Annual Report for FY 1971
THE INTERNATIONAL CENTER for
AQUACULTURE
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Agricultural Experiment Station
AUBURN UNIVERSITY
E.V. Smith, Director Auburn, Alabama
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COVER PHOTO: Small Pond Research Area
Agricultural Experiment Station
Auburn University
This Report designed and produced by
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLICATIONS
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
AUBURN UNIVERSITY
First Printing 1M, December 1971
Annual Report for FY 1971
Project: AID/csd 2780
THE INTERNATIONAL CENTER for
AQUACULTURE
INTRODUCTION
The International Center for Aquaculture was 
estab-
lished June 25, 1970, at the Auburn University Agricul-
tural Experiment Station, under authority contained in
Section 211 (d) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
The grant (AID/csd 2780) was for the purpose of im-
plementing the project "To Strengthen Specialized Com-
petency in Aquaculture," under the agreement signed
June 25, 1970 by Dr. John H. Hannah for USAID and
President Harry M. Philpott for Auburn University.
The following objectives were considered of primary
importance in strengthening the competence of the
Center.
1. To add experts in selected fields to the faculty.
2. To develop a library of world-wide literature on
aquaculture and more effective methods for dis-
semination of this information.
3. To provide educational opportunities in aquacul-
ture for personnel of AID and other governmental
agencies and private foundations, for students in-
terested in international development, and for
foreign participant training.
4. To develop a worldwide collection of data on food
fishes and other aquatic organisms that appear
suitable for culture.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING THE FIRST
YEAR
Technical Staff
The staff, percentage of time paid under AID/csd 2780
funds, together with their fields of specialization were as
follows:
H. S. Swingle, Director, 57 per cent. Specialties:
Aquacultures, Pond Construction, and Fish Population
Dynamics.
E. W. Shell, Professor, 31 per cent. Specialties: Fish
Populations, Fish Physiology, and Nutrition.
D. D. Moss, Assoc. Professor, 100 per cent July to Nov.
1, 1970. Subsequently shifted full-time to project AID/
csd 2270. Specialties: Aquacultures, Pond Construction,
and Planning Experimental Stations.
R. T. Lovell, Assoc. Professor, 100 per cent July to
Feb. 4, 1971. Subsequently 30 per cent with remainder
of time on Hatch project. Specialties: Fish Feeds and
Fish Technology.
R. O. Smitherman, Assoc. Professor, 100 per cent.
Specialties: Fish Breeding and Aquacultures.
C. E. Boyd, Assoc. Professor, 100 per cent beginning
April 1, 1971. Specialties: Aquatic Ecology and Aquatic
Plants.
Four graduate research assistants were supported.
Their names and areas of research were:
Paul L. Smith: Aquaculture; Tilapias and catfishes.
Len L. Lovshin: Aquaculture; Role of water hyacinths
in removing wastes from water.
Dan F. Leary: Fish Nutrition; Dietary fiber require-
ments in feeds for catfish.
Juim-Kuo Liang: Fish Nutrition; Use of water hya-
cinths in pelleted fish feeds.
Other staff members contributing to the expertise of
the Center, but supported by other funds include:
J. S. Dendy, Professor. Limnology.
J. M. Lawrence, Professor. Aquatic Plant Control,
Nutrient Relationships, and Water Quality.
E. E. Prather, Assoc. Professor. Aquacultures.
W. A. Rogers, Assoc. Professor. Aquaculture Parasites.
Ray Allison, Assoc. Professor. Fish Parasites.
John S. Ramsey, Assoc. Professor. Taxonomy and
Ecology of Species.
H. R. Schmittou, Assist. Professor. Aquacultures.
N. B. Jeffrey, Assist. Professor. Aquacultures (Over-
seas).
W. B. Davies, Assist. Professor. Fish Population
Dynamics (Overseas).
J. A. Plumb, Research Associate. Fish Diseases.
Library of World-Wide Literature on
Aquacultures
In connection with surveys conducted during the past
year at the request of AID Missions, a special effort was
made in each country to secure all publications dealing
with culture of fishes, shrimps, and other aquatic ani-
mals. These were obtained from Brazil, Costa Rica,
Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Panama, Peru, Philip-
pines, and Thailand. The publications and reports are
presently housed in the International Center for Aqua-
culture library for use by staff involved in the Interna-
tional program and by graduate students interested in
working in these or other 
foreign countries. Copies 
are
also available in the University Library.
A program was initiated during the year to increase
the University Library's holdings in aquaculture and
supporting subject matter areas. Emphasis was placed on
obtaining books and periodicals about aquaculture and
fisheries in other cointries. Altogether, 42 new books
were purchased during the year. Nineteen of these books
concerned foreign countries. Subscriptions were pur-
chased for three new periodicals.
A list of periodicals relevant to aquaculture and fish-
eries has been obtained from FAO. Those titles not al-
ready being received by the library will be purchased.
Abstracting Service of Publications Dealing
with Aquacultures and Inland Fisheries
Publications coming to Auburn from all parts of the
world are searched for articles related to aquacultures
and to inland fisheries. Copies are made of the abstracts
and occasionally of entire articles where they deal with
important advances in these fields.
Copies of these abstracts and papers are being sent to
fisheries departments in countries having cooperative
AID fisheries projects, to AID Mission Agricultural
Officers, and to other developing countries when AID-
sponsored surveys have been made. Copies of these ab-
stracts and papers are kept at the Auburn Center filed
under species and/or subject for rapid reference. Copies
of special articles on aquacultures are also made avail-
able to fisheries officials in cooperating countries upon
their request.
A total of 242 official publications and scientific re-
prints dealing with aquacultures has been collected and
filed under the country of origin to make assessment of
the status of fishery development in each country more
rapidly available. It is hoped a computerized program for
information retrieval can be set up within the next year.
Survey of Aquacultural Developments in
Japan, Taiwan, and Hawaii
To make recent advances in aquacultures more avail-
able to developing nations, Dr. H. R. Schmittou of our
staff visited Japan, Taiwan, and Hawaii, all of which have
highly-developed aquacultures. He made a survey of
both inland and coastal aquacultures and will prepare a
report on these cultural methods. A list of the areas that
were visited follows:
Japan (May 16-26, 1971): Freshwater Fisheries Labora-
tory of Hina; Kanagawa Prefecture Fisheries Experi-
mental Station; Fujinaga Shrimp Farm; Yamaguchi Pre-
fecture Culture Center; Nansei Regional Fisheries Lab-
oratory; Nichiro Gyogyo Oyster Plant; Pearl Research
Laboratory; Marine Station, Kinki University; Shizuika
Prefecture Fisheries Experimental Station; Privately
owned eel and ayu farms and processing plants; Far Seas
Fisheries Research Laboratory, Toka University.
Taiwan (June 2-11, 1971): Taoyuan Fish Propagation
Administration Farm; Chupei Fish Culture Station;
Tsengwen Tidal Land Milkfish Farm; Markets for Milk-
fish fry; Privately owned fish farms; Wushan Tou Fish
Hatchery; Tungkang Marine Laboratory.
Hawaii (May 11-14, 1971): Oceanic Institute, Makapuu
Oceanic Center.
Survey of International Fisheries Training and
Assistance Available in Israel
('iiierenc' xxl tid ed wxithi Peirsonniel of' the lIsraeli
Depairtment of' Fisheries at Ttel A\ i\x I Iebrexx L~ nlix el xitx'%
A jertisalein, anti the freoshxxatti fish('icis stations at Do]'
and Nir Da\ id, on the t\pts of' intei atioiial fisheries
ti ai nn and( axsi stanc to tl('x eopi ig cuIntricx that
ight let' madle axailable lbx Israel. A repor t, has hweln
'aiubiiitted to AlD/\\ash in rtonl.
Iad has apioral of' trainlili coisigoa3-t
6-imonth period xwithi Pairticipaints Wx 01king xwith fish cen1
turi sts in x arituts conim t'rcial fish f'o is, fol loxx id b\~ I
month at Dor xworking xwith the rest'archl statE, and 1
month at Nir Dax id xxork ing( onl fish parasite amid dlisease
1
)rol 1cmx. lhis pm ogm aml is limited to 2 to 5 trainecer
pciioti breamisc of' a lack of' tioi littli x amid itstai cl lacili-
tics at Doi- amid Mri Daxvid. Cost of thc( tri ming is apprtoxi-
match $500 per ninmth pis trax ti expenses.
Irael has d1(c tlpcl x erx pmrodiictixve mid efficient
techiqutpes for pond cmltture of' commin cairp, iilapia
OimfCl0 ai nti milet. Therte aire linited i nmber-s of, txperi-
encet fish fini m managers and is herx, reseam ci peirsonnel
xwho are flmliliam xwith thecse cultiures anld are ax ailahie for
xxoik abrioatd uinder x arionis international or. national Coll-
tracts.
Participation of Staff in International 
Surveys,
Seminars, and International Publications
Fixve staff miners took part inl fisheries sr txI'\s ill
Ecuiatdor, Perui Panama, El Saixador, 1ithiti, and Thai-
la nd.
One staff membm' wax the ixvited spea'k-ir at a scininam'
onl liilllatiol (If' indigenlnls xx. exotic fishtes hli inl
Bogota, Colombia.
Txx oI stafi, memb'ms pao ticipatt'd inl wxriting sectioins fom
an -FlAO) X anal f'or Fisllcultumial Restarch", amnd oil(u of'
the(st' st'rx tn as t'ditor for)i the pubhlication.
S\\ iolct 11. S. ani( Has Alliison. Repoit on ti ip to Isie forf dnislcus-
sion oif intItl]lililal 'ooper atmoni xxith AID in fisherie's re'searcthI amid
ti ainiug. Feb. 1971, 131 pages.
RESEARCH REPORTS
Astimnal 's I the i 'stai c'h coindu~ctedt thil ing the( first
year byX the staff of'the International Center midit by grail
niate research assistants uiide'r this project fllows.
Fish Breeding and Genetics
Blue, c'hanni'l, anti wXhite catfish hroodl st~ck Xii
maiiitained. Channel anti wXhite catfish fingerlings wXere
rear ed for fulture expe'rimnents on 1 r('t'iing anti c'ommer-
cial piroductioni .
Strains of' ichannel catfish fr~om idifferent riveir wXsti'is
im Getorgia, Florida, '1ixas, andl Alab ama werie tobtauinied
foi stutdies onl genetics and selective b'freedIing. Y~onuig
c'laiiiiel catf'ishu of' the samne age XXere prodItuicedl fr-om
st~c'ks of' Cahaha Riv er, \Marlion I Iatc'ht'i cross of' Ca-
haha x MIarion, and ti\uii 1)Ini~ iisit J v. lhee suhje'itedl
to stiress of' fluctuating pHi, high pfl, anti high wXatir
temperatures iii rearing uinits, suii k i l wXas c'(Insisto'ilt
hlighier inl the ( ahaha x M1arion cross.
A studl (Iv f' iirss-out petrc'entage frloml at tltep-iboii(tl
stuibby type fi-omi the 'knhurn strain of channel cautfishi iii-
checateil that proIduc'tion of' flesh XX as slightly greater inl
ntormlally sha pi't fish. Stuhhxy fish hald the samei liumhler
of, Xertehraci' s longer, inormal fish but X ct tbrac etrt'
mo(re ctompre'ssedt anterioIr to Posteriolr.
F., hy britds (Ifthe c'rosses femiale retlear x mnalt' hlnegill
anti female bhiegill x male ni-ilar reproduoce'd success-
fully , prodiiciing 145 anti Ill lh.IA., respectiv el', of IF
3
j
offspring ill fertilizetd pontis. Pirotduction wXas similar toI
that of Fl I i 1 riils. Sc\ ratios of F., crosscs i niiattil 46
and T0 pei- cent males, rcspectiX i'v, compared to 85 per
(eat m'ales inl the' F
1 
of, femlal e itear x Inale lui(gilI
cr'oss.
Both reciprocal Ih'" lhritls of' Alahaina rcey b ass x
ChJattahiooche rit' I ('(ec bas 5s Nv'r( Produiced l attiialls ill
puis. oll(g of' both crosses5 grews' at simiilar rates il in
pond1t wXithi insects anld other aquiatic amimlals ats food.
Theli Purpose of' the fish selection and 1 reediig pro-
graml is to piroduce superior sti ai Os foi cli ltui e and to dce
(elop meth ods for br eeding andI routinie testini g of' the
pi ogenY wXhich cali be uised here aind al)ioath.
Methods for Increasing Fish Production
)ne techiiqiflc testeil to int'leaste Piroduction wXas to
ritluce pon wi Xater Xwaistes that resulted frol 1011 roXXti i iit
heCcilng of' fish I' I uy se (If aeIcration anIti ItX dy(Sec of, hiolIogical
inethods (If\ Xaste dlisposal. Otlem techil i(llets im e tstigI(atedt
XX ire cage( cture and pin culture as mlethodls ofii i-
six c cultuire that mas hi' tisefil ii) large biodies (If XX ater
wXhetre joittisi'VC m1ana(yeml-iet of, the enitirte area is im-
Pr actical.
Aeration
Aeirationl X uiste of 1 )owXers madle possib~le douibliing the
pr-Oilctioii o f' ehai mel catfi sh, fiom 2,500 pounds
1 
to
5,.000 poundls Per aerc. Mlainteinance of di ssolvc iio\N genI
abov e 3 pp.01. ill b~ottom~ wa ~ter s of' Pontds gaveU improveid
feet
1 
conv ersion anti more rap)idi growt than tii ) II joiitls
wXhere oxygenl droppedl to 1 Ppm,1 necar the 
1
)ol lottoml.
Biological Methods for Waste Disposal
I
Brood channel cotfish, sucr
nherited variability. Brood fish from several states hove been collected for
this work.
Wh fat aie w'Xaste's for one( fish are often feedt foi another
fi sh or aquatic animial. Both fish1 and aqfua~tic p)lants XX ere1
testedl as methods for)i reducetioni (If XXastes in Xater wvhere
fi shi w'seirem ig cultu red. Thei goldlfish1 anti redhorse
sucker XXen' founid to he wXithout X alue fo r this purpose
W~hen addedti to Pondls Wvhere catfish wvere lwemg raisedl by
fettling. 1Howev'Xer, Fiulapia aurci wXas (quite eff'icient inl
retlucinlf w 'astes beicause it fedl onl feces, (ilcax inig or-
ganic inattt'i antd plankton that resulteid fromt w'astes.
P~rotductioin wXith thet com-bination of channjel catfish anti
tilapia y ieled appiroximnately 5,000 poinids channel cat-
ishi and 2,000 poundls tilapia per act-(,, w ich is higher
prodiictioii than wXas ohtamt'(l by channel catfi sh alone
iii aeratedl pond wXaters. Diiriing the (cu1rrent x tar, expcri-
mnents cominiing b~iological wXaste reduction plus aeration
u1s ing the abov e comb Iination of fishes, artc in pro(_rrt'ss.
Sev eral species of' freshwvatcr mussels hav e heen oh-
taincd foi tests of' their efficic's i ii reinoving wa ~stes
froml Pontd wXaters.
Il 
Il
nclusio of4ipaora 
bl- i nesv 
utrso hne 
afs
abve pemte ihrfein 'ae1 n nraedpouto 
fpud
of ~ fihpr ce
Pa t(f IIc \ t(, [I( i i r~t -z ' n Iw c IIir li
Calls(, -av gro th of '1o l on 
ae apo
Inclusi o ff io p CVo ilurea aeloss in 
onen' cltues ofchael carfdis
(aoe) permititehighroedirae and incresedcrodution 
ofe pods urrndsy
oish prare.T e plnsapa sutbefrrd clf
I' tophicatie 5 whti t 1Ii th , i y arm v d atcrs the\-I 
heit\(
tageltur the alo(loilreutnItmdcx
esercale oi cultiutre. of'fpseimentags tis 
Stati on-
haxcd Patrac demonstrated that 
:30 ato h4cntsae 00rx(i
cue ntr reo loicot froe wastes orip~ aterd 
bvte
pond, tlic eh o tream itt witit l ts o cas 
is herenedg
Coate )tfeedsoo and metd enr Ctontarol 
ofparsis ndx
in piacultuTesel plts plague 
byta~ tot fredulcig
reptrodu ction ain thex may retaox efterth. 
a e
fill e il lage atntptttts ofl ntriets.w tr 
f'pn s l
toitci wastrsc demonsstrated that 
:300 tond 400Ila 'vpll
pond rowh chanel9 catfs o tilapia cape prubce 
petof
caeucou d tne oce The 10 wsees awethouit 
Cedi1)gth
pond.rer o, tftst camd in peicr cth cw 
of(age tsedd
Fornts cutrith iis nsarsto dc eitopt omititiotallx('
Tia N laiakttr in 14n.7 ispage b 
.0ifcqt
Leght)(lutctii and 7 tt25an.mllfs. 
6iaiaxr
~Ib
-I
Cage culture is a popular fish production method 
in the Orient. Several
different types of cages have been tested 
at Auburn, and research has
been conducted on some of the problems 
encountered in this production
method.
The feCed added wxas a high grade 
floating trout chox.
The poinds xxith heax ' plankton 
xxere those inl xxhich c-at-
fish wxere being raised by feed 
tog sinking pclleted feled.
The potnd xvith light plankton 
receiv ed phosphate fe~rtili
zation only. This ty pe of cage Culture 
appears suitable
for use iol dexveloping counitries 
xwherexvei there is heaxvy
planktonj groxxth.
Pen Culture
The culture of fishi iii penis alontg 
the mat gii of' lakes or
iliptitittlnents has been used 
to an extrels limited ex-
tent andI practically no research 
has heen conducted to
deterine its possibilities. Research 
onl this problem xwas
set ipl itt 1970-71 at sexveral 
stations iol Thailand andI at
the International Center. The 
pens at the Intternattonal
Center xvere mlade using a 
fteocing of' nxyol bitetting andI
hoards. Inl Asia, the f'encing 
is expected to he made of'
bamboo as this is a common 
practice.
At Auburn, :30 peois are set itt the 
marginal xxaters and
extendl out into xx ter 1.3 mneter 
s dleep. These pens arc
cotistructed singlY and inl Sets of 
:3 andI 5 contiguous pens
-. 
.. 
B 
m 
+ p
Research on pen culture was started at the International Center in 1970-71. In this picture scientists are harvesting fish from several of the pens to determine
production.
to determine the effect of adjoining pens on production.
One third of the pens are without feeding to evaluate the
production possible from fertility of the pond waters and
bottom muds. Two-thirds of the pens receive daily sup-
plemental feeding with sinking pellets. Fish used in the
tests are channel catfish plus Tilapia aurea or the com-
mon carp. Results will be determined in November, 1971.
The companion projects in Thailand are set up with
pens constructed in irrigation reservoirs, using Tilapia
nilotica, a plankton feeder, and a fish feeding on aquatic
plants, either Tilapia rendali ( melanopleura) or the grass
carp. Aquatic weeds harvested from shallow areas of the
reservoir will be fed to fish in the pens. The resulting
fecal wastes and plankton will furnish feed for both
species. This is to evaluate the usefulness of aquatic
weeds as feeds and green manures where other fish feeds
are not available.
This type of culture may be widely usefl in developing
countries where water has been impounded in reservoirs
for irrigation.
Fish Feeds and Feeding
Part of this research is cooperative with Thailand and
Brazil. The Auburn staff devises feed formulations from
products available in the cooperating countries and the
rations are tested by personnel on location. This co-
operative work will be extended in the coming year to
the Philippines, Panama, and El Salvador as fisheries
projects are finalized there.
Use of Water Hyacinths in Mixed Feeds for Fish
In East Pakistan and many other countries, water
hyacinths are very abundant and interfere with water
management. The fisheries specialist of the AID Mission
at Dacca had suggested that the East Pakistan fisheries
division use the protein from these plants in fish feeds.
However, this research was considered too complicated
and of doubtful value for a developing country to under-
take, so the Auburn survey team brought the problem
back for study at the Auburn center. Research has been
conducted for the past 3 years on methods of protein ex-
traction, its feed value, and the value of dried water
hyacinth meal in fish feeds. During the past year, this
work was continued under funds from the International
Center.
Hyacinths in ponds have yielded up to 17 tons dry
weight of plants per acre within 1 year. The crude pro-
tein content was 15.9 per cent on a dry weight basis. The
amino acid content of the protein was also determined.
Extraction of protein by the Village Press method, de-
veloped in England, was inefficient. The protein effi-
ciency ratio for water hyacinth protein in fish feeds was
only 7 per cent that of casein, which was used as a stand-
ard protein. Palatability of the dry plant meal fed as a
major component of catfish feeds was low. Ilowever, the
dried meal was a source of vitamins and when it was
added to a vitamin-free diet, higher weight gains and
higher survival of channel catfish were obtained. Addi-
tion of over 10 per cent hyacinth meal reduced palata-
bility of the mixed feed to catfish.
i*
,** ~Vt .
24 10
-. ~~wi 7-
c
'7k
~' ~
The effects of water hyacinths on fish production and their use to remove encess nutrients from eutrophic waters were tested. The left picture shows hyacinth
growth in water low in nutrients and the right shows hyacinth growth in water high in nutrients.
Vitamin Mixes and Minerals in Pelleted Feeds
The Auhburn No. 2 fish teed,( is a simple mixturec of pea-
itit me1al. stixbeanl titeal, fish mecal, atnd distiller-s soluibles
xx liclt has heeni used extensixvelx fo(i- the past 12 x'ears inl
colnierci a] fish Production. It is a supplemental teed c de-
signed for use oitl]\ in ponld Culture of fist, xxhcrc ntatuiral
feeds are also ax ail able. Tests xx re Condutcted to (leter]-
mnine if' additional x itatn s xxccneeded. It xxas f'ound
that addition ott a standard x itanin premix to 'Xubtrn No(.
2 yi elded higher production, reduced fte pounds of feed,(
rujquit id per poutnd of gain fr-om 1.7 tot 1.2, and dcrieased
costs 1) x 1.5 cci its pet poundi~ of catfish pro~duiced.
The xvaluie of phospiotits antd calciutm at approximately
1.3 pi cent in the diet xxas indicated 1)x feeding seii
purified diets. P~hosphortus sources in the diet xx ci
ciritical thin cilciutm, si nce calciutm is also apparentlx
absor bed hx fish fion) xxater.
Concentrated Fish Feeds
Use of contitcnratcd fish feCeds should theoretically re-
stilt inl less xwater potllution. COn sequentlx . tests xxer e run
to dletermi ne fte fhasibil itx of elimimating mlost of, ftte
fiber inl fish feceds.
Feed and initrieitt conixersions becamec poorer as fibeir
xxas incteased ft om 2 per cent to 20 per cent in purlified
Ii ets lot chtanntel catfish, indicatinig these fish can util ize
at Concentr ated, loxx-fibet diet.
Striped Bass Culture
'Ihe( striped b)ass ( lorotic .5(xatilis) is at large pjt 'i-cd
torx fish iiatix ( to the Atlaintic and Gutlf coahsts of' tile
Un itedl States. It hias been itntrodutcedl to the P~acific coast
and to at feCxv large reservonirs in sexveral inlandl states. This
species is importtantt primarily b~ecautse tt is capable of
Cetx(rting r4elatively stnlall, low qjuality f'orage fish ittto
large, high quality fish and tnay also lie groxxi oi tpn
1
)lleted
feed(s.
Researchi at Aubi urn has lbeen pritnirilv concerned
wxith factors affecting thle surxvival and groxxthl of, early
life Itistoix\ stages of' the species. InI experitnents con-
dlitcd in the sping of' 1971, striped bass flx\ hteld inl
h atching jars surxvixved and grew itch better iii wxater
Cointaining 1 partt per thtousand (1,000 ppm.) salt tihan in
untreated wxater fimi a stream or inl streatn xwater to
wxhicli had beeni added 150 ppm calciumi silf'ate. There
wxas no difleretice itt the stirxvival andl gt oxxth of' fryv held
in fte untreated xx ater anol wxater ti eatedc wxith calciluml
sulfate.
Fry I eiitg giroxxn in ponds xwhere ttotal hardness xx as 20
1)pm1. didl not surx ix e better or. groxw better xxhenl cal-
it sulfate xxas added to the pond xxater. InI filet, it ap-
peat ed that the additioni of the chemical to the Wxater at at
concentration of'150 ppm. resulted iii decreased surxvixval.
InI experimletits to dleter mine the eff~ct of' stotckitng
(lensitx ott thle net production of' 5- to 10-in. stripeol bass
fitiget 1ings in potndis, denisities of 6,000. 10,000, and :30,000
per- acre- resulted in net production s of' 169, :396, and
76:3 pounds of' fisht per acre, irespectixvely, 
xxhere thex
xvere fed pelleted feeds.
Use of Grass Carp for Aquatic Weed Control
Grass carp, stocked for aquatic weed control at 112 per
acre in a bass-bluegill-redear pond that received feeding,
removed algae and other aquatic weeds, and only 5 per
cent of their stomach contents was fish feed. Stomach
analysis also indicated minimal competition with bass,
bluegill, or redear sunfishes for insects and other 
natural
foods.
Grass carp stocked at 20 to 40 per acre effectively con-
trolled Chara, midget sedge, and Pithophora in a first-
year bass-bluegill pond, and had no apparent detrimental
effect on the other fish species despite adding some 84
pounds per acre to the standing crop of fishes.
Grass carp at rates up to 160 per acre did not detri-
mentally affect growth and survival of channel catfish
and striped bass nor did they eliminate within a 6-month
period dense stands of water hyacinth from ponds. They
did feed on the hyacinth roots, reducing growth of these
plants. There was an apparent increase in standing crops
of catfish and striped bass with the addition of grass carp,
possibly a secondary effect from partial control of the
hyacinth.
Experiments are also being conducted in northeast
Thailand with varying numbers of grass carp per rai for
control of mixed aquatic weeds in irrigation reservoirs.
Their effect on abundance of aquatic weeds and their
contribution to the fish catch is to be measured in 2 ad-
ditional reservoirs.
Fish Technology
Off-flavors occasionally encountered in channel cat-
fish have been attributed to actinomycetes (mycelial
bacteria) and to algae residing in pond water. Chemical
materials produced by actinomycetes and algae ap-
parently are absorbed by fish independent of the diet.
Approximately 15 days in flowing water was required to
rid fish of the off-flavor. An expanded project supported
by State Experiment Station and regional funds has been
initiated to study causes and prevention of undesirable
flavors in fish.
Fish sausages made from common carp and grass carp
had moderate consumer appeal. A pressure cooked 
prod-
uct (fish salad) made from grass carp was very well 
re-
ceived.
PUBLICATIONS
A list of the publications from the Department of Fish-
eries and Allied Aquacultures and the International
Center for Aquaculture follows, with asterisks 
beside
those written by the Staff supported in part by 
Center
funds. Since the Center has been in existence for only 1
year, there is no published information from research on
this project.
ALLISON, RAY and W. A. ROGERS. 
1970. Monogenetic
Trematodes of Some Alabama Freshwater Fishes 
with
Descriptions of Four New Species and 
Redescriptions
of Two Species. Proc. Helm. Soc. Wash. 37(1): 
17-23.
SBOYD, CLAUDE E. 1970. Seasonal Changes in the 
Proxi-
mate Composition of Some Common Aquatic Weeds.
Hyacinth Control J. 8:42-44. (With Robert 
D. Black-
burn).
1970. Influence 
of Organic Matter 
on
Some Characteristics of 
Aquatic Soils. Hydrobiologia.
36(1):17-21.
*CHIEN, SHIH MING. 1970. Four New Species 
of Mono-
genetic Trematodes, Genus Pellucidhaptor From 
Fishes
of the Southeastern U.S. J. Parasit. 56(3):480-485. (With
W. A. Rogers).
. 1970. Alonella fitzpatricki 
sp. n.
and A. leei sp. n.: New Cladocera 
From Mississippi.
Trans. Amer. Microsc. Soc. 89(4):532-538.
FIJAN, N.K. 1969. Drug Sensitivity of Chondrococcus
columnaris. Veterinarski Arhiv. Zagreb 
Knjiga
XXXIX/1969, Svezak 9-10, pp 259-267. 
Urednistvo
Primilo Rukopis 19 V. (With P. Voorhees).
1970. An Acute Viral Disease of Channel
Catfish. Tech. Paper FWS. 43.
GREENE, GEORGE N. 1970. Effects 
of Water Hardness on
Fish Production in Plastic Pools. Proc. 
Southeastern
Assoc. of Game and Fish Comm. 23(1969):455-461.
JEFFREY, NORRIS B. 1970. Some Aspects of 
the Ecology
of Fish Ponds. Fish Farming Conference, 
Texas A & M
University. p. 40-42.
JOHNSON, S.K. 1970. Sodium Hypochlorite: Use 
on Para-
sitic Copepoda for Identification. Trans. Amer. Microsc.
Soc. 88(4): 591-592.
*LOVELL, R.T. 1970. Incidence and Growth of Some
Health-Related Bacteria in Commercial Freshwater
Crayfish (Genus Procambarus). J. Food Sci. 34:268-271.
(With J. A. Barkate).
_1970. Nutrition in Catfish Culture. 
The
American Fish Farmer 2(1):18.
PARDUE, G.B. 1970. Temperature Tolerance of Clarias
batrachus. FAO Fishculture Bulletin 2(3):6.
10
PLUMB, J.A. 1971. Channel Catfish Virus 
Research at
Auburn University. Auburn Univ. 
(Ala.) Agr. Exp. Sta.
Prog. Rept. 95.
PRATHER, E.E. 1970. Fishing Success for Channel Cat-
fish and White Catfish in Ponds With Daily Feeding.
Proc. Southeastern Assoc. of Game and Fish Comm.
23(1969):480-490.
ROGERS, W.A. 1970. Summary of Fish Disease Cases
Received Over a Five-Year Period at Southeastern Fish
Disease Laboratory. Proc. Southeastern Assoc. of Game
and Fish Comm. 23(1969):353-358.
SCHMITTOU, H.R. 1970. Cage Culture of Channel Cat-
fish. Fish Farming Conf. p. 72-75.
- 1970. The Culture of Channel Catfish
(Ictalurus punctatus Rafinesque) in Cages Suspended
in Ponds. Proc. Southeastern Assoc. of Game and Fish
Comm. 23 (1969): 226-244.
'SWINGLE, H.S. 1970. History of Warmwater Pond Cul-
ture in the United States. A Century of Fisheries in
North America. Am. Fish Soc. Special Publ. 7:95-105.
The following publications were in press at the time
this report was.prepared.
DENDY, J.S., G.B. PARDUE, and LARRY AGGUS. Disposable
Planchets for Weighing Macrobenthos. Progressive Fish
Culturist.
DENDY, J.S. Phenology of Midges in Experimental
Ponds. Internat'l Symposium on Chironomidae.
HILL, THOMAS K., G.B. PARDUE, and B.W. SMITH. An
Evaluation of Several Marking Methods for Channel
Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus Rafinesque). Southern
Division Am. Fish. Soc.
KILGEN, R.H. and R.O0. SMITHERMAN. Food Habits of
the White Amur (Ctenopharyngodon idella) Stocked in
Ponds Alone and in Combination With Other Species.
Progressive Fish-Culturist.
LAWRENCE, JOHN M. Fertility and Aquatic Biomass in
Southeastern Impoundments. National Symposium on
Hydrobiology.
*LIANG, J.K. and R.T. LOVELL. Nutritional Value of Water
Hyacinth in Channel Catfish Feeds. Hyacinth Control
Journal.
Biological Evaluation of
Aquatic Plants as Potential Ingredients in Supplement
Feeds for Channel Catfish. Southern Division Amer.
Fish. Soc.
*LOVELL, R.T. The Emergence of Cultured Catfish as a
Consumer Food Item. Proc. Assoc. of South. Agr.
Workers Ann. Convention. p. 110.
. Some Chemical and Sensory Aspects of
Freshwater Catfish (Genus Ictalurus). Proc. Assoc. of
South. Agr. Workers Ann. Convention. p. 110.
. Chemical Composition of Channel Catfish
(Ictalurus punctatus Rafinesque) as a Food Fish. Pre-
sented at the 100th Annual Meeting of American Fish-
eries Society. New York City, September, 1970.
Post-Mortem Degradation of Nucleotides
in Gulf Shrimp (Penaeus aztecus). Proc. of Third Inter-
nat'l Congress of Food Science and Technology. p. 105.
MATHUR, DILIP. Food Habits and Feeding Chronology
of Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus Rafinesque) in
Conowingo Reservoir. Proc. Southeastern Assoc. Game
and Fish Comm. 24.
and T. W. ROBBINS. Food Habits and
Feeding Chronology of Young White Crappie (Pomoxis
annularis Rafinesque) in Conowingo Reservoir. Trans.
Amer. Fish. Soc.
Seasonal Food Habits of
Adult White Crappie (Pomoxis annularis Rafinesque) 
in
Conowingo Reservoir. Amer. Midl. Nat.
PLUMB, J. A. A Virus-Caused Epizootic of Rainbow
Trout (Salmo gairdneri) in Minnesota. Trans. American
Fisheries Society.
ROGERS, W. A. Epistylis (Ciliata:Pertricher) Epizootics
of Fish in the Southeastern U. S. Proc. Southeastern
Assoc. Game and Fish Comm.
SMITHERMAN, R. O. and T. E. CORLEY. Catfish Culture
and the Agricultural Engineer. Agricultural Engineer-
ing. 1971.
SMITHERMAN, R. O. Research on Exotic Fish Species.
Proceedings of the Primer Seminario Sobre Piscicultura
En Colombia. Universidad de Caldas, Manizales, Co-
lombia.
SRole of Research in the Develop-
ment of the Catfish Industry. Proceedings of the Con-
ference on Producing and Marketing Catfish in the
Tennessee Valley.
.SWINGLE, H. S. Techniques for the Development of
Systems of Aquaculture. FAO Handbook for Aquacul-
ture Research. 77 pages.
11
TRAINING CONDUCTED AND DEGREES
AWARDED
Seminars
Seminars were set up at Auburn for training partici-
pants under AID and FAO fellowships and for students
specializing in Aquacultures. Following is a list of guest
speakers.
January 15, 1971. Mr. Jack Snow, Director, Marion Na-
tional Fish Hatchery, Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wild-
life, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Marion, Alabama.
"Culture of Largemouth Bass".
February 12, 1971. Mr. Sam Chapman, Biologist, Soil
Conservation Service, Athens, Georgia. "Raceway Culture
with Channel Catfish".
February 19, 1971. Dr. James W. Avault, Jr., Associate
Professor, School of Forestry and Wildlife Management,
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
"L.S.U.'s Aquacultural Research Program".
March 5, 1971. Mr. I. B. Byrd, Chief, Division of Federal
Aid, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration, St. Petersburg, Florida.
"Federal Programs Relating to Aquacultures".
April 6, 1971. Dr. Alan P. Jones, Marine Biologist, Minis-
try of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Fisheries Labora-
tory, Suffolk, England. "Raceway and Cage Culture of
Flatfishes".
May 18, 1971. Dr. David S. Mitchell, Director, Nuffield
Lake Kariba Research Station, Division of Biological
Sciences, University of Rhodesia, Salisbury, Rhodesia,
Africa. "Salvinia on Lake Kariba-the Explosive Growth
of an Aquatic Weed on a Man-Made Lake in Tropical
Africa".
Students in Academic Fisheries Courses
Undergraduate Students
A total of 32 undergraduate students specializing in
courses in Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures were work-
ing for the B.S. degree; none were foreign students.
A total of 10 B.S. degrees were awarded during the
year.
Graduate Students
During the year there were 21 students enrolled and
working for the M.S. degree in Fisheries and Allied
Aquacultures of which 4 were foreign students with AID
fellowships. Three M.S. degrees were awarded.
There were 14 graduate students working for the Ph.D.
12
degree, specializing in Fisheries and Aquacultures. Of
these, two were foreign students from Taiwan. Four
Ph.D. degrees were awarded.
Special Training for Biologists from
Cooperating Countries
Staff of the International Center for Aquaculture par-
ticipated in the training at Auburn of biologists from the
following countries:
Costa Rica. Mr. Bob Brown and Sr. Eddie Gomez 
of
the Turrialba Fish Culture Project, Costa Rica, visited
Auburn on June 29 and 30, 1971, for the purpose of dis-
cussing with appropriate staff members problems being
encountered in their aquacultural project in Costa Rica.
A tour of the field and laboratory facilities was arranged
with discussions of various research projects underway at
the Fisheries Research Unit.
Ecuador. An on-campus orientation program was carried
out at the request of AID/Ecuador for Sr. Fausto-Silva
Montenegro, Director of the Department of Fishculture,
Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Quito, Ecuador,
October 13-19, 1970. The primary purpose was to ac-
quaint Sr. Fausto with the various research programs on
inland waters at the International Center for Aquacul-
ture and on estuarine waters at the Alabama Seafoods
Research Station at Dauphin Island. Conferences were
arranged with each staff member at the Center and the
Station and a tour was made of pond and laboratory
facilities. Conferences also were held for the purpose of
reviewing recommendations for a possible cooperative
aquacultural program in Ecuador, based on the fishcul-
ture survey carried out by staff of the International Center
for Aquaculture in 1969.
Philippines. Professor Jose Carreon, Director of the In-
stitute for Fisheries Development and Research, who will
be Assistant Project Leader at the brackishwater station,
and Mr. Melchior Lijauco, Project Leader for the pro-
posed brackishwater station, at Leganes, (Iloilo), to be
constructed under an AID project, were sent by AID/
Philippines to the International Center for 
Aquaculture
at Auburn University from September 18 to October 14,
1970. The major purpose of their visit was to observe
field and laboratory facilities at the Center and to be-
come as familiar as possible with research equipment,
the general operation methods of our warmwater re-
search station, and that of the estuarine Seafood Research
Station of the Alabama Department of Conservation. A
brief outline of the training program for these visitors is
in the Appendix to this report.
NEW PROJECTS AND FUNDS FOR
RESEARCH
Cooperative Project with Israel
A coopti atiN c I)rojcct xwith D) r.M\ I xh Shilo of' lIi 
)I c('
University \\,iax prepared and submi initted 
to tihe N atioi ial
Science h oil iationi for- suppor t. Thit 
1
rojcct titlesx xx en:
1. Ecological Factors Associate'd xx iti the' Dcx ('101-
me'it of' Dense Biooms aiid Dic offs of' 1liic-grcn
Algae. D~r. C. E. Boxyd, Leader, International(cnc
fb(i- Aquiacnltiirc, Auiburn U.nixversity Agr. Exp. Sta-
tio U.
2. Biological Agents and Physx ioiogical 
Coiiditioiix
wxhichli 'fCct the Dxynainics of' Blue-green 
Algid
P'opuilations inl Nati c, Dr. \Ioxhi 
Shimo, Leader,
11(1)1 cx Inlixerxitx, .Israel.
Tiic icxvel of' suipport req uested \\-iax 846,965 
per year at
the International Center and $40,000 at Hebcrewx Unlixcr-
sitx.
IIW1 pr'oblemii of' bloc gi'cc i algal b~loomsx andi 
dit' nib
is a imost impoitiit xx 01ldxxidc 
piohlcni inl atjiiaciilturic,
and is tlic cause of' a high pci-ccii tage of'thc mortal itx 
c
toriring in fisi idt other cuitmi td torgaiixms.
Catfish Breeding, Production, and Marketing
Project
Dir. Smitlciti a of' thie Iit'inatitinal (Centci- xxorkedt
wxith a coommittt'e from tiot Agricultural Expcri 
litt
Stationx iii 12 xtates, . S. Department 
of' Agricuiltuirt'
U. S. Departmncnt of Interior, L'. S. Decpartmnent 
(of' Com-
rmerce, and TV A inl develiopinig at regio~nal rexcarc'h pro-
gram otil Catf'ish Cuilture, xvhich hiax ib'en approvxe't for
Serxvice, U SD)A. Regional Rcesearch Funds xvili be made
ax iihi' ior tii rexeairch inl tlic A giicoituida Expci-imcnit
Stationx of' 12 xtatex, wxhich t'iphaxizes that aqjiiacutiitii
is loxx r'cogizetd axs anl importaiit Phaxc of a gricuilture
inl till U. S.
Ani ap)prowx''( xtii)projcct ('lilrtiltiv inl operation tindetr
Dr. L oxvell is entitled:
"Pro0Ct'xxii g and MIarketin g Technology of' ( oinier-
cialix C 'iltiii ctl C atfixh", xxith finlancial xupport alt $33,000
pei xycar mndt'i funids to the Agyrici ltural Expt'ri micilt
Statioii for regional and rural dt'xvtlopment rexci cii.
Acdditional 1)ro.icctx dealing xxith i-ccding and cul~tural
methtodx art' ill Pireparation foi suipport f'-i'om this x 
olircc.
APPENDIX
Special Training Program Provided for Philip-
pine Biologists at Request 
of AID/Philippines
Itinerary
Trainees: Mr. Jose A. Carreon and Mr. Melchor M. Lijauco of the
University of the Philippines, Institute for Fisheries Research and
Development.
September 18, 1970
September 19
September 20
September 21
September 22
September 23
September 24
September 25
September 29
September 30
October 1
October 2
October 5
October 6
Departed Manila, Philippines
Arrived Auburn at 5:20 PM
Preliminary discussions with Dr. Moss
Spent morning with Dr. Moss discussing
layout of freshwater and brackishwater
stations. Briefly visited ponds at the Fisheries
Research Unit during mid-morning. Early
afternoon-conference with Dr. Swingle on
systematic record-keeping for research infor-
mation. Late afternoon-discussion with Dr.
Moss concerning library materials needed for
Leganes library
Early morning-went over the reference
files of the Department of Fisheries and
Allied Aquacultures. Spent rest of the
morning with Dr. Lovell in discussion on
fish nutrition. Spent afternoon with Dr. Par-
due discussing selective breeding techniques
as applied to aquacultures.
Early morning-worked on library materials.
Rest of day with Dr. Ramsey on the Alabama
Cooperative Fishery Unit fish collection and
survey trip to Halawakee Creek.
Morning-At Fisheries Research Unit with
Messrs. Black and Ellington (pond construc-
tion). Early afternoon-conference with Dr.
Moss on library materials. Late afternoon-
discussion with Mr. Plumb on viral diseases
of fish.
Spent entire day at the Fisheries Research
Unit with Messrs. Black and Ellington. Took
notes and specifications on equipment used in
fisheries research; also notes and specifications
on construction equipment.
Morning-Conferences with Mr. Black on
pond construction at Fisheries Research Unit.
Afternoon-Conference with Dr. Smitherman
in the office on methods of maintaining records
and files of research.
Spent the entire day working on the list of
equipment needed for the proposed brackish-
water station at Iloilo.
Conference with Dr. Dendy on natural fish-
foods and Chironomids; From 10:00 AM
until 11:00 AM-Sat in on Dr. Lovell's fish
technology class. First part of afternoon-
Conference with Dr. Rogers on fish parasites
and diseases. Late afternoon-worked on
list of equipment.
Morning-worked on list of equipment. First
hour of afternoon-Seminar presentation by
Mr. Barkuloo on Tektite II project. Late
afternoon-Fisheries Research Unit observing
pond construction.
Spent entire day with Dr. Moss at his residence
working on list of equipment needed for
brackishwater station.
Morning-Observed pond draining operations
at Fisheries Research Unit. Afternoon-Partici-
pated in fish sorting and recording of data at
end of the experiments.
October 7
October 8
October 9
October 11-12
October 13
October 14
Morning-Conference and visit to ponds at
Fisheries Research Unit with Mr. Prather on
cage culture and spawning of channel catfish.
Afternoon-Conference with Dr. Lawrence
on water chemistry and weed control.
Morning-Observed pond draining operations.
Afternoon-Worked on list of equipment for
brackishwater station.
Morning-Conference with Dr. Moss on water
system of brackishwater station. Afternoon-
Mr. Carreon gave seminar program on U. P.
College of Fisheries and the inland fisheries
program of the Philippines. Conference with
Dr. Moss for rest of afternoon.
Departed Sunday afternoon with Dr. Moss
and traveled to Dauphin Island, Alabama.
Spent morning of October 12 observing
facilities and research of the Seafood Labora-
tory, Seafoods Division, Alabama Depart-
ment of Conservation, and conferring with
Messrs. Hugh A. and Wayne E. Swingle,
researchers at the laboratory. Afternoon-
returned to Auburn.
Early morning-Worked on list of equipment
needed for brackishwater station. Late
morning-Conference with Dr. Allison on fish
diseases and parasites. Afternoon-Final con-
ference with Dr. Moss and Dr. Swingle con-
cerning details of the brackishwater station
layout, list of equipment, etc.
Departed Auburn, Alabama.
14