Table 3) is believed to have no sign- 

 ificance beyond the fact that the bluegills were larger and older than the 

 redears when stocked and therefore capable of greater initial spawning 

 activity in 1954., 



Relation of Turbidity to Growth of Fishes 



Growth of bass was most notably affected by the turbid conditions. 

 Effects on growth of redears and bluegills were consistent, but less pro- 

 nounced, and intraspecific competition in some instances appeared more in- 

 fluential on growth of sunfishes than turbidityo 



Growth data are presented from 33 ponds for the first year, and from 

 28 for the secondo Unless otherwise stated, the growths presented refer to 

 growth increments made by individuals of the original plant of fishes and 

 not to that of their progeny. The data are presented on the basis of average 

 turbidities, employing the same categories of clear, intermediate and muddy 

 ponds. Table 4 compares the average turbidities, with the average weight 

 increments made by individual fish at the end of each of the two growing 

 seasons. In order to consolidate the presentation, weighted averages were 

 computed for the length and weight increments made in the three categories 

 of ponds and the comparisons presented graphically in Figure 2. By the end 

 of the first growing season the bass in the clear ponds had increased their 

 individual weights approximately 6.4 times, those in the intermediate approx- 

 imately 4 times, and those in the muddy ponds only 1.26 times. Corresponding 

 growths in inches were 4.5 for the clear, 3.4 in the intermediate, and 1.5 

 in the muddy ponds. By the end of the second growing season the original 

 bass in the clear ponds had increased their average weight approximately 14 



