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The program of the Division of Fishery Research is conducted to provide the knowledge essential to the effective execution of the Bureau's sport fishery conservation responsibilities. The application of research results is far more wideranging than this, however. Private fish producers and State conservation agencies look to the Bureau for leadership in research and rely on published research results for improvements in their own programs. In addition, other Federal agencies and many foreign countries look to our research for assistance in their own programs. Results of fish-pesticides studies, for instance, are widely applied in prescribing safe usage of pest control chemicals.

Evidence of the growing stature of the fishery research program is indicated by the fact that Bureau scientists have, by invitation, presented research results at international scientific conventions in London, Munich, and in Prague during the past few months. The Bureau also cosponsored, with the New York Academy of Sciences, an international symposium on viral diseases of coldblooded animals and, with the National Institutes of Health, a national conference on hepatoma in rainbow trout.

Division scientists authored 150 research papers and major addresses in 1964. This, for 59 senior scientists and 55 junior professionals, is indicative of high productivity-an average of 2.5 publications per senior scientist or 1.3 per professional employee. The average cost per technical communication was $14,500 in contrast to the average of $57,000 for industrial research publications reported by the National Science Foundation in 1961.

The following tabulation of research study turnover indicates the dynamic nature of the fishery research program:

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Examples of recent accomplishments in the various major categories of fishery research follows:

Pathology.--Continued advances in methods for the detection, control, and elimination of fish diseases are being made. Hatchery biologists, following guidelines established by research, have successfully screened hatchery stocks of fish to detect carriers of a disastrous viral disease. Oral immunization against a bacterial disease has progressed from laboratory studies to successful field application; new studies have been started with other troublesome bacterial diseases. Bureau pathologists served on an American Fisheries Society committee to make recommendations on means of controlling the spread of fish diseases across State and National boundaries. Investigations to support FDA clearances of sulfa drugs for control of fish diseases have been concluded.

Nutrition.-Research has conclusively demonstrated that aflatoxin, a toxin produced by a mold found on contaminated vegetable seed meals, will produce liver abnormalities in rainbow trout if present in the diet in as little as 1 part per billion. Accordingly, specifications for commercially produced trout diets now prohibit quantities greater than 1 part per billion of aflatoxin in unfinished diets. A national conference on trout hepatoma, jointly sponsored by the Bureau and NIH was held in April 1965. Other nutrition research was conducted to refine the nutritional requirements of salmonids, to measure protein quality for salmonid diets, to compare the utilization of inorganic elements from environmental and nutritional sources. The activity of certain blood enzymes was shown to be linked to specific vitamin deficiencies, a fact which promises an important diagnostic tool. Using knowledge drawn from nutrition research of the past few years, production diets have been formulated which have produced superior growth and survival in pilot scale tests with hatchery fish.

Husbandry methods.-The two warm-water fish cultural laboratories, the Fish Farming Experimental Station, Stuttgart, Ark., and the Southeastern Fish Cultural Laboratory, Marion, Ala., were placed under one director to obtain greater program coordination. The vitamin, protein, and caloric requirements of channel catfish have been determined and hatchery survival has been significantly increased by improvement in cultural methods. Experimentally produced catfish hybrids have shown greater vigor and growth potential than parent strains. Hybridization of other warm-water species have likewise shown promise. Salmon cultural investigations have demonstrated that stamina of salmon fingerlings can be increased by improved diets and by improved environmental conditions. When fingerling stamina is improved, increased ocean survival and return of adults to the hatchery follow. These important finds lend credence to the hopes that hatchery propagation can assume an increasingly important role in reclaiming runs of Pacific salmon. Encouraged by excellent results in the reclamation and reuse of hatchery water in laboratory trials, a production-scale prototype has been built and tested. Final evaluation awaits returns of adult salmon from marked fingerlings tested. Aquatic productivity in alpine streams was correlated with the geologic origin of the streambeds. Metasedimentary rocks contributed to plankton production more than did granite. Factors influencing the

survival of stream-stocked hatchery trout are under continued investigation to provide guidelines for improved trout stocking procedures.

Fish-pesticide relationships.-Major accomplishments include the development of standard bioassay methods and the determination of comparative toxicity of most of the commonly used pest control chemicals for several species of fish and numerous aquatic invertebrates. This data has been most helpful to regulatory agencies in their reexamination of pesticide registration and labeling. The effects of chronic exposure to sublethal levels of pesticides, on which objective evaluations of pesticide hazards must depend, have been studied. Effects measured include development of pathology, buildup of pesticide residues in tissues and organs, alteration in blood physiology, damage to reproduction and multiple stresses resulting in morbidity and mortality. The toxicity of DDT to trout has been shown to be influenced by nutritional factors. The effects of DDT on metabolic enzyme pathways in the rainbow trout have been investigated.

Completion of the new fish-pesticide research laboratory in Columbia, Mo., will permit necessary acceleration of important studies in fiscal year 1967. Program emphasis will shift to increasingly refined studies to understand the biological significance of pesticide residues in the eco-system and to the evaluation of new and promising pest control chemicals. An orderly consolidation of much of the farflung fish-pesticide research will be started following completion of the new laboratory.

Fish control.-Extensive laboratory and field tests of a chemical for the control of unwanted fishes have been completed. The chemical antimycin is toxic to fish at concentrations which show no effect on aquatic invertebrates. Its mammalian toxicity is virtually nonexistent. It degrades to nontoxic byproducts within a very few days. All are factors which seem to assure its success in the hands of management biologists.

Also completed were studies of the efficacy and toxicity of a widely used fish anesthetic. These studies were prompted by the need to obtain FDA clearance for use in registration of this important fishery management tool.

Other studies include: screening by fish bioassay of hundreds of potentially useful fish control chemicals to develop selective fish control agents; the study of comparative physiology in fishes to discover differences which may be exploited either for selective chemical or biological control agents; and the relation of water quality and temperature to toxicity of chemicals to fish.

Reservoirs.—Analysis of sauger and walleye reproduction in relation to volume and fluctuation of discharge from Missouri River impoundments suggested that survival of eggs and larvae depend upon adequate, uniform discharge. A recommendation to the Corps of Engineers for appropriate regulation during the spawning period resulted in increased survival of eggs and larvae. This will mean more fish and better fishing.

Marine. Shark research is determining their identity, movements, distribution and abundance on the Atlantic coast. Through the cooperative tagging program with anglers, increased fishing for sharks is stimulated with the consequent reduction in numbers of these dangerous predators on man. Considerable progress is being made in unraveling the migrations of bluefish on the Atlantic coast. This is one of the top angling species but its erratic appearance and abundance has defied prediction. Continuing studies to trace migrations by tagging all along the coast and by racial analysis are being conducted.

Fish genetics.-The new genetics program, confidently started last year, met crushing defeat at the hands of the worst flood in the history of the area. Flood waters rose above the troughs in the old hatchery building, hopelessly mixing the experimental fish; the building itself was undermined and collapsed. Temporary experimental facilities have been installed and the nucleus staff is girding for another assault on the challenging problems of producing new and superior strains of sport fishes. Of primary concern in this foundation-building stage of the program is the development of tools with which to characterize and recognize genetic differences. Basic facts and principles, developed in years of genetic research with plants and domestic animals, must be confirmed and adapted to the special problems posed by fish.

STAFFING NEW FISH RESEARCH FACILITIES

Mr. DENTON. You are requesting an increase of $100,000 and 19 permanent positions for staffing and operation of new facilities being completed for the fish pesticide research studies. What is the justification for this increase?

Mr. GOTTSCHALK. This laboratory is the main facility at Columbia, Mo. It is a laboratory that will be in operation fully by the middle of next year, and the one for which we are requesting $100,000. This will begin the staffing required to get this laboratory and some of the work that we are doing at Denver into full swing.

LOCATION OF NEW LABORATORIES

Mr. DENTON. You are also requesting an increase of $19,000 and three positions for staffing and operation of new facilities at three laboratories. Where are these laboratories and what is the need for the increase?

Mr. GOTTSCHALK. The first is the fish farming experimental station which is located in Arkansas, near Stuttgart, and there is one position there. This is merely an aid. The Tiburon Marine Laboratory which is located in San Francisco Bay, one position, $5,500. The Fish Genetics Laboratory $8,000 and one position. This is located in Beulah, Wyo., just at the edge of the Black Hills. We have completed some of the facilities in the lodge, the ranch that we acquired out there, as the headquarters for this Laboratory, and we are going to be able to start some work there that will make it possible to utilize this additional assistance.

FISH PESTICIDE RESEARCH PROGRAM

Mr. DENTON. $770,000 of your total estimate is for fish pesticide relationships. What progress have you made in this area of research during the past fiscal year?

Mr. GOTTSCHALK. I could discuss this in a general way, Mr. Chairman, but the overall

Mr. DENTON. Just give me a general statement. You may amplify it in the record later if you want to.

Mr. GOTTSCHALK. I was going to say we have the Assistant Director for Research present here today.

Dr. Raymond Johnson, would you like to say just a word about the highlights of some of the things we have on fish pesticide research?

Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. Chairman, we have been very busy learning the acute toxicity of these many chemicals for provision to the regulatory agencies and for guiding our own programs dealing with fish in the wild.

Also we have been trying to tie the pesticide content of these fish in the wild to their life history problems.

We are trying to find out if the residues in these fish are changing the reproduction pattern and how they are affecting the populations out in the waters and streams.

CONTROLS AND GUIDELINES FOR RESEARCH

Mr. DENTON. What general controls and guidelines have you developed to measure the worth of going research projects to determine that the output is sufficient to justify the further investment of funds? Mr. JOHNSON. One measure, Mr. Chairman, is that the number of chemicals proposed for use by the chemical industries far exceeds the number of chemicals we are able to put through our testing procedures.

Mr. DENTON. Have you gotten any results, or accomplishments from this chemical research, that you can tell us about?

Mr. JOHNSON. Yes, sir. We have the general conclusions that chemicals known as chlorinated hydrocarbons are extremely persistent, highly toxic, and apparently have an effect on the enzyme systems within the fishes.

WILDLIFE RESEARCH

Mr. DENTON. The next activity is "Wildlife research."
Insert pages 60 through 74 of the justifications.

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Increase 1967 compared with 1966__
Pay cost1.
Program__.

1 To provide for increased pay costs for fiscal year 1966 positions.

$4,897, 760

5, 445, 400

5, 902, 000

456, 600 36,000 420, 600

The estimate for 1967 is $5,902,000 and 418 permanent positions, an increase of $456,600 and 38 permanent positions over 1966. The increase consists of:

(1) An increase of $36,000 for increased pay costs.
(2) An increase of $5,600 for wage-board increases.

(3) An increase of $315,000 and 30 permanent positions to accelerate research currently in progress, to provide for additional basic studies of the long-term effects of pesticides on wildlife and their environments, and to expedite the discovery and development of more selective methods of pest control.

(4) An increase of $100,000 and eight permanent positions to augment staffing of the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center to perform laboratory controlled environment, and field studies on means of obtaining optimum waterfowl production from available wetland habitats and ways of maintaining waterfowl populations at levels compatible with other resource and spatial needs.

Program of work: The estimate of $5,902,000 will be used for:

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Waterfowl management. The estimate of $1,122,000 is an increase of $115,000 and eight permanent positions over 1966, of which $12,000 is for pay costs and $100.000 and eight permanent positions are for program purposes. The $1,027,000 will be used for scheduled waterfowl research projects, annual hunter success and productivity surveys, analysis of data and publication of results. Emphasis will be placed on means of managing waterfowl to provide maximum sustained recreational benefits in harmony with other land use objectives. Projects will be undertaken to ascertain environmental requirements of species and to develop improved methods of habitat management. Although studies on the breeding, migrational and wintering ecology of waterfowl will continue to be emphasized,

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