Sea Grant 

 striped bass 



phase of a coordinated research effort 

 that began when Sea Grant scientists 

 proved they could produce IVa-pound 

 marketable fish within 18 months. 



But that wasn't enough. Hodson 

 knew that culturists like Brothers 

 would have plenty more questions. 



So he set out to refine methods for 

 managing the crop. 



Hodson created two scenarios. In 

 the first, a farmer might want to grow 

 hybrids on a small scale. He would 

 use an existing pond and avoid the 

 cost of additional equipment such as 

 an aerator to keep oxygen levels high. 



On such a small scale, Hodson 

 found the farmer could stock about 

 1,000 fish per acre. 



At the other extreme was a farmer 

 willing to spend thousands of dollars 

 on new ponds and equipment. He 

 would stock about 10,000 fish per 

 acre. At the end of the first year, he 

 would harvest the fish, sort them ac- 

 cording to size, and restock them at 

 4,000 to 4,500 fish per acre. If all 

 went well, the farmer could expect to 

 harvest as much as 5,000 pounds of 

 fish per acre at the end of the second 

 year of growth. 



Once Sea Grant researchers proved 

 that hybrids could be farmed, they 

 concentrated on producing hardier, 

 faster growing fish. 



That meant going beyond just 

 crossing striped bass with white bass. 

 Kerby and Huish learned how to 

 genetically manipulate the fish in an 

 attempt to improve production and to 

 develop a domesticated brood stock. 



Sea Grant researchers are still at 

 work on this problem. If they succeed 

 in developing a brood stock, it will 

 alleviate the need to collect scarce 

 wild fish and will streamline the pro- 

 duction of hybrids. 



Ron Hodson and lab assistant inject white bass 

 with hormones 



One of the biggest expenses in a 

 culture operation is feed for the fish. 

 The proper feed is not only cost effec- 

 tive for the culturist; it also results in 

 faster-growing fish. 



In her laboratory, Gallagher is 

 determining what the hybrid's protein 

 requirements are so she can recom- 

 mend the proper protein/energy ratio 

 for a feed. 



And at the NCSU School of 

 Veterinary Medicine, Ed Noga is work- 

 ing to assure that disease will not be a 

 problem for fish held in such close 

 quarters. 



When Huish and Kerby sold their 

 crop of hybrids, they proved the fish 

 was marketable. But the real payoff 

 for Sea Grant's hybrid research will 

 come in the fall of 1988 when 

 Brothers begins to harvest his first 

 crop. 



If he is successful, the state will 

 have a new industry. 



