Fishes of the Smoky Hill River, Kansas

Home , Cedar Bluff Reservoir, River carpsucker, Smoky Hill River

ROBERT C. SUMMERFELT

Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science, Vol. 70, No. 1, 1967 This issue was published August 18, 1967 Fishes of the Smoky Hill River, Kansas'

ROBERT C. SUMMERFELT

Introduction The ichthyofauna of many major rivers in Kansas, for example, the Neosho and Marais des Cygnes (Deacon, 1961, Wakarusa, Deacon and Metcalf, 1961) and the Big Blue (Minckley, 1959) have been given at least preliminary study. Recently, Metcalf (1966) summarized previous literature and museum collections of fishes from the Kansas River system and has provided distribution maps for 51 species of fishes. The purpose of the present paper is to describe the kinds, relative abundance, standing crops and seasonal variation in abundance of fishes obtained from 62 collecting trips from eight stations on the Smoky Hill River between May, 1965 and August, 1966, in order to expand our knowledge of fishes in Kansas and the Great Plains. Also, sections of the Smoky Hill River, above, parallel to and below the Cedar Bluff Irrigation District, are being studied as part of a comprehensive evaluation of possible pesticidal con- tamination of soil, water, wildlife and fish resulting from intensification of agriculture and increased use of pesticides associated with irrigation in this area.2. This report, therefore, represents a published record of the population composition of the river during the initial stages of development of agricultural irrigation in the Cedar Bluff Irrigation District.

Methods Fishes were collected by electrofishing, seining and trotline fishing. Trotline fishing and seining were used merely to supplement the electrofishing and to measure the sports fishing potential of the river. The data (Tables 1-9) pertain only to fishes collected by electrofishing. In order to provide a basis for a seasonal or annual study of variation in relative abundance and to follow long-term trends in the population, fishes were collected as a standard unit of effort by electrofishing a 100-yard section of river at each visitation to a station. A 230-volt, 3,000-watt, 60-cycle alternating current generator was used to provide power for two elec- trodes. All stunned fishes captured with dip nets were counted and preserved except large ones like carp, river carpsucker and channel catfish

Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science, Vol. 70, No. 1, 1967. Published August 18, 1967. 1 Contribution Number 395, Department of Zoology, Kansas State University. 2 Regional Research Project, NC-85, entitled, "Reduction of Hazards Associated with the Presence of Residues of Insecticidal Chemicals in the Environment." [102] Fishes of the Smoky Hill River, Kansas 103 which were identified in the field, weighed, measured and released. Each 100-yard section of the river was permanently marked with metal fence posts to establish a standard unit of effort as one thorough coverage of 300 feet of river by electrofishing. The same effort was duplicated as closely as possible for each collection. All fishes returned to the laboratory for study were either fixed in 10% formalin or frozen with dry ice. Fishes fixed in formalin were later preserved in 40% isopropanol. Frozen fishes were used for pesticidal analysis. The fishes were identified with the aid of taxonomic keys of Bailey (1951), Moore (1957), Eddy (1957) and Trautman (1957). Meristic characters, body dimensions and proportions were made according to the methods of Hubbs and Lagler (1958). At each visitation, the stream width, depth, and flow, temperatures of air and water and several general measures of water quality were determined. The stream flow was determined by the method of Robins and Crawford (1954) as described by Lagler (1956). Turbidity was determined by use of the Jackson candle turbidimeter; dissolved oxygen by the Alsterberg, azide modification of the Winkler method, free carbon dioxide and total alkalinity by titration. Hydrogen ion activity was determined colorimetrically. All methods were in accord with those of the American Public Health Association (1955).

Description of Stations All collections were made between 29 May 1965 and 6 August 1966. Collection sites, designated with Arabic numerals, are shown in Figure 1. Except for certain spring-fed tributaries, most maps show the river as being intermittent west of sta. 1, except at times of above average rainfall. No attempt was made to study the tributaries of the river; however, a single collecion was obtained by Mr. Joe D. Cramer in August, 1966, from Salt Creek, a spring-fed tributary between stations 1 and 2 located 6.5 miles north and 3.5 miles west of Healy, Kansas: Lane County, sec. 8, T. 16 S., R. 30 W. The data pertaining to each station are summarized in Table 1. A longitudinal gradient in width and particularly in stream flow occurs from west to east. The lower end of the river was generally wider and had a higher volume of flow. The water temperature at sampling time was generally within one or two degrees of the air temperature. The midsummer water temperatures were as high as 36 C, because of the general scarcity of cover and lack of significant tributary springs. 0

Pill 101' 100. 9 9.

NORTH Transactions Kansas Academy of Science

OAK SOLOMON

RIVER

MILFORD RESERVOIR

RUMIELL SHRINES JUNCTION CITY

ABILENE

SMOKY HILL RIVER

2 CEDAR BLUFF RESERVOIR

KANOPOLIS RESERVOIR

941. 97.

Figure 1. Smoky Hill River, Kansas, its major tributaries and impoundments. Solid circles indicate major cities, open circles and numerals indicate the eight collecting stations. Table 1. Means and ranges of width, depth, stream flow and physico-chemical characteristics of the Smoky Hill River, Kansas between May 1965 and August, 1966. Number Stream Temperature Alkalinity Station of Depth Width flow °C. Turbidity D.O. CO2 p.p.m. number samples (ft) (ft) (cfs) Air Water units pH p.p.m. p.p.m. CaCO3 ti 1 1 0.33 63 19.9 32.0 31.0 310 7.9 6.4 3.2 220 ,.,, --- 22.2 19.4 389 7.9 8.0 4.2 138 ,.., 2 17 0.38 47 25.9 o 8-115 0.5-103 4-32 1-30 25-5500 7.4-9.3 4.8-13.5 0.0-8.4 74-280 ---+.. .16-.76 ,.,,. co 3 17 0.90 37 22.7 24.3 21.6 43 8.0 ' 8.6 2.4 138 (...., 1-32 25-150 7.4-9.2 6.0-10.0 0.0-6.0 74-180 .48-1.43 18-125 4.8-81 1-35 o ....ar. 4 18 0.72 44 30.6 22.4 19.9 53 7.9 8.6 3.7 138 ...... 36-1.40 29-49 10.2-93.4 -4-29 0-33 25-192 7.3-8.8 6.0-14.4 0.0-7.5 66-200 ,-. Pz1 5 4 0.83 39 53.1 36.0 30.7 42 8.6 8.3 0.0 74 ..... ,c. .66-.91 38-40 17.2-109 32-39 28-33 32-51 8.4-8.8 7.8-8.8 0.0 66-67 ,:t

6 3 0.90 66 74.9 37.7 31.0 51 8.6 7.9 1.2 125 ;4

.66-1.06 46-86 35-115 32-43 27-36 37-65 7.7-9.6 7.0-8.8 0.0-2.4 85-164 A

7 2 0.93 101 108.4 26.0 25.5 54 7.6 7.3 2.5 140 .84-1.02 86-116 102-115 21-31 23-28 48-49 7.5-7.6 7.2-7.8 2.2-2.7 130-140

8 4 1.40 318 688 31.3 27.6 2100 7.9 8.2 0.0 228 .58-2.10 196-387 138-1219 21-42 23-31 80-6000 7.4-8.5 6.8-9.2 0.0 94-310 •-■ 106 Transactions Kansas Academy of Science

The stations are described as follows: Station 1. Logan County, sec. 23, T. 13 S., R. 35 W., east of the highway bridge 0.5 mile south of Russell Springs on highway 25. A single fish collection was obtained 6 July, 1965; the stream was dry when visited 6 June, 1966. The stream bed was wide with low banks; the south bank of the stream had a stand of mature cottonwood trees, whereas the north bank had grasses, herbs and willows. The river bottom consisted of fine sand with some silting in the more sluggish areas. The station had less depth and strearn6aw than any o'her station (Table 1). Station 2. Trego Cnnty, ECC. 29, T. 14 S., R. 24 W., approximately 15 miles south and 7 west of Wakeeney on the east side of the bridge on Trego County rcad 462. seventeen fish collections were made: 10 and 24 June, 8 and 22 July, 5 and 20 August, 2 September, 21 November, and 20 December, 1965; 27 March, 24 April, 15 May, 6 and 24 June, 9 and 29 July, and 8 August, 1966. The banks were wide and the water was generally quite shallow with no pools, undercut banks, or bank cover (Figure 2). The stream bottom was deep sand with some silt and pebbles. Wide fluctuations in depth, width, stream flow and turbidity were recorded for this station. During the summer of 1966 the river nearly disappeared at this station and the water depth was only 0.16 ft. and the width only 8 ft. Even at the lowest level the river contained large numbers of minnows and killifish. Station 3. Trego County, sec. 34, T. 14 S., R. 21 W., 6.4 river miles clzwastream from Cedar Bluff Dam. Seventeen fish collections were made: 10 and 24 June, 8 and 22 July, 5 and 20 August, 2 September and 11 November, 1965; 27 March, 24 April, 15 May, 6 and 24 June, 9 and 29 July and 8 August. The river closely parallels the south bank and approximately 50% of the river is shaded by willows and cottonwood trees (Figure 3). The river bed south of channel consisted of large sand and rubble deposits. The north half of the river bed, not utilized during normal flow, had been underging succession and contained shrubs, small willows and young cottonwood trees. The upper portion of the station was mostly riffles and scouring basins but the lower half consisted of undercut banks and a succession of small pools. The river bottom in the upper portion consisted of sand and fine gravel; the middle area had silt over sand and small rubble; and the lower portion had a deep silt and mucky bottom. The variations in water level, stream flow and turbidity at this station were generally lower than those of most others. This observation is demonstrated by the lower average and smaller variation in stream flow than at other stations (Table 1). The stability of this Fishes of the Smoky Hill River, Kansas 107 station is most obviously related to the large reduction in watershed afforded by proximity to the dam. Beaver dams located near the middle and at the lower end of the station affected the course of the river and pool development at this station. Station 4. Ellis County, sec. 17, T. 15 S., R. 19 W., 3 miles west and 2.7 miles south of Antonino, Kansas, 12.5 river miles east of Cedar Bluff Dam and 9.3 river miles downstream from station 3. Seventeen collections were made: 30 May, 10 and 24 June, 8 and 22 July, 5 and 19 August, 2 September and 19 December, 1965; 26 March, 23 April, 15 May, 7 and 23 June, 8 and 28 July, and 5 August. The north bank of the upper two-thirds of the station was formed by a bluff with rock layers grading into the river bottom. Consequently, this was the only station where at least a part of the river bottom was stable bed rock rather than shifting sand. Overhanging trees and shrubs were present in a few areas, such as the south bank in the upper portion of the station (Fig. 4), but only limited shade covered the station as a whole. The river bottom in the upper half of the station was composed of shifting sand, and small rubble. The downstream portion of the station, where the current was slower, displayed some silting. Much slate was distributed about the lower two-thirds from the outcropping on the north bank. Because of the higher banks and deeper channel, heavy rains produced a sharp increase in depth but the channel width did not vary as much as at other stations. Station 5. Ellis County, sec. 25, T. 15 S., R. 19 W., on the right side of the bridge on a section road, 4.25 miles south of Antonino. This station is 18.9 river miles downstream from Cedar Bluff Dam, 12.5 river miles downstream from sta. 3 and 3.2 miles from sta. 4. Four collections were made: 24 June, 8 and 28 July and 5 August, 1966. The north bank of the river is represented by a bluff although when the collections were made, the river channel was 100 yards from the bluff on the west or upper end of the station, and gradually approached the bluff at the east, or lower end. The south bank was covered with a dense growth of young willow and cottonwood trees. The bottom of the river channel was shifting sand and small rubble. There was only one pool at the west end of the station, partly shaded and with an undercut bank. Most of the river at this station was of shallow riffles. The river was stable during the four samplings in 1966 when width varied only from 38 to 40 ft. and turbidities from 32-51 units. Station 6. Ellsworth County, sec. 29, T. 15 S., R. 8 W., 0.5 mile south of Ellsworth on the west side of the bridge on highway 45. The 108 Transactions Kansas Academy of Science Fishes of the Somky Hill River, Kansas 109 river was out of its banks during the early part of the summer of 1965 and the station was sampled on 26 August, 1965 and again on 26 August, 1966. When at normal water flow, the river flowed along its south bank (Figure 5), the top of which was 10-15 ft. above the river bed of sand and fine gravel. About one-half of the river along the south bank was shaded by a dense growth of mature cottonwood and willow trees, whereas the north bank consisted for the most part of a sandy beach. The current was sufficiently slow to designate the supper half of the station as a large pool. A heavy phytoplanktonic bloom was observed at the first visit but on the second the water was brown and had odors of decay and large quantities of drifting organic matter, presumedly from the domestic sewage. Station 7. McPherson County, sec. 22, T. 17 S., R. 5 W., 13 river miles below the Kanopolis Dam and west of the bridge on highway 4 two miles west of Marquette, Kansas. The river was bank full during the early part of the summer of 1965 and sampling was done only on 26 August and 14 September, 1965. One visitation was made to the river on 30 July, 1966, but the river was again bank full and could not be sampled at that time. Thus, unlike sta. 3, which benefited from the Cedar Bluff Dam because of the low outflow but continuous supply of water, the outflow of the Kanopolis Reservoir was more variable and frequently produced high water and flood-type conditions at this station. The banks were densely lined with trees and these shaded approximately 10% of the river channel when at low level (Figure 6). Sand and fine gravel formed the river bed throughout most of the station. Several deeper pools formed near the log flotsam, but because of large fluctuations in water level with outflow from the dam, these pools were completely random and variable. Station 8. Geary County, sec. 7, T. 12 S., R. 6 E., 0.25 mile south- west of the bridge on highway I 70; 6.4 miles upstream from the confluence of the Republican and Smoky Hill rivers. Four collections were made: 27 August and 14 September, 1965; 18 May and 11 July, 1966.

41E- Figure 2 (upper). Appearance of station 2 on the Smoky Hill River, 1.9 August 1965, looking east. Figure 3 (middle). Station 3 on the Smoky Hill River, 22 July 1965, looking east and showing extensive shading and undercut banks along the lower one-half of the station. Figure 4 (lower). Smoky Hill River, station 4, 22 July 1965, upper end of the station (marked with a metal post in the background) showing on the left bank an undercut bank and debris where channel catfish were generally taken. The pool in the foreground frequently contained river carpsucker and carp. 110 Transactions Kansas Academy of Science

Grass and shrub covered the earthen levies which formed the banks (Fig. 7), but the river was without cover. Only a few small pools were present near junk automobile bodies along one bank, but most of the river within 300 ft. of the station was composed of swift riffles with shifting sand and fine gravel bottoms. The river at this point was wider than any of the upstream stations. The silt load was generally high and the water quite turbid (Table 1).

Species Diversity Thirty species of fishes were collected from eight stations on the main stream of the Smoky Hill River in 62 collections, totaling 13,959 specimens (Table 2). In addition to these, one collection (104 specimens), in August, from Salt Creek, a spring-fed tributary in Lane County, included, in addition to fathead minnows, creek chub, red shiner, sand shiners, carp and yellow bullheads, 10 specimens (9.62% of that collection) of white sucker. No white or black crappie were collected in the Smoky Hill River, although they are present in Kanopolis Reservoir and probably, on occasion, enter the river. Although the golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) was not collected in the present study, it was reported from in or near Cedar Bluff Reservoir by Metcalf (1961). Also, because of the widespread use of the golden shiner as a bait minnow, it may be occasionally released by fisherman. Goldfish, Carassius auratus, were not collected, but because of their occasional use as a bait fish and their popularity in home aquaria and fish ponds it may sometimes be found in the river. The blacknosed shiner, Notropis heterolepis, was reported from the Smoky Hill River at Wallace, Kansas by Hubbs (1951) as reported by Metcalf (1966) but apparently the species was extirpated from the river years ago. Three specimens of the sturgeon chub, Hybopsis gelida, were collected on 9 May, 1964, from the Smoky Hill River near Junction City, Kansas (Metcalf, 1966:10), very near Sta. 8. However, no sturgeon chubs were collected in four trips to Sta. 8 and the species must be rare in the Smoky Hill River. Additional species occur as relict fauna of old distribution patterns in certain spring-fed creeks which receive discharge from the Ogallala

Figure 5 (upper). Station 6 on the Smoky Hill River near Ellsworth, Kansas, 26 August 1965 looking upstream (west). Figure 6 (middle). Station 7 on the Smoky Hill River located 13 river miles below the Kanopolis Dam. Note the muddy banks, mud flat and extensive debris. Figure 7 (lower). Smoky Hill River station 8 located near Junction City, 6.4 miles upstream from the confluence of the Republican and Smoky Hill River. Fishes of the Smoky Hill River, Kansas 111 112 Transactions Kansas Academy of Science

formation in western Kansas. Collections of this type from Rose Creek and the Smoky Hill River near Wallace, Wallace County, have been summarized by Metcalf (1966:43 and 60) and include five species not found in the present study: hornyhead chub (Hybopsis bigutta), common shiner (Notropis cornutus), river shiner (Notropis blennius), brassy minnow (Hybognathus hankinsoni) and the Topeka shiner (Notropis topeka). Collectively, 42 species of fishes may occur in the Smoky Hill River, if one includes with the 31 species collected in the present study, those of possible occurrence, mentioned above, and the five additional species reported by Metcalf (1966) from western Kansas, the sturgeon chub from the lowermost pare of the mainstream and the blacknosed shiner. An account of only acutal collections of fishes which probably represent reproducing populations of species now in existance would delete the crappies, golden shiner, goldfish and blaclmosed shiner and leave a total of 37 species of fishes in the Smoky Hill River and its tributaries. This number compares with 45 species in the Big Blue River Basin of Kansas (Minckley, 1959) and 45 species from the Wakarusa River (Deacon and Metcalf, 1961) which are both in the Kansas River Basin. There is apparently greater species diversity in rivers and streams of the eastern half of the state than the western portion, for, whereas Kilgore and Rising (1965) reported only 22 species from southwestern Kansas in the Arkansas and Cimarron river drainages, Metcalf (1959) found 50 species in south-central Kansas from the Chautauqua, Fowley and Elk counties. Also, in the Neosho and Marais de Cygnes River Basin, Deacon (1961) reported 55 species and Cross (1954), in the same river basin, reported 41 species from Cedar Creek and the South Fork of the Cottonwood River. In the Smoky Hill River, 20 was the largest number of species collected at any given station over the period of the study (Table 2) although 18 species was the maximum number taken at a station on any given date (Tables 3, 4, 5 and 6). Twenty species were collected from stations 2 and 4 (Table 2) from collections made in 1965 and 1966, and 18 species were collected at station 4 on a single date (Table 6: 28 July, 1966. The collection of 20 species from station 2 would not be anticipated by the habitats provided at this station (Figure 2). The river was shallow, average depth of only 0.38 ft., with shifting sandy bottom and subject to extremes in turbidity, 25 to 5,500 units, and stream flow, frOm 0.5 to 103 cfs. However, the effectiveness of the electrofishing gear was generally good at sta. 2 because of the narrow channel and as a result the average number of specimens was high (Table 2). The collection of Fishes of the Smoky Hill River, Kansas 113

20 species at sta. 2, in the Dissected High Plains District of Kansas, was also unexpected because Metcalf (1966: 42) reported that collections in this area rarely contain more than 10 species of fishes and collections containing 13 to 16 species have been reported previously almost exclu- sively only where spring-fed streams occur. The collection of only 8 species at sta. 1 was more typical in regard to species diversity for this area although, when considered for a single date, the maximum number of species taken at station 2 was only 13 (Table 4, 27 March) and the average was only 8.1 species per collection. The proximity of sta. 2 to Cedar Bluff Reservoir, only 8.3 river miles upstream from the west end of the reservoir, is a contributing factor to the species diversity at this station. Species such as the gizzard shad and white bass are obviously derived from fish stockings made in the reservoir and the reservoir largely provides the source of carp, river carpsucker and largemouth bass as well as having some influence on the presence of channel catfish. The largest numbers of specimens were obtained from the stations most intensively sampled and conversely the smallest numbers of species were obtained from stations represented by only a single collection. There was no apparent longitudinal variation in numerical abundance of species although stations 2, 3 and 4, which were also the most intensively studied, had the largest number of species and were predominantely clear- water sections of river as compared to the more turbid water with large fluctuations characteristic of stations 5, 6, 7 and 8 (Tables 1 and 2). The limitations on sta. 1 are probably the annual vernal floods and summer drought. Numerical abundance of species should also be considered in light of the number of specimens collected. The diversity index, a ratio of the number of species to the number of specimens collected (Odum, 1959: 281-283) is influenced by variation in collecting effort but it is revealed in the present analysis that sta. 1 had the most diverse fauna and stations 2, 3 and 4, the most intensively sampled stations, with the largest number of species collected, had the poorest diversity index. Thus, the diversity index reveals that stations 2, 3 and 4 are numerically represented by a large number of individuals of four or five species (sand shiner, red shiner, stoneroller, plains killifish and bluntnose minnow) and that a large percentage of the species are rare (bullheads, largemouth bass, stonecat, gizzard shad, plains minnow, suckermouth minnow, creek chub, bluegill, orangespotted sunfish and orangethroat darter). For the entire collection, four species, the stoneroller, red shiner, sand shiner and plains killifish, constituted 76.9% of the Table 2. Relative abundance of fishes from the Smoky Hill River, Kansas, by station and for 62 collections between May, 1965 and August, 1966.

% of total Percentage composition by station Species collection Species 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 total by species

Shovelnose sturgeon 0.26 1 0.01 Transactions Kansas Academy of Science

Longnose gar 0.26 1 0.01

Gizzard shad 0.25 0.03 53.92 93 0.67

Stoneroller 31.40 10.40 15.54 26.02 0.26 2,834 20.31

Carp 2.50 1.21 1.88 1.61 9.52 0.26 201 1.44

Plains minnow 5.00 0.64 0.03 0.09 25.13 132 0.15

Speckled chub 0.53 2 0.01

Red shiner 30.00 7.48 31.15 31.14 23.24 5.44 44.70 18.25 2,978 21.34 Emerald shiner 0.01 1 0.01

Sand shiner 26.05 25.02 22.64 27.97 4.08 14.11 33.86 3,463 24.81

Suckermouth minnow 0.20 0.58 1.71 6.31 0.68 2.35 6.61 193 1.38

Fathead minnow 22.50 1.86 6.63 3.67 2.23 480 3.44

Bluntnose minnow 2.22 10.39 10.93 4.55 1.18 1.59 931 6.67

Creek chub 10.00 0.39 0.91 2.15 0.84 148 1.06

River carpsucker 0.57 2.03 1.58 0:68 4.71 7.67 162 1.16

Black bullhead 0.02 0.36 0.01 0.26 18 0.13

Yellow bullhead 0.02 1 0.01 Channel catfish 0.08 0.52 2.59 6.80 9.41 3.17 155 1.11 Stonecat 0.01 0.26 2 0.01 Flathead catfish 0.68 1.06 5 0.03 Plains killifish 7.50 26.36 4.43 1.09 2.97 1,557 11.15 White bass 0.25 0.01 1.32 0.53 18 0.13

Green sunfish 7.50 0.35 6.82 4.12 2.96 0.68 2.35 441 3.16 Fishes of the Smoky Hill River, Kansas Bluegill sunfish 0.09 3 0.02

Orangespotted sunfish 15.00 0.55 0.01 28 0.20

Largemouth bass 0.02 0.13 0.01 0.09 14 0.10

Smallmouth bass 0.01 1 0.01

Orangethroat darter 0.49 0.03 0.01 0.09 33 0.24

Walleye 1.18 1 0.01

Freshwater drum 0.23 0.03 0.01 0.18 16.33 20.00 62 0.44 Total number of specimens 40 5,108 3,078 4,056 1,066 147 85 378 13,959 100.01

Number of collections 1 17 16 17 4 3 1 4 63

Mean number per collection 40.0 300.4 192.3 236.6 269.0 73.5 85.0 94.5 221.5

Number of species 8 20 18 20 14 11 9 16 30

Diversity index' 4.99 5.39 5.16 5.54 4.62 4.46 4.46 6.21 6.24 Equals number of species 4- log of the number of individuals 116 Transactions Kansas Academy of Science total collection and 14, or less than half of the species present, made up 98.55% of the total collection. Both strong biotic or abiotic factors may limit diversity (Odum, 1959) but at sta. 2 the most important single factor was apparently the availability of water, since the lack of water places strict limitations on space as well as habitat diversity.

Seasonal Variation in Relative Abundance Stations 2, 3 and 4 were sampled year-around beginning in May 1965 to August 1965 (Tables 3, 4 and 5). Neither the variation in number of specimens collected nor the number of species revealed an obvious seasonal pattern of variation. There was a general inverse relationship to the volume of stream flow and numerical abundance of fishes. This relationship was most obviously correlated with the collection pro- cedure because with deeper, more turbid water, and a wider river the small fishes like red shiner, sand shiner, stoneroller and plains killifishes were not as easily seen as large fish like carp, carpsucker and channel catfish. At sta. 2, for example, high water produced an obvious increase in the number of carp, carpsucker, and white bass (Table 3). This increase is not considered an effect of the collection process but represents a real increase in the number of these species from upstream migration. For example, June 1965 was characterized by heavy rainfall with flooding in many parts of Kansas and the total number of specimens collected was low compared to June 1966 which was characterized by severely below average rainfall and there was a concomittant rise in the number of specimens in the collection. The abundance of carp and killifish at sta. 2, a large and small species respectively, show an inverse relationship in relative abundance which is related to the upstream migration of carp with highwater and the failure effectively to capture small fish like the killifish in deep, turbid water. To demonstrate this, compare, for example, the abundance of carp on 25 June, 1965 to 24 June, 1966, wet and dry dates respectively; conversely, 6 August, 1965 and 6 August, 1966 were dry and wet dates respectively. Generally, rainfall follows a seasonal pattern and therefore the population trend over several years should reveal a seasonally related pattern. Interspecies differences in relative and absolute abundance were revealed at a given station and between stations in 1965 and 1966 at stations 2, 3, and 4 for which the data were the most complete (Tables 4, 5 and 6). At sta. 2 (Table 4) gizzard shad, largemouth bass, black bullhead, yellow bullhead, channel catfish and plains minnow are considered rare or uncommon and their pattern of abundance cannot be evaluated while Table 3. Relative abundance of fishes from Stations 1, 5, 6, 7 and 8 from the Smoky Hill River. Percentage composition by station on date shown 1 5 6 7 8 1965 1966 1965 1966 1965 1965 1966 July June July Aug. Aug. July Sept. Aug. Sept. May July Species 1 24 8 28 5 26 9 14 27 14 18 11 Shovelnose sturgeon 0.5 Longnose gar ______0.5

Gizzard shad ______...... 64.2 Fishes of the Smoky Hill River, Kansas Stoneroller 19.0 32.8 22.9 24.7 .... ---- .. -....------0.9 Carp 2.5 0.4 ______25.1 .... __ 8.9 12.5 ______1.9 Plains minnow 5.0 ______.______11.1 ____ -- 37.6 15.9 Speckled chub ____ ...... _ __ .___ .. ______.______.. 1.9 0.5 Red shiner 30.0 26.5 18.0 27.3 2.4 20.8 44.7 22.2 83.3 5.9 8.8 Emeraldshiner ------0.5 Sand shiner 26.9 24.6 30.3 33.5 0.8 20.8 14.1 ______54.0 16.8 Suckermouth minnow .... __ 12.3 4.9 5.7 2.2 0.8 2.4 ____ .. 1.9 ______21.2 Fathead minnow 22.5 0.4 5.4 0.6 ------33.3 3.7 21.2 Bluntnose minnow ______4.5 6.9 3.4 1.3 1.2 ____ _. ____ _. 0.9 Creek chub 10.0 1.5 1.0 River carpsucker ______4.5 1.2 4.7 4.7 ------25.7 Channel catfish ____ .. 1.6 33.3 9.4 33.3 1.9 1.0 4.4 Stonecat .___ .. ______1.9 0.9 Flathead catfish ______..______4.2 3.7 2.6 Plains killifish 7.5 3.0 2.0 6.6 White bass ------1.6 ____ .. ______1.8 Green sunfish 7.5 1.1 3.2 9.8 3.5 4.2 2.4 Orangespotted sunfish 15.0 Largemouth bass ______0.6 ___... Orangethroat darter 0.4 1.2 Walleye ------Freshwater drum .______.. 0.6 0.4 19.5 ______20.0 Total number 40 268 406 175 227 123 24 85 9 54 203 113 Number of species 8 11 10 11 9 8 7 9 4 8 8 11 Species diversity index' 4.99 4.53 3.83 4.91 3.82 3.83 5.07 4.67 4.19 4.62 3.47 5.36 Equals number of species ÷ log of the number of individuals 118 Transactions Kansas Academy of Science the abundance of carp, white bass and river carpsucker was inversely related to the water level. Also, the suckermouth minnow, although present in low abundance in 1965, was collected in 4 of 7 collections in 1965, whereas it occurred in only one of eight collections in 1966 and apparently has at least temporarily disappeared from this section of the river. Two other species, the bluntnose minnow and creek chub showed decreasing abundance between 1965 and 1966 whereas stonerollers were increasing in abundance in 1966 compared with 1965. At sta. 3, gizzard shad, plains minnow, largemouth bass, orangethroat darter, yellow bullhead and channel catfish were rare or uncommon and their seasonal pattern of abundance could not be evaluated. The abundance of orangespotted sunfish, black bullhead, suckermouth minnow and cheek shub was low and quite random. Fathead and bluntnose minnows were common but their abundance was spotty. Stonerollers and green sunfish were generally abundant but the relative abundance was apparently declining. Sand shiner, plains killifish and red shiner were always abundant but sand shiner and plains killifish also showed a general trend toward increasing abundance. Gizzard shad, black bullhead, yellow bullhead, stonecat, white bass, bluegill, orangespotted sunfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and orangethroat darter were rare or uncommon at sta. 4 and no seasonal or general trends of abundance were discernable. The seasonal pattern of suckermouth minnow, river carpsucker and plains killifish was irregular and they were never abundant. Carp and fathead were common but their distribution was spotty. Stoneroller, creek chub, channel catfish and green sunfish were generally present; the latter were taken in every collection but were never abundant. Sand shiners were always abundant and red shiners very abundant but no seasonal or general trends were discernible.

Standing Crop of Fish Disregarding differences between specimens weighed in the fresh condition and possible weight loss from preservation, the weight data assembled were used with measurements of width and depth of the river for an analysis of the standing crop or biomass of fishes in lb./surface acre or lb./acrefoot of water (Table 7). A review of quantitative analysis of fish populations in warm-water streams by Larimore (1961: 7) indicated an absence of published data on standing crop of fishes in warmwater streams of the Great Plains. Previous publications have been on rivers and creeks in Alabama, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. Table 4. Seasonal variation in the relative abundance of fishes from Station 2 on the Smoky Hill River, Kansas between June 1965 and August 1966.

Percentage composition on dates shown 1965 1966 June July Aug. Sept. Nov. Dec. March April May June July Aug. Species 10 25 7 23 6 20 3 21 20 27 24 15 6 24 9 29 6 Fishes of the Smoky Hill River, Kansas Gizzard shad 6.7 13.0 0.7 6.6 Stoneroller 9.5 12.2 33.3 17.4 7.9 4.5 2.8 8.9 16.0 1.1 21.7 46.1 48.1 17.9 43.5 Carp - - -- 33.3 3.6 1.2 3.3 4.4 5.3 0.4 ______0.6 43.4 1.9 Plains minnow _ 1.6 0.4 2.0 Red shiner 9.5 20.0 7.1 3.7 13.2 11.7 31.0 18.6 17.0 7.7 11.0 5.1 0.1 12.3 9.2 Sand shiner 47.6 65.9 .... 56.7 43.7 34.2 35.0 80.7 38.7 10.9 11.7 11.3 13.9 Suckermouth minnow 1.2 3.3 4.4 17.9 1.7 Fathead minnow 13.3 7.9 3.6 8.5 7.2 8.0 0.6 0.8 2.0 1.9 1.9 Bluntnose minnow 13.3 30.0 13.0 13.2 2.4 2.8 6.7 2.2 Creek chub 6.7 4.4 7.9 0.8 0.7 2.5 2.0 0.3 0.9 River carpsucker ...... 78.6 3.3 ------1.0 0.3 2.8 Black bullhead ------0.4 .... __ .... __ Yellow bullhead ____ .. ..._ ...... _. 2.6 Channel catfish 14.3 ____ ...... ___ .. ______...... ____ ...... 0.4 ____ _. ._ ...... ____ .. ____ _. Plains killifish 19.1 13.3 7.1 6.1 16.7 21.7 10.5 16.2 9.9 22.8 20.0 6.8 18.2 35.5 37.2 0.9 19.4 Whitebass ______--_- -- 3.7 ____ .. ______0.4 ------1.9 6.5 Green sunfish -___ -- 3.6 3.7 .... __ 4.4 10.5 1.6 ____ .. 1.3 1.0 Largemouth bass 1.2 Orangethroat darter 3.3 13.0 0.4 0.3 0.2 1.0 Freshwater drum 1.2 4.4 13.2 1.3 1.9 Total number 21 15 28 82 30 23 38 247 142 237 200 351 771 1,429 1,282 106 106 Number of species 5 6 5 10 8 10 11 11 8 13 8 9 8 6 6 10 9 Species diversity index' 3.78 5.10 3.46 5.23 5.42 7.34 6.96 4.60 3.72 5.48 3.48 3.54 2.78 1.90 1.93 4.93 4.44 1 Equals number of species ÷ log of the number of individuals Table 5. Seasonal variation in the relative abundance of fishes from Station 3 Ort the Smoky Hill River, Kansas between June 1965 and August 1966. Percentage composition on dates shown 1965 1966 June July Aug. Sept. Dec. March April May June July Aug. Species 10 24 8 22 5 19 2 19 27 23 15 6 24 9 29 6 Gizzardshad . ... 2.6 ...... ____ .. ..._ ...... _...... ____ _. TRANSACTIONS KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE Stoneroller 27.7 15.8 6.1 28.6 20.5 6.1 9.3 10.3 3.46 6.7 18.6 15.6 10.9 6.2 5.3 3.7 Carp ------3.5 6.1 11.9 ------5.9 2.5 0.8 0.5 0.9 ____ .. ______PLAINS minnow ------0.9 ____ _. .__... ____ _. ___ _...... __ ...... ____ .. ______.______.. ___...... ___ __ Red shiner 20.5 22.8 30.3 21.4 18.0 24.2 44.4 73.1 29.9 34.2 16.4 28.5 34.8 43.0 29.6 27.0 Sand shiner 7.2 14.9 9.1 2.4 10.3 22.7 ______3.2 26.1 32.9 28.5 22.6 28.9 29.5 27.7 37.2 Suckermouth minnow 4.8 2.6 2.4 1.5 0.4 ------0.9 0.8 0.9 ------Fathead minnow 8.4 3.5 12.8 7.6 13.0 5.1 4.7 5.4 16.8 11.3 2.5 2.5 1.9 Bluntnose minnow 4.8 4.4 3.0 ____ .. 5.1 6.1 9.3 4.5 20.8 12.4 14.2 11.8 5.9 0.8 8.3 . Creek chub 8.4 4.4 6.1 ______.. ______.2.6 0.4 0.5 0.6 ------0.9 ____ .. ____ .. . Black bullhead ------3.0 ------1.9 0.6 0.4 0.3 ------0.3 0.4 ..__ _. ____ .. Yellow bullhead ------0.5 0.2 ______.... _...... ___ _ Channel catfish 1.2 2.6 2.4 2.6 3.0 3.7 0.2 0.5 ------1.0 1.5 Plains killifish ______1.8 3.0 ------6.1 ____ _...... _. 4.5 0.7 0.6 2.7 8.4 6.6 17.5 12.4 White bass -- - ___. -- ...... ______...... ____ _ Green sunfish 16.9 21.9 30.3 28.6 20.5 21.2 16.7 0.6 3.3 2.5 2.0 6.5 5.0 9.0 7.3 11.7 Bluegill sunfish .... __ 0.6 .... ______...... ____ _ Orangespotted sunfish 5.1 1.5 ------0.2 1.5 0.4 ------0.3 1.2 0.5 ...... Largemouth bass .. 2.4 2.6 ------1.9 0.2 Orangethroat darter 0.9 0.3 .... __ Freshwater drum ..... ______.. ______...... ______.... _ ..._ .. ____ - Total number 83 114 33 42 39 66 54 156 491 404 501 186 322 244 206 137 Number of species 9 13 10 8 10 10 8 8 13 12 13 9 13 10 10 7 Species diversity index' 4.69 6.32 6.58 4.93 6.29 5.50 4.62 3.65 4.83 4.61 4.82 3.97 5.18 4.19 4.32 3.28 1 Equals number of species -÷- log of the number of individuals Table 6. Seasonal variation in the relative abundance of fishes from Station 4on the Smoky Hill River, Kansas between May 1965 and August, 1966.

Percentage composition on date shown 1965 1966 May June July Aug. Sept. Dec. March April May June July Aug. Species 30 10 24 8 22 5 19 2 19 26 23 15 7 23 8 28 5

Stoneroller 29.2 12.3 32.0 5.2 15.4 19.0 17.2 43.3 9.3 4.0 15.5 10.7 11.5 17.4 13.4 9.2 FISHES OF THE SMOKY HILL RIVER, KANSAS Carp 1.3 1.1 1.1 1.6 0.3 1.8 0.4 2.9 2.4 2.5 3.5 18.2 Red shiner 27.1 42.3 15.5 63.6 37.4 41.4 27.3 33.7 33.1 22.1 29.7 27.6 48.3 26.5 36.5 38.8 13.6 Sand shiner 20.8 17.1 5.2 11.0 21.8 4.8 3.3 38.8 55.0 41.3 30.2 15.3 8.3 3.3 12.9 2.7 Suckermouth minnow 10.4 6.1 3.9 1.1 2.3 1.5 3.6 1.5 0.8 1.3 2.1 1.5 Fathead minnow ------2.8 2.6 1.1 1.2 14.8 7.0 1.6 1.4 2.9 3.0 4.5 10.4 0.8 1.5 ____ _ Bluntnose minnow 2.8 5.2 ______5.2 5.5 1.8 17.3 7.1 12.7 12.7 7.8 21.9 20.8 13.4 19.1 Creek chub 6.2 6.1 3.9 3.9 4.4 1.2 22.3 2.6 .... __ 2.4 1.1 1.2 2.1 3.5 2.1 1.5 River carpsucker 5.5 1.3 7.7 1.2 1.6 ___. ._ .....______. 1.0 4.1 2.9 4.1 0.5 16.4 Black bullhead 0.5 ______0.1 ______0.3 ...... 0.5 Yellow bullhead ._ ... ____ .. ..._ __ .... _. 0.8 Channel catfish 16.7 3.8 3.9 ____ .. 12.1 1.2 8.6 2.2 ______2.8 0.4 0.8 1.7 3.0 10.9 Stonecat 0.3 Plains killifish 3.1 3.2 3.9 3.9 ______I: _-_ 8.3 0.8 1.1 1.4 0.4 ------0.5 White bass ______... ______._ 0.5 Green sunfish 10.4 4.6 8.8 5.2 8.8 4.0 1.6 3.3 0.8 1.4 1.8 2.5 2.5 9.9 8.3 5.0 8.2 Bluegill sunfish ______. ______...... 0.9 Orangespotted sunfish ____ ._ 1.3 ------2.0 ______Largemouth bass 0.5 1.3 0.6 1.6 0.4 0.5 0.9 Smallmouth bass 0.1 -- - - - Orangethroat darter 0.8 0.5 .--- -- 0.6 0.3 i _ _i ii - 0 .. ;5 i i_6:.. Fr shwater drum 0.6 ------1.1 ___ .. e Total number 48 130 181 77 91 174 128 270 121 367 276 1,025 242 374 241 201 110 Number of species 6 9 14 12 10 14 13 10 6 10 10 14 12 13 12 18 11 Species diversity index' 3.57 4.26 6.20 6.36 5.10 6.25 6.17 4.11 2.88 3.90 4.10 4.65 5.03 5.05 5.04 7.82 5.39 Equals number of species ÷ log of the number of individuals TabLe 7. Seasonal variation in standing crop or biomass of fish in ponds per acre at three locations from the Smoky Hill River, Kansas. Standing crop of fish by station for date shown Station 2 Station 3 Station 4 Lb. per Stream Lb. per Stream Lb. per Stream surface Lb. per flow surface Lb. per flow surface Lb. per flow Date acre acre-foot (cfs) acre acre-foct (cfs) acre acre-foot (cfs) Transactions Kansas Academy of Science 1965 June 10 5.4 17.9 7.5 7.5 13.1 6.4 10.6 46.3 10.7 25 4.0 9.8 50.7 41.6 83.3 6.3 9.0 39.4 10.2 July 7 35.7 50.7 103.4 12.5 11.5 36.0 31.2 59.7 93.4 23 3.6 12.0 14.2 30.0 34.0 13.8 6.6 4.7 47.5 Aug. 6 7.3 18.0 20.3 10.1 8.4 4.8 20.2 25.3 33.2 20 3.0 7.8 17.9 1.9 2.4 12.9 20.4 28.4 32.2 Sept. 3 11.2 56.2 15.0 11.5 12.9 10.7 25.9 36.2 34.5 Nov. 21 1.0 2.0 20.9 ____ _. ______8.8 12.8 Dec. 20 0.5 0.8 54.4 2.2 1.6 49.3 0.4 0.5 29.0 1966 March 27 2.7 5.5 40.7 100.4 143.4 20.2 11.5 28.8 19.7 April 24 4.3 14.3 9.0 61.1 76.4 18.6 14.7 20.8 33.3 May 15 14.8 49.2 6.7 46.7 46.7 24.1 85.6 21.4 18.5 June 6 27.1 67.9 2.0 6.7 9.8 32.7 59.0 72.2 23.9 24 30.0 150.0 26.6 24.0 24.0 81.0 62.1 79.1 32.7 July 9 25.7 128.3 0.5 6.0 7.4 16.3 50.7 64.6 17.0 29 117.4 234.7 25.6 11.0 15.7 8.4 32.3 41.1 53.2 Aug. 6 4.2 13.5 25.0 0.9 1.2 21.0 Mean 17.5 49.3 25.9 23.6 30.7 22.65 28.1 36.3 30.6 Fishes of the Smoky Hill River, Kansas 123

The large series of separate collections obtained from stations 2, 3 and 4 also formed a basis for a seasonal analysis of variation in standing crops of fishes (Table 7). A longitudinal analysis and a consideration of a few environmental variables were obtained by comparison of mean standing crops of fishes from all of the stations (Table 8). The standing crops of fish as given below represent minimal estimates of the standing crop because the data were taken directly without extrapolation for variation in efficiency of the gear. It was always obvious to the collectors that despite attempts to capture every fish observed, a given collection did not include all fish seen at a given time. The standing crop of fishes, lb./acre, for sta. 2 was the highest in June and July; it declined to the lowest level in December and gradually increased through 1966 to a peak in late July. The standing crops of fishes at stations 3 and 4 were also at low levels in December, 1965 and declined in August. In 1965, the highest standing crop at sta. 3 was in June but in 1966 the highest standing crop was attained in March and April with a general decline through the summer Sta. 4 had the highest standing crop in early July of 1965 but maintained a rather high level, compared to the other stations during the same interval, through the month of August. In 1966, the highest standing crops at sta. 4 were observed in May through July. Thus, certain station specific relationships were observed for seasonal variation in standing crop. However, all three stations seem to be characterized by early spring and summer maxima with a gradual decline to a midwinter low. Subsequent sampling over several years will be needed to clarify this relationship, however, it seems probable that a vernal abundance of food and water and an increase in the population size following spawning were the more important factors causing the spring maxima. The decline through the fall and winter was probably related to decreasing food, increasing predation and interspecies competition, and at sta. 2, to a decrease in space resulting from a summer drought. The mean standing crop of fishes from eight stations on the Smoky Hill River varied from 0.1 lb./acre at sta. 8 to 28.1 lb./acre at sta. 4. The difference between the standing crop of fishes, lb./acre, for stations 2, 3 and 4, for which the largest number of independent collections were available, was subject to statistical test ("t" test). The differences between the mean standing crop for 17 collections from sta. 2 were compared with the mean for 16 collections from sta. 3 and 16 collections from sta. 4 as well as the test between collections from sta. 3 and 4. All differences were found to be nonsignificant at the 5% level. Although the standing crop as lb./surface area at sta. 2 was lower than at stations 124 Transactions Kansas Academy of Science

3 and 4, if the standing crop is represented in terms of the volume of water present, therefore, as lb./acre-foot of water, the standing crop at sta. 2 was higher than at the other stations. A weighted mean standing crop of 19.57 lb./acre was computed for 62 collections for which complete data were available. The maximum standing crop of fish from the Smoky Hill River was 117.4 lb./acre on July 29, 1966 for sta. 2. A mean standing crop of 235 lb./acre was computed by the author from 35 entries given by Larimore (1961: 7) on the standing crop of warmwater fishes from creeks and rivers in Alabama, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. Excluding two quite exceptional entries of 1,069.9 and 1,544.6 lb./acre, the mean of 33 entries was 169.6 lb./acre with a range from 15 to 939 lb./acre. There- fore, the overall average standing crop, computed for 62 collections, of fishes from the Smoky Hill River was much less than the average computed for creeks and rivers in the eastern half of the United States. However, the standing crops of fish computed for the Smoky Hill River must be considered minimal estimates because of the failure to capture all of the stunned fishes, failure to include all parts of the station and from escape of fish from the station during electrofishing. Moreover, because of the general shallow nature of the river and lack of many pools at the stations studied, a more equitable analysis of standing crop of fishes for comparison between different parts of the same river or between rivers would be lb. of fish/acre-foot of water. Using the latter, the weighted mean standing crop of fishes from the Smoky Hill River was 32.5 lb./acre- foot or 39.8% higher than the 19.57 lb./surface acre. The largest standing crop in lb./acre-foot for an individual collection was 234.7 for sta. 2. Longitudinal analysis of variation in width, depth and stream flow was made to evaluate the degree of relationship between these variables

Table 8. Longitudinal variation in standing crop of fish in the Smoky Hill River, Kansas.

Lb. Lb. of fish Number Mean Mean Surface Volume Mean lb. fish per per-acre- of width depth area of water of fish per surface foot of Sta. collections (ft.) (ft.) (acres) (acre-feet) collection acres water 1 1 63.0 0.33 0.43 0.14 0.57 1.3 4.1 2 17 47.5 0.38 0.33 0.14 5.23 17.5 49.3 3 16 31.0 0.88 0.21 0.19 5.43 23.5 30.7 4 16 37.0 0.70 0.26 0.18 6.93 28.1 36.0 5 4 38.8 0.83 0.26 0.22 3.59 13.7 16.5 6 2 66.0 0.90 0.46 0.44 6.05 14.2 17.5 7 3 101.0 0.90 0.69 0.62 1.43 1.8 2.2 8 3 504.7 2.33 3.38 9.11 0.30 0.1 0.02 Fishes of the Smoky Hill River, Kansas 125 and the standing crops of fishes (Table 8). A matrix of 12 correlation coefficients calculated for the four variables, width, depth, surface and volume of water in relationship to the pounds of fish per collection, per surface acre and per acre-foot of water are given in Table 9. These analyses indicate a negative relationship between catch and standing crop for all variables. However, only the relationships between lb. of fish/surface acre to mean width and surface area and lb./acre-foot to mean width were significant statistically (Table 9). This evidence indicates that larger biomass, probably because of the greater habitat diversity, is provided at the shallow and narrower upper end of the river compared with the broader, turbid lower end. Obviously, the significant relationship of standing crop to width, depth and surface area is also a reflection of the difference in effectiveness of the electrofishing technique in the narrower and shallower portions of the river as compared to the wider, deep and more turbid portions. Larimore (1961) found a similar relationship in catch success by electrofishing in Jordan Creek, Illinois. He reported capturing a higher percentage of fish by weight and number from electrofishing shallow stations of the creek than from the deeper stations. There appears to be a significant lack of information on standing crop and productivity of fishes in creeks and reservoirs in the Great Plains. Obviously, an evaluation of seasonal and long-term variations in standing crops of fishes in a river would provide a better evaluation than a single sample. The range between the highest and lowest standing crop for a given station was found to be 100 fold, indicating that seasonal variation is extensive and merits further attention. Different investigators have utilized different collecting techniques and some investigators have sampled extensive sections of a river while others have sampled only a single section and a limited habitat. All of these variables contribute to the tremendous variations in standing crops previously reported in the literature (Larimore, 1961).

Table 9. Relationship between catch and standing crops of fish to width, depth, surface area and stream flow. Lb. per Lb. per Lb. per collection surface-acre acre-foot

Mean width —.64 —.81* —.74* Mean depth —.69 —.28 —.50 Surface area —.32 —.71* —.67 Stream flow (cfs) —.21 —.38 —.60 Significance of r tested againt the null hypothesis that r is zero for N —2 degrees of freedom is: * .71 for P of .05, .83 for P OF .01. 126 Transactions Kansas Academy of Science

Annotated List of Species Shovelnose sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus platorynchus (Rafinesque).—A single specimen of this species was collected, 18 May, 1966, sta. 8 near Junction City, in a seine although it was listed with the species (Table 3) taken by electrofishing. Apparently, this specimen represents the only collection of shavelnose sturgeon from the Smoky Hill River (Metcalf, 1966). Longnose gar, Lepisosteus osseus (Linnaeus).—Only a single specimen of this species was captured, 18 May, 1966, sta. 8. It was collected in a seine along with the shovelnose sturgeon. Previous records (Met- calf, 1966) place the species west of the present collection site in the Smoky Hill River and is described as common to the wide, turbid waters of the Kansas River. The shortnose gar, L. platostomus, was not found although I have collected them in large numbers in gill nets from an oxbow lake near Ogden, Kansas only 10 miles from sta. 8 on the Smoky Hill River. Gizzard shad, Dorosoma cepedianum (Le Sueur).—This species was collected from only three of eight stations, sta 2, 3 and 6. The distribution of gizzard shad was associated with the two impoundments: Cedar Bluff Reservoir (near sta. 2 and 3) and Kanopolis Reservoir (near sta. 6). Ninty-three specimens were collected from three stations but 85% of these were collected from sta. 6 and only one specimen was taken from sta. 3. Because gizzard shad are primarily planktonic feeders it seems likely that the clear, rapidly flowing water in the upper portion of the river is not well suited for shad. The presence of gizzard shad at sta. 2, however, represents an apparent westward extension of the range of the species in the Kansas River Basin related to the introduction of this forage species into Cedar Bluff Reservoir. Stoneroller, Cam postoma anomalum (Rafinesque).—This species ranked third in abundance. Of the 2,834 stonerollers collected, 99.7% were taken from stations 2, 3, 4 and 5 and only a single specimen was taken from sta. 8. The stoneroller occurs from the upper to the lower portion of the river and is very common throughout the state (Metcalf, 1966). The greatest numerical abundance was attained in the clearer waters of the western part of the river with sandy and gravelly bottoms containing abundant periphyton which the fish utilizes for food. The species was absent from the more turbid waters of sta. 6 and 7. Observa- tion indicated that the stonerollers at stations 2, 3 and 4 spawn in late April or early May. Tuberculate males with dark pigmentation on the dorsal fin were observed 27 March, 1966 and lightly tuberculate males Fishes of the Smoky Hill River, Kansas 127 were still seen on 15 May, 1966. Young-of-the-year stonerollers (11- 18 mm) entered the 1966 collections in early June. The ovarian body weight ratio of stonerollers was as high as 35%, considerably higher than many other cyprinids examined. Carp, Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus.—Carp ranked eighth in abundance and a total of 201 specimens (1.44% of total collection) was collected. Carp were collected from all but stations 5 and 7 and they ranged from the headwaters to the lower end of the river. Of the 201 total specimens collected, 92.04% were collected from stations 2, 3 and 4 which also had about the same average catch per collection: 3.5, 3.6 and 3.8 carp per collection for stations 2, 3 and 4 respectively. A higher catch per collection was made at sta. 6 where an average of 7.0 carp was taken in two collections. The periodic abundance of carp at sta. 2 was related to upstream movements with high water but they were present in 9 of 17 collections and although less abundant in 1965 than in 1966, they were present in every collection from sta. 4 in 1966. Carp apparently spawn in July but mature ovaries were found as early as May. Plains minnow, Hybognathus placitus Girard.—Specimens designated here as H. placitus were in fact difficult to separate from literature descriptions of H. nuchalis. This difficulty relates to a taxonomic prob- lem of long standing involving H. placitus and H. nuchalis. H. placitus was synonymized with H. nuchalis by Bailey (1956: 333) but Niazi and Moore (1962) and Bailey and Allum (1962) separated the two as distinct species using the basioccipital bone and Weberian apparatus. Ten meristic characters, six body dimensions and three body proportions were studied for the purpose of clarifying the status of the specimens collected from the Smoky Hill River (Table 10). Mean fin ray and scale counts and body proportions of specimens collected from stations 2 and 8 generally showed little variation and no statistical difference were obtained between the means of fin ray counts of specimens from stations 2 and 8 or between the two collections for sta. 8 taken on two dates. The mean number of anal fin rays for the Smoky River collections agree closely with that reported by Al-Rawi and Cross (1964) but the mean pectoral fin ray count was smaller for the specimens from the Smoky Hill River than specimens described by Al-Rawi and Cross. Assuming a range in the standard error of the mean from 0.05 to 0.20 for the series by Al-Rawi and Cross, the difference between the two means which differed the least, therefore, 15.10 from my collection and 16.09 from that of Al-Rawi and Cross, would be significant at the 1.0% level. The Table 10. MERISTIC characteristics, body dimensions and body proportions of three collections of the plains minnow, HYBOGNATHUS PLACITUS, from the Smoky Hill River, Kansas.

MERISTI characters' Fin rays Scales Around Below Station Dorsal Anal Caudal Pectoral Pelvic Lateral Before CIRCUM- caudal lateral TRANSACTIONS KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE date fin fin fin fin fin line dorsal FERENTIAL peduncle line 2 Russell Springs June 6, 1966 81- .00 7.951.05- 18.91.21- 15.10±.05 81.00- 38.451.21- 17.15±7.23 30.6±- .26 16.151.15- 14.471.30- (20 specimens) 8 7-8 19-20 14-15 8 37-40 15-19 29-33 14-17 15-18 8 Junction City May 18, 1966 81.00- 8.051- - .05 18.917.10- 15.501.17- 81%00- 38.451.19- 17.401.24- 30.61.36- 15.751.22- 16.101.26- (20 specimens) 8 8-9 18-20 14-17 8 36-40 16-20 28-35 14-17 14-19 July 11, 1966 7.941.06- 81- - .00 18.71- -.10 14.941- - .16 7.94±7.06 38.591- - .26 17.53 -1- .17 29.21.28- 15.411.13- 14.47±.30 (17 specimens) 7-8 8 18-20 14-16 7-8 37-41 16-19 27-31 15-16 13-17

Body dimensions (MM) Body proportions Width Width Width Orbit ÷ Head length Standard Snout Head of of of head width of length length length head eye orbit length eye 2

2 Russel Springs 49.21-98- 3.110.9- 12.31.41- 6.91- - .20 2.94±.11 2.811.14- .231.016- 4.251.17- .881.017- June 6, 1966 39-58 2.3-3.9 10.1-19.0 5.3-8.1 2.4-4.3 2.4-3.1 .16—.26 3.16-5.00 0.80-1.07 8 Junction City 57.511.23- 4.41- - .08 14.01.29- 8.111.17- 30.51.09- 3.05±.19 .2251.003- 4.531- - .06 .89-1- .007 May 18, 1966 55-72 3.9-5.5 12.5-16.9 2.8-3.7 2.8-3.9 2.9-3.9 .21—.25 3.74-5.14 .82—.96 July 11, 1966 55.8 -11.16 3.51.13- 13.21- - .80 7.59 -1.17 29.4±.14 3.11.24- .2411.014- 4.43±7.03 .831- - .009 43-66 3.0-4.4 10.9-14.8 6.6-7.9 2.4-3.3 2.5-3.7 .22—.28 4.09-4.63 .76—.90 1 Means (±: one standard error) and ranges. 2 Snout to posterior edge of eye ÷ width of head Fishes of the Smoky Hill River, Kansas 129 mean pectroal fin ray count for the Smoky Hill River specimens was lower and had a smaller range than H. placitus and were more like H. nuchalis. The scale rows below the lateral line averaged 14.47 for sta. 2 and 16.1 and 14.5 for sta. 8 in May and July, 1966. Thus a statistically significant variation ("t" test, P > .01) was observed between specimens taken on two different sample dates from the same collection site only two months apart. The mean count of the scale rows below the lateral line for the Smoky Hill River specimens were less than those from some localities reported by Al-Rawi and Cross (1964) but higher than others. How- ever, the scale counts reported for most of the H. placiuts more closely approaches the mean of 14.9 for 151 specimens of H. nuchalis than the mean of 17.7 for 208 specimens of H. placitus given by Bailey and Allum (1962). One character most frequently used to separate H. nuchalis from H. placitus is the size of the eye in proportion to the body length (Bailey and Allum, 1962) or eye size in proportion to head length (Eddy, 1957; Moore, 1957). H. placitus is generally described as having a smaller eye diameter in proportion to head length or body length. Eddy (1957: 103) characterized the head length/eye diameter ratio as being greater than 5.0 for H. placitus and 4.0 to 4.5 for H. nuchalis. Trautman (1957) defined the ratio as 3.6 for young and 4.8 for adult H. nuchalis. Moore (1957: 135) described the ratio as 4.0 to 4.5 for H. nuchalis and 5.5 to 7.7 for H. placitus. Although the ratio is variously defined and there may be an age-dependent variation, the values of 4.25 to 4.53 for the Smoky Hill River specimens would require the identification of these specimens as H. nuchalis. The width of the head of H. nuchalis is about equal to the distance from the posterior margin of the orbit to the snout tip but the width of the head of H. placitus is greater than the distance from the snout tip to the posterior margin of the eye (Moore, 1957: 135). In the present study the specimens from the Smoky Hill River had a head width which was always greater than the distance from the snout tip to the posterior margin of the eye; i.e., by use of this character they would have been identified as H. placitus. Bailey and Allum (1962) and Niazi and Moore (1962) have described the use of the shape of the basioccipital bone as a distinguishing character which clearly separates H. placitus and H. nuchalis as distinct species rather than subspecies. This character was used to identify the specimens from the Smoky Hill River as H. placitus. On most specimens 130 Transactions Kansas Academy of Science the shape and length/width ratio of the bone made recognition very clear but several specimens, six from sta. 2 and two specimens from sta. 7 had rather expanded posterior processes of the basioccipital bone although not nearly as large as those illustrated for H. nucbalis by Bailey and Allum (1962: Plate I). However, Al-Rawi and Cross (1964) reported that specimens from the Grand River, Missouri had a basioccipital bone of intermediate form which they attributed to hybridization. The specimens from the Smoky Hill River could be designated as H. placitus only by using the shape of the basioccipital bone. Most meristic characters; scale measurements and body proportions presently found in taxonomic keys do not reliably separate the two forms. The plains minnow made up only 0.95% of the collection and therefore would be considered uncommon for the entire river but the distribution was irregular. The greatest abundance was attained at sta. 8 near Junction City where 71.97% of the total number were collected and at sta. 2 above Cedar Bluff Reservoir where 25.00% were collected. Only one specimen each was collected from stations 1, 3 and 5. At stations 2 and 8 the species was always the most abundant in the middle of the river over sand or gravely bottoms without cover or pools. The species has an extended spawning season because ripe ovaries were observed in females collected from May to early July. One specimen each was collected from stations 1, 3 and 5. Speckled chub, Hybopsis aestivalis (Girard).—Only two specimens of speckled chub were collected, both from sta. 8. The Junction City collection site represents the western limit of the species in the Smoky Hill River as observed here and as previously reported by Metcalf (1966) although the later's distribution map shows the species west of this longi- tude in the Republican River Basin. In the Kansas River Basin in Kan- sas the species achieves its greatest abundance in the turbid silty bottoms of the mainstream of the Kansas River. Red shiner, Notropis lutrensis (Baird and Girard).—The red shiner was of ubiquitous occurrence and the second most abundant fish collected; 2,978 specimens, 21.34% of the total collection. Although the species is apparently tolerant of a wide range of conditions, the greatest abundance was attained at stations 3, 4 and 5 from which averages of 49.9, 74.1 and 62.5 fish per collection were obtained. Sta. 4 accounted for 42.31% of the total collection. Apparently the habitat of sta. 4 was well suited for growth and reproduction of the species. They were the most abundant along undercut banks and pools with a slow current and with some plant and animal debris but little silt. The red shiner and sand Fishes of the Smoky Hill River, Kansas 131 shiner were frequently abundant at the same station but they had some- what differing habitat preferences; the sand shiner was more pelagic and preferred open water riffle areas. Although both species were frequently abundant there was an inverse relationship (r= — .26) between the two. The total length of 467 red shiners collected in the months of June through September 1965 was 39.68 m and the total weight was 0.68 g. Where adequate sample size was available for comparison there was apparently little difference between length or weight of fish from different stations collected on the same date. The mean lengths and weights given above include adults and young-of-the-year. Males exhibited the characteristic breeding colors of the species from June through July and spawning took place over a period of three weeks in the month of June. Young-of-the-year were first obvious in September at which time they averaged 23 mm in length whereas adults averaged 47 mm in total length at that time. The late appearance of the young in the collections was probably attributable to mesh size of net used to pick up stunned fish. Emerald shiner, Notropis atherinoides Rafinesque.—Only a single specimen of this species was collected from the river (sta. 8 on 18 May, 1966). This specimen, a sexually mature female, measured 66 mm in total length, 54 mm standard length and weighed 3.03 g. When first collected it was identified as Notropis percobromus (Cope) and distin- guished from the emerald shiner on the basis of the deeper body and smaller eye which is used to distinguish the species (Miller, 1947). How- ever, the emerald shiner is used here following the work of Bailey and Allum (1962: 57) and Metcalf (1966) who place N. percobromus in the synonymy of N. atherinoides. Sand shiner, Notropis stramineus (Cope),—The sand shiner was the most abundant species collected from the Smoky Hill River: 3463 specimens were identified making up 24.81% of the total collection. Sand shiners were collected from all but sta. 1. The greatest abundance was obtained at stations 2, 3, 4 and 5 where the average number per collection was 78.2, 48.1, 53.h and 75.2, respectively. Sand shiners were most abundant in the open water riffle areas over sand bottoms and their reduction eastward indicates that they prefer clearer water. Their relationship to N. lutrensis was described above. Life history observations on the species from the Smoky Hill River is in preparation (Summerfelt and Minckley). The greatest numerical abundance was achieved at sta. 2 where it made up as much as 80.7% of the total collection on 15 May, 1966 (Tabel 4), but with quite variable water levels 132 Transactions Kansas Academy of Science through the summer of 1966 following spawning, the population was apparently declining.

Suckermouth minnow, Phenacobius mirabilis (Girard).—A total of 193 (1.38% of total collection) specimens of the suckermouth minnow were collected; taken from all but sta. 1. Although sta. 5 was sampled on only four occasions in 1966, 35.23% of the total collection was taken from that station; and sta. 5 also had the highest average number of captures (17.0) per collection. The greatest abundance of suckermouth minnows was at stations 4 and 5 in riffle areas over gravely and sandy bottom with a light silt deposit containing an abundance of organic matter in the form of animal and plant debris. Populations were low in the more turbid sections downstream and upstream at sta. 2 where intraspecific competition from stonerollers may be limiting.

Fathead minnow, Pimepbales prom elas Rafinesque.—This species was of common occurrence at stations west of Ellsworth but was not found in turbid silty downstream stations (sta. 6, 7, 8) and it was represented at sta. 5 by only 24 individuals. The greatest abundance was achieved at sta. 3 where there were overhanging banks for cover and reproduction and pools for feeding. Males were tuberculate from 15 May to 24 June, 1966. Data on the gonadal body weight ratios and field observations on spawning at sta. 5 on 24 June indicate that spawning takes place in mid-June. Length measurements of 12 specimens taken prior to spawning in June 1965 averaged 61.7 mm (52-68 mm) compared to a average of 42.2 mm (36 to 50 mm) from collections taken in August. Fathead and bluntnose minnows achieved their greatest abundance at the same stations although bluntnose were invariably more numerous than fatheads. Trautman (1957: 403) found that fatheads and bluntnose were competitors and that fathead could achieve numerical abundance only when bluntnose were absent or reduced in number.

Bluntnose minnow, Pimephales notatus (Rafinesque).—This species was nearly twice as abundant as the fathead minnow in the Smoky Hill River during 1965-1966. The abundance of bluntnose minnows, (931 specimens of 6.67% of the total collection, Table 2) was an apparent contradiction to the rarity in the Republican River (Metcalf, 1966). It was surprising to find bluntnose with a wider distribution and greater abundance than the fathead because the latter has a reputation of being quite tolerant to all kinds of water quality (Trautman, 1957). In the Smoky Hill River, the bluntnose minnow achieved its greatest abundance, averaging 26.0 specimens per collection at sta. 4 where 47.47% of the Fishes of the Smoky Hill River, Kansas 133 collection of bluntnose was taken. It seemed to prefer overhanging banks and areas containing large rocks where the species probably spawns. Tuberculate males were observed in May, 1966 and young-of-the-year were collected in July, 1966.

Creek chub, Semotilus atromaculatus (Mitchill).—This species was one of five including fathead minnow, plains killifish, orangethroat darter and orangespotted sunfish, found only west but not east of sta. 5. The creek chub avoided the turbid silty lower mainstream of the Smoky Hill River. Creek chub constituted 1.06% of the total collection and ranked twelfth in abundance for all species. Creek chub were most abundant at sta. 4 where 58.78% of all specimens were collected. It was most abundant in pools or along banks rather than in riffles. Tuberculate males were present from 26 March to 15 May, 1966 and the peak period of spawning probably occurred in early May. Young-of-the-year were present in the collection in July and August.

River carpsucker, Carpiodes carpio (Rafinesque).—This species composed 1.16% of the total collection and ranked tenth in total abundance. This was the only catostomid captured in the mainstream of the Smoky Hill River; collected from all but stations 1 and 3, but 82 specimens or 50.62% of the total number collected were taken from sta. 4. At the latter station, the species was most abundant in pools with a slow current and an abundance of organic debris and silt on the bottom. The species is common to the lower mainstream of the river although it occurs as far, west as sta. 2 above Cedar Bluff Reservoir, especially in high water. Sexual maturity was reached in June and early July and males were spent in late July. Young carpsucker were collected in early to late July from stations 4 and 7.

White sucker, Catostomus commersoni (Lacepede).—This species was not collected in the mainstream of the Smoky Hill River but it possibly occurs there at least in the cooler months of the year. Ten specimens were collected from Salt Creek, a spring-fed tributary of the Smoky Hill River in Lane County. Presumably the species is not tolerant of the warm, summer-water temperatures of the mainstream.

Black bullhead, lctalurus melas (Rafinesque).—Eighteen specimens (0.13%, total collection) were collected in 63 collections. Black bullheads were collected from stations 2, 3, 4 and 8 but not from 1, 5, 6 and 7. It was never abundant at any station but most specimens were taken beneath undercut banks at sta. 3. 134 Transactions Kansas Academy of Science

Yellow bullhead, Ictalurus natalis (LeSueur).—The yellow bullhead was very rare and only one specimen, was taken; 53 mm in total length and weighing 1.8 g. (sta. 2 above Cedar Bluff Reservoir). It is apparently rare in western Kansas and Metcalf (1966: 148) refers to only a single collection taken from the Smoky Hill River near Wallace west of the present collection.

Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque).—The channel catfish ranks eleventh in abundance. This species was collected from six stations (stations 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8) but achieved greatest abundance at stations 4 and 7 where an average of 6.2 and 10.0 specimens were captured per collection. At sta. 4 it was invariably taken from undercut banks and near brush piles associated with pools, swift current and sandy or rubble. covered bottoms. The length and weight of specimens collected in 1965 was 208.7 mm and 108.01 g. and the maximum weight was 2.5 lb. caught at sta. 4 and 19 August, 1965. In 1966, the mean length and weight of 76 measured specimens was 199.6 mm and 55.37 g.

Stonecat, Noturus jlavus Rafinesque.—Only two specimens of this species were collected. Single specimens were collected from each of stations 4 and 8, with lengths and weights respectively of 73 mm, 10.7 g. and 19 mm, 0.10 g.

Flathead catfish, Pylodictis olivaris (Rafinesque). Five specimens comprising 0.03% of the total collection of fishes from the Smoky Hill River were collected, one from sta. 6 and four from sta. 8. Metcalf (1966) reported it from as far west as Gove County which is between sta. 1 and 2.

Plains killifish, Fundulus kansae Garman.—This species was the only cyprinodontid found in the Smoky Hil River but it ranked fourth in abundance in the total collection. The plains killifish, like the fathead minnow, creek chub and orangethroat darter, is most abundant in the western rather than the eastern part of the river. The plains killifish was absent from stations 6, 7 and 8 and 86.19% of all killifish were collected from sta. 2 where an average of 84.8 specimens per collection was taken. The species thrives in warm, shallow riffles with slow current and sandy bottoms. Spawning took place in late May and young (7-11 mm) were collected from sta. 2 by late June.

White bass, Roccus chrysops (Rafinesque).—This species made up only 0.13% of the total collection and was collected from only four of Fishes of the Smoky Hill River, Kansas 135 eight stations (2, 5, 7 and 8). It was more abundant in the lower half of the river than in the western part. The presence of white bass as far west as sta. 2 in Trego County, may be traced to Cedar Bluff Reservoir, stocked by the Kansas Forestry, Fish and Game Commission. At sta. 2, the species was generally present only in high waters in July and Novem- ber 1965 and late July and August, 1966. All specimens were rather small; the mean length and weight of 12 measured specimens in 1965 was 94.46 mm and 9.12 g. and 1966 the mean length and weight of 5 measured specimens was 62.4 mm and 2.28 g.

Green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus Rafinesque.—This species was the most abundant centrarchid. It comprised 3.16% of the total collection and ranked seventh in total abundance. The green sunfish was one of the most ubiquitious specis collected and was taken from all but sta. 8. The species was most abundant at sta. 3 and 4 where 47.62 and 39.23% of all green sunfish were collected. Sta. 3 had the highest average number of specimens per collection with 13.1. The green sunfish was invariably found associated with the bank, along overhanging banks or in pools with some debris for cover. It was not collected in open water or in riffle areas unless associated with the banks or good cover. Gravid females were observed between May and August but many females were spent by July. Green sunfish appear to spawn at an earlier age or much smaller size than previous experience with pond populations indicates. Females weighing only 6 to. 10 g. were frequently observed with large ovaries and mature eggs.

Bluegill sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque. This species is rare in the river and only 3 specimens were collected, all from sta. 3. The Kansas Forestry, Fish and Game Commission has stocked bluegill widely in farm and ranch ponds and it is reared by the federal fish hatchery below the Cedar Bluff Dam, only 6.4 river miles upstream from sta. 3. Prob- ably the bluegill captured in the river came from a farm pond or the fish hatchery.

Orangespotted sunfish Lepomis humilis (Girard).—In contrast to Metcalf's (1966: 156) report concerning the abundance of the orangespotted sunfish in the Kansas River Basin, the species was quite uncommon in the Smoky Hill River. This species was limited to the western portion of the river. The 28 specimens collected from stations 1, 3 and 4 contributed only 0.20% of the total collection. Where the species did occur it occupied the same habitat type as the green sunfish. 136 Transactions Kansas Academy of Science

Largemouth bass, Micro pterus salmoides (Lacepede).—Largemouth bass was uncommon and made up only 0.10% of the total collection. It was found at stations 2, 3, 4 and 5, where rather shallow, clear-water sections of the river occurred. Only one specimen was taken from sta. 2 and the greatest abundance was at sta. 4 but we never collected more than one specimen at a time. The large pool frequently present at sta. 4 as well as several undercut banks provided cover and feeding areas. It is not known if largemouth bass are able to maintain numbers by reproduction in the river or if those taken were escapees from ponds or one of the two reservoirs.

Smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieui Lacepede.—Only a single specimen was taken (sta. 4 on 15 May 1966). Metcalf (1966: 154) reported that the Kansas Forestry, Fish and Game Commission had stocked this species in the Cedar Bluff Reservoir and apparently the above- mentioned specimen came from that stock.

Orangethroat darter, Etheostoma spectabile (Agassiz).—Thirty-three specimens of this species were collected from stations 2, 3, 4 and 5. Along with the fathead minnow, plains killifish, and creek chub, and orangespotted sunfish, this species eschewed the lower mainstream of the Smoky Hill River. The greatest abundance of this darter was at sta. 2 where it was found in clear water over sandy bottom with cover consisting of small rubble.

Freshwater drum, Aplodinotus grunniens Rafinesque.—This species was widely distributed in the river and was taken from all but sta. 1 although it achieved abundance only in the deeper pools of the lower half of the river. Drum could be considered rare west of Kanopolis Reser- voir, except for periodic occurrence in collections from sta. 2 above Cedar Bluff Reservoir. It probably spawns in May or June and young-of-the- year measured 20 mm by July.

Walleye, Stizostedion vitreum vitreum (Mitchill).—Only a single specimen was collected from sta. 7 in September 1965. The species is widely stocked in Kansas reservoirs but was of rare occurrence in the river. In contrast to movements observed by carp, carpsucker and white bass, the walleye apparently does not ascend streams from the reservoirs.

Exploitation There was no indication that the removal of fishes by electrofishing reduced the number of fishes collected from one collection to the next. Fishes of the Smoky Hill River, Kansas 137

Populations fluctuated from one collection date to the next but the number captured per collection generally showed an increase for most stations between 1965 and 1966 (Tables 3, 4, 5 and 6). At stations 2, 3 and 4, for which the most data was available, the standing crop in lb./acre-foot, increased for every station between 1965 and 1966. In spite of efforts to remove every fish by electrofishing, the populations were not depleted and in fact appeared to increase. Local fishermen and possibly local bait dealers were observed to use the river near stations 3 and 4 as a source of minnows. Our data indicate that the steram is not being utilized for minnows to the extent that it might be and furthermore, harvest of minnows from a steram, such as done by electrofishing, did not deplete the population. Trotline fishing and pole fishing with minnows yielded satisfactory catches of channel catfish, carp, and green sunfish. The river offers potential for channel catfish and flathead fishing in the lower mainstream.

Fish Migration A number of fishes collected by electrofishing were marked with Monel metal strap-tags and released so that their recapture might be used to measure the extent of fish movements and migrations. In 1965, 21 carp, 35 river carpsucker, 1 gizzard shad and 1 channel catfish were collected by electrofishing, tagged on the operculum and released at the station where captured. Of the 58 fished marked in 1965, only one was recaptured. The fish, a carp, was caught by a fisherman 13.6 miles downstream from the point of tagging. The fish was tagged at sta. 4 on 8 July 1965 and recaptured on approximately 15 February 1966. The time between marking and recapture was approximately 192 days during which time the fish moved downstream at an average of 0.08 miles per day. In 1966, 19 channel catfish, 56 carp and 20 river carpsucker, were recaptured at sta. 4. The carpsucker was tagged on 7 June and recaptured 22 days later on 28 June by a biology class from Fort Hays State College under the direction of Dr. T. Wenke. The second recapture was made by project personnel by electrofishing during a regular collection. The carp was tagged on 23 June 1966 and recaptured 35 days later on 28 July. The extent of movement of the carp in 1965-1966 and the low percentage of recaptures of fish marked indicates a high degree of mobility of carp, channel catfish and river carpsucker. However, recaptures in 1966 of two fish from the same station at which they were marked indicates no movements under stable water levels. However, the data is insufficient to draw conclusions. 138 Transactions Kansas Academy of Science

Acknowledgments This study. was partially supported by funds from regional research project, NC-85, entitled "Reduction of Hazards Associated with the Pres- ence of Residues of Insecticidal Chemicals in the Environment," Kansas Agricultural Experimental Station Project 481 and the Research Coordin- ating Council, Kansas State University. I am grateful to Dr. Herbert Knutson, Head of the Department of Entomology, for his support and cooperation and to Messers Timothy J. Britt, Jr., Harold M. Smith, Charles 0. Minckley, Max Johnson and Charles King for aid in collection of field data, study of laboratory specimens and for assistance in the computations. Dr. Frank B. Cross gave helpful suggestions on taxonomic problems and Dr. George A. Moore graciously provided editorial assistance.

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