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Show pounds of such fish were sold for $300,000 during fiscal year 1949. Various studies show that the fish populations are under-exploited. A total an- nual catch, of 25 million pounds probably could be sustained. The TVA impoundments have also yielded as much as 10,000 tons of mussel shells for buttons annually. The annual income to local mussel diggers has amounted to about a half million dollars. The storage reservoirs in season provide good black bass fishing. Several provide good walleye fishing. Very little bass and pike fishing existed before impoundment. All storage reservoirs pro- vide seasonally good crappie fishing. Sauger are plentiful in Norris, but because of their habits they are not taken in large numbers. Various species of sunfish are present in the storage reservoirs, al- though they are not important. The principal fish of the main stream reservoirs is the white crappie. Good catches of black bass are made, but black bass here are not nearly as com- mon as in Norris. Periodically, the main stream reservoirs furnish excellent striped bass and sauger fishing. Generally speaking, the sunfishes do better in the main stream than in the storage reservoirs because more insect food is available. The cat- fishes, drum, carp, buffalo, suckers, river herring, and mooneye, although not game fish, provide food and sport for some anglers. Population studies, however, sHow that the carp and buffalo are de- creasing in number. A maturing and improved shoreline is making conditions less favorable for these species. Bass are increasing. No over-all estimate of the fishing possibilities is available. However, partial estimates provide typical data. TVA lakes in Alabama supported over a million fishing trips in 1940. Guntersville tailwater pr-ovided 166,710 fishing trips with a total catch of 895,934 pounds during 1949 fiscal year. All tailwaters combined supported 657,054 trips. In 1944, NTorris Reservoir yielded the following catch: 99,173 black bass, 7,676 walleye, 10,720 sauger, 177,252 crappie, 8,945 bluegill, 3,053 mis- cellaneous. In the spring of 1950 boat-dock operators on Norris, Cherokee, and Douglas Reservoirs were virtually un_animous in stating that fishing was as good or bett er than ever. For the last four seasons, a crappie-tagging experiment has been conducted on Wheeler- Reservoir. During each of these 4 seasons, 1,000 crappie have been obtained with approximately the same effort. The extent of fishing in TVA waters is reflected somewhat in the following figures for sale of licenses by the Tennessee Game and Fish Commission, in 1934 and 1947: 31 1934 Combined hunting and fishing licenses---------- $80, 000 Nonresident licenses______________________ 1, 600 Total____________________________ 81, 600 1947 Combined hunting and fishing licenses_______ 470, 000 Nonresident annual fishing_________________ 18, 000 Nonresident trips_________________________ 59, 000 Resident trips___________________________ 13, 000 Total____________________________ 560, 000 Fishing intensity on TVA waters may be greatly increased. Tagging experiments show that the harvest rarely exceeds 10 percent of the available crop. In some instances, it is as low as 2 percent. Fishing in the mountain areas is on the increase; some 75,000 fishermen were counted in national forest areas of the basin in 1949. This in part re- flects the improved stream conditions brought about by the reforestation and forest fire control programs of the Forest Service. Many streams are now clear which formerly ran muddy, carrying such heavy loads of silt and sand as to destroy fish food and spawning beds. Outside of the national forest areas, however, stream conditions are not good, indicating the need of better watershed manage- ment and pollution abatement throughout the Val- ley. Pollution of headwater areas as in the upper French Broad has been a powerful factor in reduc- ing catches of game fish in otherwise fine fishing streams. Under the Dingell Act, after July 1, 1951, money from a Federal tax on sales of fishing equipment is to be made available to the States for fish-culture programs. These will take various forms, such as water management to improve habitat for trout and other game fish in mountain streams. Another will be the purchase of lands along creeks and other water bodies so that the public may have ready access to desirable fishing waters. Waterfowl.-Prior to the impoundments in the valley relatively few waterfowl were found at any time. Now in excess of 100,000 acres of TVA land and water have been provided for Federal and State refuges. Another 36,000 acres 81 Some allowance must be made for the fact that 1934 was a depression year. The State hunting and fishing license fee in 1934 was $1, and in 1947, $2. 786 |