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Publications

This list of publications includes peer-review journal articles, official USGS publications series, reports and more authored by scientists in the Ecosystems Mission Area. A database of all USGS publications, with advanced search features, can be accessed at the USGS Publications Warehouse.  

Filter Total Items: 41764

A modification in the technique of computing average lengths from the scales of fishes

In virtually all the studies that employ scales, otollths, or bony structures to obtain the growth history of fishes, it has been the custom to compute lengths for each individual fish and from these data obtain the average growth rates for any particular group. This method involves a considerable amount of mathematical manipulation, time, and effort. Theoretically it should be possible to obtain
Authors
John Van Oosten

Movement of parasitic-phase sea lampreys in Lakes Huron and Michigan

A program of tagging was carrie dout in the waters of northern Lake Huron during the fall and winter of 1951-52 in order to supplement the small amount of information available on movement of sea lampreys during their parasitic phase. A total of 219 parasitic-phase sea lampreys were tagged and released at three localities. Of this number 38 or 17.2 percent were recovered. One tag was recovered nea
Authors
Bernard R. Smith, Oliver R. Elliott

War on lampreys

Vampire-like sea lampreys look somewhat like short sections of garden hose, swim like eels, and live solely on the blood of fishes. Their voracious appetites have been especially harmful to fish in the Great Lakes, and it is there that methods of underwater electrocution are being applied in their control.
Authors
James W. Moffett

Lake fisheries need lamprey control and research

Since 1921, when the first sea lamprey was recorded from Lake Erie, concern about this parasite in the Great Lakes above Niagara Falls, where previously it had never occurred, grew successively. At first, the concern was shared only in scientific circles, but as the parasite continued its persistent and rapid spread throughout the upper Great Lakes this concern was voiced by state conservation de
Authors
James W. Moffett

Technique for the application of a streamer-type fish tag

Principal features of the technique are: attachment of the plastic tag by means of a nylon-thread loop prepared in advance of field work; use of a curved surgical needle with cutting edge and a split eye for application of the tag. The procedures for splitting the needle's eye and for applying the tag are described and illustrated by a series of photographs.
Authors
Leonard S. Joeris

Trout fishing in Michigan waters of Lake Superior, 1952

This article has been prepared to present the results of recently completed statistical studies on the fishery in the State of Michigan waters of the lake. The tabulations of production of lake trout and the estimates of levels of fishing pressure and abundance in the various statistical districts have been based on the monthly reports submitted by commercial operators to the Michigan Department
Authors
Ralph Hile

Perch studies in Green Bay

For years the commercial fishermen of southern Green Bay contended that the minimum length of 8 inches for yellow perch in that are should be reduced because (1) the perch population was stunted, incapable of reaching the size of 8 inches in any numbers, and (2) the larger perch tended to desert the southern part of the bay after spawning in may. To throw light on this perennially controversial pr
Authors
Ralph Hile

The movement of tagged lake trout in Lake Superior, 1950-52

A total of 733 native lake trout was tagged at two widely separated localities in Lake Superior; subsequent recaptures numbered 155 fish (21.1 percent) during the year following marking. In October 1950, 116 large lake trout (average total length, 27.3 inches) were tagged near Keweenaw Point, Michigan. Fifteen (12.9 percent) were recovered during the first year at points as far west as the Goose
Authors
Paul H. Eschmeyer, Russell Daly, Leo F. Erkkila

Movement of tagged lake trout in Lake Superior, 1950-1952

A total of 733 native lake trout was tagged at two widely separated localities in Lake Superior; subsequent recaptures numbered 155 fish (21.1 percent) during the year following marking. In October 1950, 116 large lake trout (average total length, 27.3 inches) were tagged near Keweenaw Point, Michigan. Fifteen (12.9 percent) were recovered during the first year at points as far west as the Goose
Authors
Paul H. Eschmeyer, Russell Daly, Leo F. Erkkila

The effect of ether anesthesia on fin-clipping rate

As part of an experimental program to learn the effects of stocking lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in Lake Superior, 141, 392 fingerlings were marked at the Charlevoix (Michigan) Station of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in October 1952. The adipose fin was removed from all fish, the right pelvic from the remainder. A random sample of 2, 417 of the fish showed an average total length of 4.0
Authors
Paul H. Eschmeyer

Fluctuations in the fisheries of State of Michigan waters of Green Bay

Green Bay, traditionally a major center of production, has assumed in recent years a position of overwhelming dominance in the commercial fisheries of the State of Michigan waters of Lake Michigan. Within the 4-year period 1945-1948 the commercial take in State of Michigan waters of Green Bay increased from 3,317,000 pounds in 1945 to 7,909,000 pounds in 1948, and it was 7,782,000 poinds in 1949.
Authors
Ralph Hile, George F. Lunger, Howard J. Buettner