Roanoke River basin-Albemarle Sound historical striped bass project

[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]

ROANOKE RIVER BASIN-ALBEMARLE SOUND

HISTORICAL STRIPED BASS PROJECT

C:@)

North Carolina Department of Environment,
Health, and Natural Resources

Division of Marine Fisheries
Morehead City, NC 28557
SH
351
B3
R63 April 1992
1992

ROANOKE RIVER BASIN-ALBEMARLE SOUND

HISTORICAL STRIPED BASS PROJECT

Michael W. Street

North Carolina Department of Environment,
Health, and Natural Resources

Division of Marine Fisheries

Completion Report for Project F-36

Property of CSC Library

April 1992

This project was funded, in part, by the United States Department of the
Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service under the Sport Fish Restoration Program,
project F-36.

US Department of Commerce
NOAA Center Library
2234 South Hobson Avenue
Charleston, SC 29405-2413

ABSTRACT

Dr. William W. Hassler, associates, and students conducted research and
monitoring work on striped bass in Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound, North
Carolina during 1955-1987. This 33-year data set is extremely valuable for
evaluating the status and trends of the striped bass stock of the area. A total
of 27 (mostly annual) reports summarized the work. other reports were also
written. All of the reports, as well as a small amount of raw data, were
acquired and catalogued. A brief plan for computerizing the data was prepared.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

INTRODUCTION . " * * * * , * * , * , * * * * * * . . . . . . . . . . . .

RESULTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Data Acquisition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Annual Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Other Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

DISCUSSION . . . . . . . . 15

COMPUTERIZATION PLAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

LITERATURE CITED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

APPENDIX I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

APPENDIX II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

INTRODUCTION

The Albemarle Sound-Roanoke River (A-R) area supports North Carolina's
major stock of striped bass. Along with the Chesapeake Bay striped bass stock,
the A-R stock declined precipitously from the late 1970s through the 1980s.
Enactment of the Emergency Striped Bass Study by the United States Congress in
1979 (PL 96-118) provided extra funds to North Carolina and other states to
.investigate causes for the decline. Lack of improvement spurred Congressional
passage of the Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation, Act in 1984 (PL 98-613),
requiring states from North Carolina northward to adhere to an interstate fishery
management plan for striped bass. This plan was prepared by the affected states'
marine fisheries agencies and federal agencies under the auspices of the Atlantic
States Marine Fisheries Commission. This Act was reauthorized by Congress in
1988 (PL 100-589), including an amendment requiring a three-year study of the A-R
stock of striped bass. The Act was again reauthorized in 1991 (PL 102-130).

Prior to the above federal actions, research on striped bass had been
conducted for many years in North Carolina, especially concerning the A-R stock.
In connection with coastwide studies, Merriman (1941) tagged and released 600
stripers in eastern Albemarle Sound and on the ocean beach at Kitty Hawk during
March and April, 1937. Vladykov and Wallace (1952) reported marking and
releasing 477 striped bass in Currituck and Croatan sounds and six at Kitty Hawk
in November, 1937. Merriman (1941) also tagged and released 506 stripers in
western Albemarle Sound in April, 1938.

A record flood on Roanoke River in August, 1940 resulted in a call for a
flood control reservoir; the John H. Kerr Dam was completed at river mile 179 in
1952. Hydroelectric power dams were completed later at river mile 145.5 (Gaston
Dam, 1963) and at river mile 137 (Roanoke Rapids Dam, 1955).

A number of industries are located along the Roanoke River, using river
water in manufacturing and discharging wastes into the river. Chief among th ese
are pulp mills at Roanoke Rapids (began operation in 1909) and Plymouth (began
operation in 1938). Towns along the river also utilize its waters for drinking
and waste disposal.

The combination of dams and industrial/municipal pollution resulted, by the
early 1950s, in major concerns over the health of the river and its fisheries
resources. In connection with federal licensing of the Gaston Dam, a multiagency
study was conducted under the guidance of the Steering Committee for Roanoke
River Studies during 1955-58 and reported by Fish (1959). Work on striped bass
was initially conducted by researchers at North Carolina State College (now North
arolina State University- -NCSU), University of North Carolina- Institute for
FCisheries Research, and the U.S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, Beaufort
Laboratory. The University of North Carolina terminated work after 1911, and the
federal government stopped by the mid-1960s.

Following the original studies during 1955-58, Dr. William W. Hassler of
NCSU continued the striped bass studies, with support during various periods from
Halifax Paper Co. (Hoerner -Waldorf Corp.), North Carolina Paper Co. (Weyerhaeuser
Co.), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the North Carolina Division of Marine
Fisheries (DMF). With help from a variety of graduate students and research
assistants over the years, Dr. Hassler worked on A-R striped bass from 1955
through 1987, a total of 33 years. He retired from NCSU in 1983 but continued
his work on a contract basis through 1987. Various aspects of the work have been
continued by DMF and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC).

This long-term record of striped bass data is extremely valuable in
evaluating trends in the A-R stock and in the fisheries dependent on the stock.
Such long-term records are rare in fisheries research, and they should be
available for analysis by appropriate researchers.

Following the initial research during 1955-58, Dr. Hassler monitored
specific aspects of striped bass life history, a s follows:
1. Commercial harvest in Roanoke River;

2. Recreational harvest in Roanoke River;

3. Exploitation rate in Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound;

4. The number of eggs spawned in the upper river;

5. The viability of eggs spawned in the upper river;

6. The magnitude of the spawning population in Roanoke
River;

7. Ecological conditions in the Albemarle Sound nursery
area; and

8. Relative abundance of young-of-the-year (YOY) striped
bass.

In addition, various short-term research projects related to striped bass
have been conducted, such as a 7-year creel census in Albemarle Sound, striped
bass age and growth, striped bass food habits, and development of sampling
protocols for eggs and the sportfishing harvest in Roanoke River. A number of
masters theses and one doctoral dissertation have resulted from the work of Dr.

Hassler's students.

The specific objectives of this project were:
1. To acquire all of Dr. Hassler's historical data for
striped bass and related studies in the Albemarle Sound-
Roanoke River area during 1955-1987;

2. To organize and catalog the data; and

3. To prepare a report describing the data, including a
brief plan for computerization of the data so it can be
made available for analysis.

RESULTS

Data Acquisition

During 1989-90, DMF staff made several trips to Dr. Hassler's home in
Raleigh, North Carolina to acquire striped bass information from Dr. Hassler.
He provided approximately 50 cartons of materials (about 52 ft3), including
books, reports (published and unpublished), research notes, and data. Included
were about two cartons of correspondence, reports, and data concerning the two
pulp mills on the Roanoke River, representing studies conducted from the 1920s
through the 1940s. Also included were dozens of reports on striped bass and many
other topics, many of them duplicates, time series of several journals, and
several cartons of books on general fisheries topics. This material will
gradually be added to the DMF library in Morehead City.

Included in the collection were copies of all of Dr. Hassler's annual
striped bass reports, including three co-authored with Dr. Bartholomew B. Brandt:

a summary covering 1955-58, and reports for 1959 and 1960. The 1960 report
established the basic format for all future annual reports. All of the annual
reports contain original data for the year covered, such as records of individual
tagged and recaptured striped bass, individual egg samples, river stage data, and
harvest data, as well as summary data for the current year and past years. This
complete set of reports is extremely important because of the continuous record
provided. Copies of the reports have been provided to the DMF Elizabeth City
office, Dr. Roger Rulifson at East Carolina University, and the City of Virginia

Beach.

Actual raw data included in the collection equals about one carton. In
discussing the lack of original data with Dr. Hassler, he stated that he often
discarded especially voluminous files of data sheets within a few years of
collection, after the reports dependent on such data were completed. Dr.
Hassler's storage space at NCSU was limited, and when he retired, he lost most
of that space and had to discard most of the remaining data. It must be noted
that virtually all of Dr. Hassler's work was conducted before the general
availability of personal computers on which data are generally stored and
analyzed today.

Annual Reports
There are a total of 27 annual reports concerning A-R striped bass, one
report covering two years, and the 1955-58 summary noted above. In addition, Dr.
Hassler produced in 1981 a summary report covering 1956-1980. He also prepared
another report for the 1977-81 period. Both of these multi-year reports were
prepared for DMF under a federal aid project. A complete listing of these
reports is contained in Appendix I.

Work conducted during 1955-59 was largely experimental in nature, to
develop appropriate methods, locate representative sampling areas, and determine
seasonal variability. Beginning with the report for 1960, monitoring was
emphasized.

The time series of data provided in the annual reports are shown by data
type in Table l.a. These data types are explained in Table l.b. The only data
type collected and reported in every report for every year (1955-1987) is the

Table la. Types of data included in annual Albemarle Sound-Roanoke River, NC striped bass reports, 1955-1987.

-Data types

Year A B C D E F G H I i KI L M N 0 Q

1955 0 0

1956 0 0 0 0

1957 0 0 0

1958 0 0 0 0

1959 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1960 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1961 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1962 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1963 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1964 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1965 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1966 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1967 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0

1968 0 0 0 a 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1969 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1970 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1971 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1972 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1973 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1974 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 & 0

1975 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1976 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1977 0 0 a 0 & 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1978 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1979 0 0 0 & 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1980 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1981 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 a 0

1982 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1983 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1984 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1985 0 0 0 0 0 0

1986 0 9 0 0 0 0

1987 0 *_ * 0 0 0 0 0
1. Three methods were used to estimate spawning stock size, differing among the years; see Table 2.
2. only during January-March.

Table lb. Description of data types shown in Table la.

A. Roanoke River commercial harvest in pounds and/or number of fish
11* Roanoke River commercial harvest effort and/or catch-per-unit-effort
(CPUE)

C. Roanoke River recreational harvest in number of fish and/or pounds

D. Roanoke River recreational harvest effort and/or CPUE

E. Albemarle Sound recreational harvest in numbers of fish

F. Albemarle Sound recreational harvest effort and/or CPUE

C. Estimated number of striped bass eggs spawned in Roanoke River
H. Estimated viability of striped bass eggs spawned in Roanoke River
I. Detailed Roanoke River striped bass tagging/recapture data (length,
weight, sex of individual fish)
J. Summary of Roanoke River striped bass tagging/recapture data
K. Estimate of annual Roanoke River striped bass spawning stock (three
different methods used--see Table 2)

L. Annual exploitation rate of striped bass
M. Estimated relative abundance of young-of-year (YOY) striped bass in
Albemarle Sound

N. Length-weight data for individual YOY striped bass from Albemarle Sound
0. Annual striped bass YOY data by date and station
P. Summary striped bass YOY data
Q. Roanoke River stage and/or temperature data associated with striped
bass spawning

summary of relative abundance of young-of -year (YOY) striped bass from Albemarle
Sound (data type P in Table l.a). Detailed annual YOY data were collected
annually and reported for every year except 1975 (data type M). The recreational
catch and effort in Roanoke River were reported annually during 1956-1987 (data
types C and D), as was the commercial catch in Roanoke River (data type A).
Spawning data (estimated number of eggs (data type G), viability (data type H)]
were reported annually during 1960-1987.

Detailed tag/recapture information (data type I) provides valuable data on
size distribution and sex of Roanoke River striped bass. These data are somewhat
variable because lengths were recorded in inches in some years and in metric
units during other years.

The commercial harvest survey was intended to be a total census of the
commercial striped bass catch in Roanoke River, including catch by gear and CPUE.
In contrast, recreational data after 1961 were estimates based on a partial creel
census designed by Liner (1968). Prior to that time, the creel census was
conducted as a complete census. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
(WRC) has continued the recreational creel census in Roanoke River, although a
different method is used. Commercial fishing for striped bass in Roanoke River
has become negligible because of regulatory changes. The recreational survey in
Albemarle Sound (data types E and F) was an ambitious attempt to enumerate the
catch and effort over a very large area for more than seven years. The WRC
conducted a three-year survey in the Sound during 1977-79 (Mullis and Guier
1982). The DMF initiated a creel census in the Albemarle Sound area in 1990,
based on the WRC design.

The estimates of egg number (data type G) varied widely over the years.
Egg viability (data type H) was high (80% or more) during 1960-1974, declined
during 1975-1980, and varied during 1981-1987.

The size of the spawning stock (data type K) was estimated by three
different methods. The mark-recapture estimate was based on the simple Peterson
(1896) method, and was discussed in the report for 1959. The catch-per-unit
effort population estimate depended on collection of detailed catch and effort
data for the sport and commercial striped bass fisheries of Roanoke River, This

method was based on Fredin's (1954) work on American shad in the Connecticut
River. The 1969 report contains the best discussion of this method. The third
procedure involved simply dividing the total harvest (recreational and commercial
combined) in Roanoke River by the annual (or cumulative in most years) exploita-
tion rate in the River, as derived from mark-recapture data. All three methods
were not utilized in any one year (Table 2). The mark-recapture and catch-per-
effort procedures were jointly utilized in 1960 and 1962, and were calculated for
1956-1959 (see 1960 report, p. 28). The 1956 and 1958 estimates by the two
methods are quite different, while the 1957, 1959, and 1960 estimates are
similar, especially those for 1959 and 1960. In 1962, the estimates from the two
methods are identical, but the catch -per -effort method began with the population
estimate from the mark-recapture calculation, so it was not calculated
independently.

The catch-per-ef fort and exploitation- rate methods were both used in 1970,
and the estimates were quite close. For some unexplained reason, the value
derived from the catch-per-effort procedure was selected for inclusion in the
cumulative table of that year's report even though the exploitation-rate method
was used for the remainder of the time series. However, because all data needed
for any of the three methods are included in the reports, population estimates
can be recalculated by the exploitation- rate method and the catch-per-ef fort
method for the entire time series, and for the mark-recapture method for all
years in which fish were tagged (1956-1974, 1976-1984).

The relative abundance of YOY striped bass in Albemarle Sound (data type
M) is an extremely important statistic. These annual values are considered to
be the best indicator of annual reproductive success. The DMF began YOY sampling
along with Dr. Hassler's staff in 1976 in order to calibrate DMP gear with Dr.
Hassler's. Sampling for YOY stripers has been continued by DMF using gear and
methods identical to those used by Dr. Hassler. Other data on YOY in the reports
include length and weight data for 1975-1977 and 1979-1982.

Various other types of data were recorded in the reports, generally for
periods of one or two years. Such data include ages of adults tagged in Roanoke
River (1959, 1960), Roanoke River flow (1957-1959), food habits (1970), and
environmental data associated with YOY sampling in Albemarle Sound (1986-87).

Table 2. Three methods used to estimate the spawning
stock of striped bass.

Catch-
Mark- Exploitation per-
Year recapture rate effort

1959

1960

1961

1962
1963

1964

1965

1966

1967

1968

1969
1970

1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976

1977
1978
1979

1980
1981
1982

1983
1984 01
1985 41
1986 *1
1987 01
1. Used long-term rather than annual exploitation
rate.

Dr. Hassler also produced a number of additional unpublished reports at
various times, covering topics such as fish distribution in the delta of the
Roanoke River, trends in A-R striped bass abundance, and effects of pollution on
fishes. He and his graduate students also published several papers based on the
A-R work. In addition, several students produced masters theses and one doctoral
dissertation in connection with the A-R studies. A list of the publications,
unpublished reports, theses, and dissertation is provided in Appendix II.

Other Data

Among the many boxes of material acquired from Dr. Hassler were 36 items
of data specifically associated with striped bass in Roanoke River during 1955-
1987. Some of the material is from sources other than Dr. Hassler's work, but
these items are included because they concern the A-R area and striped bass
during the time period of Dr. Hassler's work. The items are discussed
individually below, in approximate chronological order. All of the materials
discussed are stored at the DMF office in Morehead City, NC.

1. Turbidity data are included for various months and years during
January, 1938 through December, 1957. Most data are monthly, but
some are daily. Also included are daily water temperatures for
March-May, 1950-57. Data are for Roanoke River at Roanoke Rapids.
Monthly maxima and minima for dissolved oxygen and pH are included

for 1938-39.

2. This item includes Roanoke River discharge data for Scotland Neck
(October, 1947-September, 1950) and Roanoke Rapids (October, 1947-
September, 1957).

3. Roanoke River stage hydrographs for March-May, 1953-1958 comprise

this item.

4. This data set includes dissolved oxygen (DO) and wind direction data
for Roanoke River near Plymouth, as well as a few samples from
Albemarle Sound during August, 1953-December, 1956. Some DO data
for March-December, 1956 are daily (Monday-Friday).

5. Several types of water chemistry and other data are included in this
material, covering April, 1954-January 1958: river discharge,
temperature, DO, biological oxygen demand (BOD), pH, alkalinity,
ether, and sulphides. The data are from Roanoke River, principally
at Roanoke Rapids.

6. Monthly turbidity data for 1942-1951 and 1951-57 at Roanoke Rapids
are listed, summarized, and graphed to show differences in pre- and
post-impoundment (Kerr Dam) situations.

7. This item is a single sheet including data from five samples in
Albemarle Sound (3) and Roanoke River (2) during 30-31 August 1955.
Both of the river samples were taken with rotenone; one Sound sample
was taken with a seine; and the other two samples from the Sound
were collected by a trawl. Data include identification, number, and
length range of fish species.

8. Thirty samples are included in this data set, one with a trawl, two
with a seine, and 27 plankton net samples, all taken during June,
1955. Nine of the samples were taken in western Albemarle Sound,
and the rest are from Roanoke River, from the mouth upstream to

Weldon.

9. This item is probably an appendix to a report to the Roanoke River
Steering Committee. Included is a summary of sampling during 1956
for striped bass eggs and larvae in Roanoke River (30 March-26 May),
two plankton samples from Albemarle Sound (26 May), and YOY trawl
samples from Albemarle Sound (26 June-5 September). Length ranges
are provided for YOY stripers. There are also records of egg and
larval samples from Tar, Neuse, Cape Fear, Black, and Cashie rivers.

10. This data set includes daily turbidity data for January, 1955-
November, 1957 from the Roanoke River at Plymouth.

Included in this item are DO, water temperature, and (some) chloride
data from extreme western Albemarle Sound and lower Roanoke River
(up to mile marker 13) during July, August, and October, 1957.

12. This item encompasses a large amount of data for 1957, collectively
called the "Roanoke Delta Study. " Summaries of the data are
included in the 1955-58 summary report. Included with these data
are a number of miscellaneous notes and correspondence, as well as
egg and larval sampling data for Cape Fear, Chowan, Meherrin, and
Tar rivers. The following A-R data are included:

Roanoke River--88 egg samples during May;

Roanoke River delta- - 148 plankton net samples in May and
39 in June; 161 fyke net and six gill net samples,
March-June;

Roanoke River delta and western Albemarle Sound--93
trawl samples, June-October;

Western Albemarle Sound--three seine samples, July.

Data include date, location, time, water temperature, a list of species
collected, numbers of each, and size ranges.

13. Included in this set of information are Roanoke River discharge data
for October, 1958-September, 1978, a period of 20 years. The
location is Roanoke Rapids.

14. This item consists of a single data sheet for a trawl sample taken
on 4 April 1959 at Jamesville on Roanoke River.

15. This collection consists of daily data sheets and attached notes on
the harves't of the Jamesville haul seine on Roanoke River during 18
March-7 May 1959. Data on tagging of striped bass are included.
These data are presented in Appendix Table 3 of the 1959 report.

16. Mark and release records for 545 striped bass tagged during 14
April-4 May 1959 on Roanoke River at Williamston and Jamesville are

included in this item. Recapture data are found in Appendix Table
1 of the 1959 report. Sex, weight, and fork length for each fish

are included.

17. This item consists of a 1960 report by an undergraduate zoology
student entitled "An Age and Growth Analysis of Roccus saxatilis
(Walbaum) in Roanoke River, N.C." as well as data sheets for ageing
828 striped bass. Scale focus-to-annuli measurements are included.
A copy of the actual data is included in the 1959 report as Appendix

Table 2.

18. Included in this item are data (stage, age) on collections of
striped bass eggs from several locations along Roanoke River during
May, 1959. Some of the data are included among several tables in
the 1959 report. This information was part of MS thesis work by
James T. Brown (see Hassler et al. 1981).

19. This item includes data and analyses of striped bass egg age and
river stage from Roanoke River samples at Palmyra during May, 1960.
This collection was also part of the MS thesis work of James, T.

Brown.

20. Included in this item are data and analysis concerning viability of
striped bass eggs from Roanoke River in 1960.

21. Striped bass egg sampling data and analysis for Roanoke River
comprise this data set. The year of sampling is probably 1960
because the estimate of total egg number (737.5 million) is close to
the estimate for 1960 (740 million) shown in the annual report.

22. This item includes a variety of striped bass YOY data, data
summaries, and analyses. Raw data include length and weight for
1962 and 1965. Data for 1975 are grouped in 5 mm. length classes.
Also included are annual condition factors for some years not
included in Trent's (1962) MS thesis (1962, 1965, 1975, 1976).

23. This item includes bihourly Roanoke River gage heights at Weldon
during April and May, 1964.

24. Written descriptions of the recreation fishery creel census sites of
the Albemarle Sound area during 1976-1974 make up this item.

25. Included in this item are original data sheets, summaries, and creel
census cards for the 1971 Albemarle Sound creel survey.

26. Water chemistry data for Welch Creek (Roanoke River tributary which
received effluent from the Weyerhaeuser Co. pulp mill at Plymouth)
during September, 1976-October, 1977 comprise this collection. Data
types include pH, DO, water temperature, BOD, chemical oxygen
demand, and nitrogen (total Kjeldahl?).

27. This item contains detailed Roanoke River striped bass tagging and
recapture data for 1976. Data include tag number, sex, tagging and
recapture dates, tagging and recapture locations, tagging and
recapture gears, and length and weight when tagged.

28. This item includes detailed Roanoke River striped bass tagging and
recapture data for 1977. Data types are the same as for 1976.

29. This item is the same as the previous two items, but for 1978.

30. Detailed Roanoke River striped bass tagging and recapture data for
1979 comprise this set of data.

31. This item includes detailed Roanoke River striped bass tagging and
recapture data for 1980.

32. Detailed Roanoke River striped bass tagging and recovery data for
1981 make up this data set.

33. This set of data includes detailed Roanoke River striped bass
tagging and recapture information for 1982.

34. Detailed Roanoke River striped bass tagging and recovery data for
1983 make up this item.

NOTE: Items 27 and 28 are included in the reports for those years. Items
29-34 are not included in the reports for 1978-1983.

35. Scale samples (23) from Roanoke River striped bass during April,
1982 comprise this data set. Date, length, sex, and weight are
included for each sample.

36. This item consists of a single tag recovery record for a striped
bass tagged in 1984 and recaptured in 1986.

DISCUSSION

Probably the most important items of the 36 described above are the tag-
recapture records for 1978-1983 and the tagging data for 1959, especially the
length, weight, and sex data. The "Roanoke Delta Study" data may also be of
significance. The age data from 1960 should be of use in comparison to more

recent data.

In the "annual" report for 1982-83 (p. 63-66), there is a discussion of the
possible relationships between a variety of environmental factors and (1)
viability of striped bass eggs and (2) abundance of striped bass YOY. Extensive
statistical analyses were conducted between these two data sets and environmental
variables. Easterly (E, NE, SE) and southerly winds (S, SW, SE) mean velocity,
direction, and peak velocity were not correlated with YOY abundance. Neither
peak spawning dates nor spawning season duration were correlated with abundance
of YOY. There were no significant relationships between spawning stock size, egg
abundance, Roanoke River sport catch, or Roanoke River commercial harvest and
striped bass YOY abundance. Neither were commercial landings of striped bass 1,
2, 3, or 4 years later related to the abundance of YOY stripers. Roanoke River
discharge during May was related to YOY abundance: low to moderate discharge was
favorable, while high flow was not.

COMPUTERIZATION PLAN

objective: To make Dr. Hassler's Albemarle -Roanoke striped bass data
available in a computerized format for analysis by appropriate investigators.

Strategy: Computerization of the A-R striped bass should be conducted in
three steps:

1. A person knowledgeable about striped bass life history and
competent in statistical analysis and computer operations
should review the data in detail. The appropriate input
formats would be developed and the data organized for input.
To test the validity of the formats, several small data sets
should be chosen, coded, key-entered, and retrieved in formats
suitable for analysis. Written documentation of the database
and process should be prepared. About 3-4 months will be
required to accomplish this task.

2. Using procedures and formats developed in Task 1, a data clerk
would code the data on data entry forms. This task would also

take 3-4 months.

3. The final task would be to actually enter the data into a
computer and database. A data clerk would need about 3-4
months to complete the work.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Dr. William W. Hassler is owed a great debt by all those concerned for the
health of Albemarle-Roanoke striped bass for his perseverance in continuing to
monitor the stock over the years. I thank Paul Phalen of DMF for his assistance
in acquiring Dr. Hassler's material and for separating the striped bass
information from other items in the collection. I am also grateful to
Christie Guthrie and Diana Willis for typing this report.

LITERATURE CITED

Fish, F.F.
1959. Report of the steering committee for Roanoke River studies, 1955-
1958. U.S. Public Health Serv., Raleigh, NC, 279 p.

Fredin, R.A.
1954. Causes of fluctuations in abundance of Connecticut River shad.
U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv., Fish. Bull. 88(54): 247-259.

Hassler, W.W., N.L. Hill, and J.T. Brown.
1981. Status and abundance of striped bass, Morone saxatilis, in the
Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, 1956-1980. NC Dept.
Nat. Resour. and Community Develop., Div. Mar. Fish., Spec. Sci. Rep. No.
38, 156 p.

Liner, H.L., III.
1968. An evaluation of partial creel census designs by analysis of
complete creel census data. MS thesis, NC State Univ., Raleigh, 36 p.

Merriman, D.
1941. Studies on the striped bass (Roccus saxatilis,) of the Atlantic
coast. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv., Fish. Bull. 50(35): 1-77.

Mullis, A.W. and C.R. Guier
(1982) Determination of Albemarle Sound sport fishery harvest with special
emphasis on striped bass harvest rates and growth. NC Wildl. Res. Comm.
Final Rp., Project F-22, Study V, (59 p.).

Petersen, C.G.J.
1896. The yearly immigration of young plaice into the Limfjord from the
German Sea. . . . Rept. Danish Biol. Sta., 6 (1895): 1-77. (Original not
seen).

Trent, W.L.
1962. Growth and abundance of young-of-year striped bass, Roccus
saxatilis (Walbaum), in Albemarle Sound, North Carolina,- MS thesis, NC
State Univ., Raleigh, 66 p.

Vladykov, V.D. and D.H. Wallace.
1952. Studies of the striped bass, Roccus saxatilis (Walbaum), with
special reference to the Chesapeake Bay region during 1936-1938. Bull.
Bingham Oceanogr. Coll., Yale Univ. 14(l): 132-177.

APPENDIX I

A. Annual reports on Albemarle-Roanoke striped bass studies

Year(s) Reference

1955-58 Brandt, B.B. and W.W. Hassler.
1959. A study of the biology of the Roanoke River striped bass.
Raleigh, NC, 69 p.

.1959 Brandt, B.B. and W.W. Hassler.
1960. Annual report, Roanoke River studies, 1959. Raleigh (NC), 89
P.

1960 Hassler, W.W., B.B. Brandt, J.T. Brown, and R.P. Cheek.
1961. Status of the striped bass in the Roanoke River, North
Carolina, for 1960, Raleigh, NC, 38 p. + App.

1961 Hassler, W.W., B.B. Brandt, J.T. Brown, and W.L. Trent.
1961. The status and abundance of the striped bass in the Roanoke
River, North Carolina, for 1961. NG State Coll. , Raleigh, NC, 33 p.
+ App.

1962 Hassler, W.W., W.L. Trent, and W.E. Gray.
1962. The status and abundance of the striped bass in the Roanoke
River, North Carolina, for 1962. NC State Univ., Raleigh, NC, 42 p.
+ App.

1963 Hassler, W.W., W.L. Trent, and W.E. Gray.
1963. The status and abundance of the striped bass in the Roanoke
River, North Carolina, for 1963. NC State Univ., Raleigh, NC, 42 p.
+ App.

1964 Hassler, W.W., W.L. Trent, and B.M. Florence.
1965. The status and abundance of the striped bass in the Roanoke
River, N. C. 1964. NC State Univ., Raleigh, NC, 45 p. + App.

1965 Hassler, W.W., W.L. Trent, and B.M. Florence.
1966. The status and abundance of the striped bass in the Roanoke
River, North Carolina, for 1965. NC State Univ., Raleigh, NC, 52 p.
+ App.

1966 Hassler, W.W., W.T. Hogarth, and H.L. Liner, III.
1967. The status and abundance of the striped bass in the Roanoke
River, North Carolina, for 1966. NC State Univ. , Raleigh, NC, 52 p.
+ App.

1967 Hassler, W.W., W.T. Hogarth, H.L. Liner, III and H.S. Millsaps, Jr.
1968. The status and abundance of the striped bass in the Roanoke
River, North Carolina, for 1967. Progress Rep. Project AFC-1-1, NC
State Univ., Raleigh, NC,, 71 p. + App.

1968 Hassler, W.W., W.T. Hogarth, C.R. Strand, Jr. and H.S. Millsaps, Jr.
1969. The status and abundance of the striped bass in the Roanoke
River, North Carolina, for 1968. Progress Rep. Project AFC-1-2, NC
State Univ., Raleigh, NC,, 71 p. + App.

1969 Hassler, W.W. and W.T. Hogarth.
1970. The status, abundance, and exploitation of striped bass in
the Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, and the
spawning of striped bass in the Tar River, North Carolina. Rep. for
project AFC-1, NC State Univ., Raleigh, NC, 63 p. + App.

1970 Hassler, W.W., W.T. Hogarth, and C.S. Manooch.
1971. The status, abundance, and exploitation of striped bass in
the Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, 1970. NC
State Univ., Raleigh, NC, 81 p. + App.

1971 Hassler, W.W., W.T. Hogarth, and C.S. Manooch.
1973. The status, abundance, and exploitation of striped bass in
the Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, 1971. NC
State Univ., Raleigh, NC, 73 p. + App.

1972 Hassler, W.W., W.T. Hogarth, C.S. Manooch, and N.L. Hill.
1973. The status, abundance, and exploitation of striped bass in
the Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, 1972. NC
State Univ., Raleigh, NC, 74 p. + App.

1973 Hassler, W.W. and N.L. Hill.
1975. The status, abundance, and exploitation of striped bass in
the Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, 1973. NC
State Univ., Raleigh, NC, 64 p. + App.

1974 Hassler, W.W. and N.L. Hill.
1976. The status, abundance, and exploitation of striped bass in
the Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, 1974. NC
State Univ., Raleigh, NC, 80 p. + App.

1975 Hassler, W.W. and N.L. Hill.
1976. The status, abundance, and exploitation of striped bass in
the Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, 1975. NC
State Univ., Raleigh, NC, 86 p. + App.

1976 Hassler, W.W. and N.L. Hill.
1978. The status, abundance, and exploitation of striped bass in
the Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, 1976. NC
State Univ., Raleigh, NC, 116 p. + App.

1977 Hassler, W.W. and N.L. Hill.
1979. The status, abundance, and exploitation of striped bass in
the Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, 1977. NC
State Univ., Raleigh, NC, 117 p. + App.

1978 (Hassler, W.W.)
(1979). Summary of 1978 Roanoke-Albemarle striped bass report.

1979 Hassler, W.W. and N.L. Hill.
1980. A summary of the status, abundance, and exploitation of
striped bass in the Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound, North
Carolina, 1979. NC State Univ., Raleigh, NC, 67 p. + App.

1980 (Hassler, W.W.)
(1981). No title [tables only]. (np).

1981 Hassler, W.W., L.G. Luempert, and J.W. Mabry.
1982. The status, abundance, and exploitation of striped bass in
the Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, 1981. NC
State Univ., Raleigh, NC, 55 p. + App.

1982, Hassler, W.W. and S.D. Taylor.
1983 1984. The status, abundance, and exploitation of striped bass in
the Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, 1982, 1983.
Compl. rep. project AFC-19, NC Dept. Nat. Resour. and Community
Develop., Div. Mar. Fish., 67 p. + App.

1984 Hassler, W.W. and S.D. Taylor.
1986. The status, abundance, and exploitation of striped bass in
the Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, 1984. NC
State Univ., Raleigh, NC, 47 p.

1985 Hassler, W.W. and S.D. Taylor.
1986. The status, abundance, and exploitation of striped bass in
the Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, 1985. NC
State Univ., Raleigh, NC, 40 p.

1986 Hassler, W.W. and S.D. Taylor.
1988. The status, abundance, and exploitation of striped bass in
the Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, 1986. NC
State Univ., Raleigh, NC, 50 p.

1987 Hassler, W.W. and S.D. Taylor.
1988. The status, abundance, and exploitation of striped bass in
the Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, 1987. NC
State Univ., Raleigh, NC, 43 p.

B. Multi-year reports on Albemarle-Roanoke striped bass studies

1956-1980 Hassler, W.W., N.L. Hill, and J.T. Brown.
1981. Status and abundance of striped bass, Morone saxatilis, in
the Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, 1956-1980.
NC Dept. Nat. Resour. and Community Develop., Div. Mar. Fish., Spec.
Sci. Rep. No. 38, 156 p.

1977-1981 Hassler, W.W.
1984. Status and abundance of striped bass, Morone saxatilis, in
the Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, 1977-1981.
Compl. rep., project AFS-14. NC Dept. Nat. Resour. and Community
Develop., Div. Mar. Fish., 40 p.

APPENDIX II

A. Published reports on Albemarle-Roanoke striped bass studies

Hassler, W.W.
1958. The striped bass in relation to the multiple use of the Roanoke
River, North Carolina. Trans. N. Amer. Wildl. Conf. 23:378-390.

Manooch, C.S., III.
1973. Food habits of yearling and adult striped bass, Morone saxatilis
(Walbaum), from Albemarle Sound, North Carolina. Chesapeake Sci.
14(2):73-86.

Trent, L., and W.W. Hassler.
1966. Feeding behavior of adult striped bass, Roccus saxatills, in
relation to stages of sexual maturity. Chesapeake Sci. 7(4):189-192.

Trent, L., and W.W. Hassler.
1968. Gill net selection, migration, size and age composition, sex ratio,
harvest efficiency, and management of striped bass in the Roanoke River,
North Carolina. Chesapeake Sci. 9(4): 217-232.

B. Masters theses and doctoral dissertation on Albemarle -Roanoke striped bass
studies

Cheek, R.P.
1961. Quantitative aspects of striped bass, Roccus saxatills (Walbaum)
spawning in the Roanoke River, North Carolina, 1959. MS thesis, NC State
College, Raleigh. 99 p.

Liner, H.L., III.
1968. An evaluation of partial creel census designs by analysis of
complete creel census data. MS thesis, NC State Univ., Raleigh. 36 p.

Manooch, C.S., III.
1972. Food habits of yearling and adult striped bass, Morone saxatills
(Walbaum), from Albemarle Sound, North Carolina. MS thesis, NC State
Univ., Raleigh. 94 p.

McCoy, E.C.
1959. Quantitative sampling of striped bass, Roccus saxatills (Walbaum),
eggs in the Roanoke River, North Carolina. MS thesis, NC State College,
Raleigh. 136 p.

Trent, W.L.
1962. Growth and abundance of young-of-year striped bass, Roccus
saxatills (Walbaum), in Albemarle Sound, North Carolina. MS thesis, NC
State College, Raleigh. 66 p.

Trent, W - L.
1967. Gill net selection, size and age composition, migration patterns,
and sex ratio of striped bass populations in the Roanoke River, North
Carolina. Ph.D. dissertation, NC State Univ., Raleigh. 69 p.

C. Unpublished reports on Albemarle-Roanoke striped bass studies

Brandt, B.B., and W.W. Hassler.
1959. Summarized data and contributions to Task Force III. Final report
for Roanoke River Study. (np).

(Hassler, W.W.)
(1969). Progress report on the abundance of young-of-year fishes in
Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, 1955-64, 7 p.

Hassler, W.W.
(1970). The status abundance, and exploitation of the striped bass in the
Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound, N.C. NC State Univ., Raleigh, NC.
28 p.

Hassler, W.W.
1982. Changes in striped bass abundance. NC State Univ., Raleigh, NC.

Hassler, W.W.
1988. A survey of lower Roanoke River fish populations upstream and
downstream of the proposed site of an effluent diffuser pipe of the
Weyerhaeuser pulp mill at Plymouth, N.C. NC State Univ., Raleigh, NC.
49 p.

Hassler, W.W., and L. Luempert.
1979. A survey of lower Roanoke River fish populations in the vicinity of
the Weyerhaeuser pulp mill at Plymouth, N.C. NC State Univ., Raleigh, NC.
68 p.

Hassler, W.W., J.W. Mabry, A.S. Edwards, and R.W. Mays.
1981. Occurrence of motile Aeromonas septicemia in fish from the
downstream area of the Roanoke River, Neuse River, Trent River, and
contiguous areas in North Carolina, April-November, 1980. NC State Univ.,
Raleigh, NC. 48 p.

.. I
.I
I
I
I
.I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I

I
@ 1
3 6668 14100 1190 @