Hello
Does this
mean that there are some Blue Pike at Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery at Yankton, South Dakota
or in an isolated lake in northern Minnesota.
Gay
Alaska
-----Original
Message-----
From: owner-nfc at actwin_com
[mailto:owner-nfc at actwin_com]On Behalf Of robert
a rice
Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2001 7:49
PM
To: nfc at actwin_com;
joe at americanfishes_com
Subject: NFC: blue pike stuff
BLUE PIKE
Stizostedion
vitreum glaucum (Hubbs,
1926)
Order: Perciformes
Family: Percidae
Significance: The blue pike was an important commercial species of Lake
Erie where annual catches frequently exceeded 20 million pounds. In 1955 the
catch was 19.7 million pounds before its decline and near disappearance. It was
also prominent in the commercial fishery in Lake Ontario but the annual catch
never exceeded 500,000 pounds.
Distinguishing characteristics: Pelvic fins whitish blue and body bluish
gray. Otherwise much like the yellow pike or walleye but with the eyes larger
and closer together and without brassy or yellow mottlings.
Present distribution: Very uncommon in deeper and cooler areas of Lake
Erie and possibly Lake Ontario.
Former distribution: Same.
Status:Endangered. Although a few hundred pounds of blue pike have been
listed in catches of commercial fishermen in recent years, biologists have
found that these were mostly small yellow pike.
Estimated numbers: Very few or possibly extinct.
Fecundity: Spawned in moderately deep areas in early summer.
Reasons for decline:Physical, chemical and biological environment in
Lakes Erie and Ontario have deteriorated measurably in the past 20 years,
creating conditions that seem to be unfavorable for survival of eggs and young.
Severe oxygen depletion in central Lake Erie shortly after the spawning period
is an obvious contributing factor.
Protective measures already taken:In 1969, a pair of Lake Erie Stizostedion,
believed to be blue pike, were spawned at the Pennsylvania Fish
Commission's Linesville Fish Culture Station. About 9,000 of the fry were
transferred to Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery at Yankton, South Dakota.
Some of the fingerlings were stocked in an isolated lake in northern Minnesota.
Measures proposed:Additional spawning stock should be obtained for
culture.
Number in captivity:None.
Culture potential in captivity: Good.
Remarks: Data submitted by Dr. Stanford H. Smith, National Marine
Fisheries Service, Ann Arbor, Michigan and Region 3, U. S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Twin Cities, Minnesota.
Selected References
Hubbs, C. L. and K. F. Lagler. 1964. Fishes of the Great Lakes region.
University of Michigan Press, 213 pp.
Trautman, M. B. 1957. The fishes of Ohio. Ohio State University Press, 683 pp.
Parsons, John W. 1967. Contributions of year-classes of blue pike to the
commercial fishery of Lake Erie, 1943-59. J. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada,
24(5):1035-1066.
Robert Rice
Native Fish Conservancy President
www.nativefish.org
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