■47- 



Table 12 o Channel catfish growths at Heyburn and Upper Spavinaw compared with 

 growths made in other new Oklahone reservoirs. 



Average calculated total length 

 Size No» Dates in inches at end of year 



Name of Cond- in of coll- 12 3 4 5 



reservoir ition acres fish ected 



Heyburn Muddy 1,070 395 52-55 3.3 7,2 9,2 11=3 



Uppsr Spavinaw Clear 3,192 5 54-55 6.6 18 .S^ 



Ft. Gibson Clear 19,100 995 51-54 3.6 7.8 11.3 15,2 18.5 



Tenkiller Clear 12,500 171 1953 4ol 11.6 16.0 19.0 21„2 



Canton Inter- 4,900 101 50-52 3.7 7.9 11„5 16.4 



mediate 

 Wister Inter- 4,000 20 50-53 5.1 11.7 16.1 20.6 20.9 



mediate 



1 Comparative data from Finnell and Jenkins (1954). 



2 Represents a single specimen. _____^ _______^ 



year 21,1, and fourth year 28,3 inches. Heyburn first-year growth was exceeded 

 in only 7 of McCoy^'s 20 lakes, second-year growth in only five, third-year growth 

 in two, and fourth- year growth in only one. 



It seems evident that the flathead has a high tolerance if not an actual 

 predilection for turbid conditions. McCoy observed that turbidity had little 

 effect upon rate of growth in his studies, and Jenkins (1954) foiond flatheads 

 to exhibit faster growths in the shallower, more turbid sections of Grand Lake 

 than in the deeper, clearer waters o Heyburn flatheads certainly exhibited the 

 most favorable growth of any species studied. In addition, it was relatively 

 abundant, ranking 5th by weight, in rotenene collections; and all age and size 

 groups were well represented in the population. 



It is expected that the channel and flathead catfishes will provide the 

 best future fishing opportunities at Heyburn. Since it is extremely doubtful 



