Waccamaw Drainage Fishes 9 



specimens collected during a half-acre rotenone sample along the north- 

 east shoreline of the lake. We collected specimens from the lake on one 

 occasion. Stations: Id, 2b,c, 3, 5, 7, 8d, 9, 12, 21, 24, 25. 



Esocidae — pikes 



Esox americanus Gemlin, redfin pickerel. The redfin pickerel is 

 common throughout most of the system, except Lake Waccamaw where 

 it was rarely taken. Louder (1962a) reported nine specimens from near 

 the mouth of Second Creek along the northeast shore of the lake. Our 

 only collection from the lake was from an overflow area on the south- 

 eastern shore; most of our specimens were taken from standing (often 

 stagnant), weed-choked waters of small streams, canals, and occasionally 

 the main river channel. Stations: Id, 2a,b,c, 3, 5, 6, 8c, d, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 

 24, 25, 29a,c, 49, 50. 



Esox niger Lesueur, chain pickerel. This species is also common 

 throughout much of the area surveyed. Frey (1951) and Louder (1962a) 

 reported its presence in the lake. Our only specimen from the lake is a 

 large adult (400-500mm TL) found in a gill net set off the southeastern 

 shore. The main channel of the Waccamaw River and some of its larger 

 tributaries appear to support the best populations of chain pickerel. Sta- 

 tions: le, 2a,b,c, 3, 6, 7, 8c,d, 12, 19, 29a,c, 38, 40, 42, 46, 47, 50. 



Cyprinidae — minnows and carps 



Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, carp. Carp are reported by local residents 

 to be abundant in Lake Waccamaw. Indeed, the 1979 annual bow-fishing 

 tournament held at the lake produced 2,860 pounds of carp and longnose 

 gar. Despite these reports, we collected only three carp during our survey 

 and sighted several large adults at one of the canal stations. Louder 

 (1962a) listed this species for the first time from Lake Waccamaw, and 

 (1962b) also reported it from Bogue Swamp and White Marsh Swamp, 

 both tributaries to the Waccamaw River. In addition, R. H. Moore (pers. 

 comm.) reported carp from the lower sections of the river in South Carol- 

 ina. Stations: lb,i, 6, 7. 



Hybognathus regius Girard, eastern silvery minnow. Although the 

 eastern silvery minnow is common in the main channel of Waccamaw 

 River in South Carolina, our survey produced the first specimens from 

 the river in North Carolina. Specimens were collected in open sluggish 

 waters devoid of aquatic vegetation. Stations: 29a, 38, 39, 40, 42, 44, 46. 



Notemigonus crysoleucas (Mitchill), golden shiner. The golden 

 shiner occurs in a wide variety of habitats throughout the system, but 

 collections usually consist of only a few individuals. It was most often 

 encountered in standing water, and occasionally in the mainstream of the 

 river. Stations: la,b,c,e,g,h, 2a,c, 4, 6, 7, 12, 28, 38, 44. 



Notropis chalybaeus (Cope), ironcolor shiner. Ironcolor shiners 

 occur throughout most of the main channel of the Waccamaw River. 



